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Section 1: Opposition to Takauji’s Policy

Section 1 discusses opinions that were at odds with Takauji, both in his government and in Japan at large. Ever since originally leading Go-Daigo’s army to overthrow the Kamakura Bakufu, Takauji was averse to any complete destruction of the monarchy, opting instead to compromise with them and gradually destroy them by taking arbitrary powers. He also placated some of the monasteries and leading noblemen’s concerns by threatening to punish any warriors who forcibly entered their estates. This particular aspect of his policy upset many of his colleagues in the capital, especially the Kō brothers (Moroyasu and Moronao) who were always for drastic measures. More than this, many small landowners outside the capital opposed this as their existing land struggles were not fixed by the Ashikaga Bakufu.

Section 2: Moronao and Moroyasu

Section 2 describes the actions and character of the Kō brothers. They were initially praised for their actions at Shijō-Nawate, but as their violent and arrogant nature began to show, they caused more concern in the capital than anything. Moronao’s needless destruction of Yoshino was described in a previous chapter; Moroyasu was no better. He too engaged in the wanton destruction of shrines and the property of countrymen, gaining him ill-will from many. Additionally, the two brothers despised Tadayoshi. The Kō family were also relatives to the Ashikaga clan, and Tadayoshi’s preferential treatment by Takauji seems to have upset them. However, Takauji did have confidence in Moronao and Moroyasu, and their influence eventually rivaled that of even Tadayoshi. In 1349 a quarrel between the two parties erupted. Other than their strenuous personal relations, the quarrel was sparked by Tadayoshi’s complaining to Jimyō-In (home of the senior line) to complain about the two brothers, which led to Moronao losing his position as Deputy (Shitsuji) of the Shōgun. Both parties surrounded their homes with armed warriors, and eventually the Kō brothers’ forces surrounded the home of Takauji (which Tadayoshi was taking refuge in). They demanded that they hand over Tadayoshi’s two deputies, but Takauji refused. He instead banished the two deputies along with Tadayoshi’s mentor Myōkichi, as well as promising to replace Tadayoshi with his own son, Ashikaga Yoshiakira. Part of the reason why he did not offer a greater rebuttal was the fact that Takauji’s forces equalled only half of what the Kō brothers had. Yoshiakira came to replace Tadayoshi, and he eventually entered a religious life in 1350. Following this, Moronao sent assassins to take out Tadayoshi’s two deputies in Echizen, where they were in exile. By this point, Tadayoshi’s son Tadafuyu (then serving as Tandai of Nagato) was being actively persecuted, and was forced to retreat to Kyūshū. However, Tadafuyu gathered supporters who also opposed the Bakufu, causing Takauji to send a force lead by Moronao to Kyūshū in late 1350 in order to suppress them. It was at this time when Tadayoshi’s true colors started to come to light.

Section 3: Tadayoshi and the Southern Court

Section 3 discusses Tadayoshi’s alliance with the Southern Court and his attack on the capital. A few days before Takauji left for Kyūshū in November of 1350, Tadayoshi exited the capital and made his way to Yamato. Takauji learned of this but decided not to pursue him, despite the persistence of the Kō brothers. In Yamato Tadayoshi declared that he was working with the Southern Court, sending an imperial edict in January of 1351 ordering for Moronao and Moroyasu “to be destroyed.” Tadayoshi sent a messenger to tell Takauji that he was not disloyal to him, just angered by the behavior of the Kō brothers, but he was captured and sent to the capital in bonds. Despite his declared alliance, loyalist forces in the area did not offer Tadayoshi much support. He quickly set up in Yahata and received support from his friends in the northwest. Of note is Momonoi, who traveled there through snow and ice. While the fighting was going on, Takauji and the force sent to Kyūshū were still absent from the capital. Yoshiakira, in charge while Takauji was gone, could not take the assault and left to join him. However, Takauji was already headed back, but they were too late to regain the ground they gave up. Takauji and the Kō brothers were later defeated in battle, and a truce was arranged. The Kō brothers would be spared if they became monks, so they were escorted in monk’s robes back towards the capital. However, they were stopped at the Muko River by a force of armed men lead by Akiyoshi, son of Uyesugi Shigeyoshi, one of Tadayoshi’s deputies who was assassinated on the orders of the Kō brothers. The brothers were taken prisoner and shortly thereafter were killed by Akiyoshi, along with several of their clansmen.

Section 4: Rivalry between Takauji and Tadayoshi

Section 4 describes the deteriorating relationship between Takauji and Tadayoshi after the death of the Kō brothers. After their death, Takauji returned to the capital where Tadayoshi was now in power. Tadayoshi soon returned to his former position of administrator with Takauji’s son Yoshiakira as his superior. While seeming reconciled on the surface, the two of them were at odds with each other. Several aspects of this feud involve Takauji’s disapproval of Tadayoshi’s light handling of Akiyoshi, the myriad of conflicts of interest between the different warrior families after the recent fighting, and Takauji’s insistence of his post being inherited by his sons. Around this time Tadayoshi again tried to unite the Northern and Southern courts, but was refuted by Chikafusa. This action again renewed the antagonism between the two brothers. Tadayoshi was not alone in this desire, as several former Bakufu supporters also wanted to unite with the Southern Court. Takauji, however, was unwilling to compromise. Soon after, Tadayoshi became suspicious of Takauji and Yoshiakira, and he left the capital for Etchū province. Tensions were high as many different parties both within the Bakufu and the Southern court were in the area, some of which had plans to attack each other. Following a brief period of fighting and negotiations, Tadayoshi returned to the capital in October 1351 to make amends with Takauji. Despite this, their reconciliation was not felt by their followers, who were still at odds with one another due to their myriad of conflicting interests. Fighting was growing across Japan, and the Southern Court also began to shift towards the offensive. It was at this time that Takauji submitted to the Southern Court, proposing to join the two lines. Although this was, of course, a move to buy time, the proposal worked. The two courts joined together, and Takauji was commissioned to chastise Tadayoshi (something the book points out may have very well been intentional on Takauji’s part). The southern court, especially Chikafusa, were certainly aware of Takauji’s duplicity, but they could not refuse the opportunity to return to the capital. Takauji’s commission was sent against Tadayoshi, and he surrendered after some fighting. He was taken to the Jōmyōji monastery where he soon died (after being poisoned) at the age of forty-six.