The Southern Court gained momentum as Imperial Prince Kaneyoshi of Nishinomiya entered the Taniyama-jo Castle in 1342, and the war situation did not improve easily, for Sadahisa's repeated attacks on the Taniyama-jo Castle proved to be futile.
1342年（康永元年/興国3年）征西宮懐良親王が谷山城に入城して南朝方に勢いがつき、貞久は度々谷山に攻撃を掛けたが落とせず、戦況はなかなか有利にならなかった。