With this position of strength, the Imperial general Kusunoki Masashige had attempted to persuade Emperor Go-Daigo to seek peace with the Ashikaga.

[3] Yoshisada launched his campaign as ordered, but when Akamatsu Norimura sided with the Ashikaga he was led into a protracted siege defending Shirahata Castle in Harima Province.

Yoshisada was informed of Takauji's advance and ended the siege at Shirahata Castle, attempting to find a better defensive position against the Ashikaga invasion by retreating to Hyogo.

[3] Emperor Go-Daigo ordered Kusunoki to gather his force and to reinforce Yoshisada in Settsu despite the strategic flaws of the plan.

[1]: 133 [3][5] Yoshisada was forced back to Kyoto which was quickly abandoned as undefendable and Go-Daigo retreated to the religious sanctuary of Mount Hiei, which he had previously refused to do.