Then, due to the military exploits he had achieved under Takauji, in 1352 he was awarded the post of shugoshiki (a military governor) of Kozuke Province and Echigo Province, which were taken away from Noriaki UESUGI who had taken the side of Tadayoshi ASHIKAGA in the Kanno Disturbance, and served as a vassal of Kamakura kubo (the governor-general of the Kanto region), Motouji ASHIKAGA.
そして尊氏の下で武功を挙げたため、観応の擾乱で足利直義方についた上杉憲顕が剥奪された上野国・越後国両国の守護職を与えられ（1352年）、鎌倉公方足利基氏の家臣として仕えた。