In order to accomplish this, he plotted with his younger brother Kaiyo to destroy both his nephew MINAMOTO no Yoshitada, who as Yoshiie's successor had become the leader of the Minamoto clan, and his older brother MINAMOTO no Yoshitsuna.
その手段として、弟の快誉と共謀し、義家の後継者として源氏の棟梁となっていた甥の源義忠、及び次兄の源義綱の両者を滅ぼす算段を練った。