However, that same year, the expedition was cancelled by Emperor Kanmu, who accepted FUJIWARA no Otsugu's argument that military expeditions and the construction work for the new capital were placing an intolerable burden on the people (Great Political Debate).
しかし、延暦23年（804年）に藤原緒嗣が「軍事と造作が民の負担になっている」と論じ、桓武天皇がこの意見を認めたため、征夷は中止になった（徳政相論）。