Shugo started to expand their influence on the kokuga government as well as control over the kokuga's territories, compelling zaichokanjin (the local officials in Heian and Kamakura periods) to obey as the hikan (low-level bureaucrat, namely vassal), which was called "Hikanization."
守護は、それまで国司が管轄していた国衙行政・国衙領支配にも侵出していき、国衙の在庁官人を被官（家臣）とした（これを被官化という）。