At that time, Takanori and a group of 200-odd horsemen consisting of his family and his retainers planned to raid the escort for the Emperor consisting of 500 horsemen led by Doyo SASAKI at Funasaka-toge Hill, which was the border of Harima and Bizen Provinces, in order to recapture the Emperor, but his plan ended in failure because he made a mistake in finding out the Emperor's traveling route.
この時高徳は、播磨国・備前国境の船坂峠において、一族郎党二百余騎で佐々木道誉ら率いる五百騎の天皇護送団を強襲、後醍醐天皇の奪還を画策するが、天皇一行の移動ルート誤判によって失敗に終わる。