The Forty-Seven Ronins

Meanwhile, Oishi had separated from his wife and two younger children, and had taken up his residence in Kyoto. He and his confederates broke up their households and sold their effects, a proceeding which made no small stir in Kyoto and Fushimi at the time. Intelligence of the incident was conveyed to Kira, and he thereupon redoubled his precautions. It was presently rumoured that some of the Ako-ronin had been seized at the various barriers, and some of those in Kyoto urged Oishi to postpone the journey to Yedo till next spring.