The Ko clan had for generations been retainers of Ashikaga and KO no Moronao acted as a steward, fighting the Southern Court forces in the Kanto region as the military commander and gained military success by placing the Kanto region under the control of the bakufu.
高氏は足利家譜代の被官で、高師直は執事を務め、軍事指揮官としても関東地方の南朝勢力を掃討して、関東を平定し幕府の支配下に置くなど軍事的大功を立てる。