It is said, however, that Mitsuhide AKECHI rejected Nobunaga's recommendation, declaring, 'If I can't retain men of such calbier as to be persistently wanted by other lord's, I won't be capable of rendering distinguished service to my Lord (i.e., Nobunaga ODA).'
しかし明智光秀が「人がこだわるほどの良臣を蓄えなくては上様（織田信長）のもとで大功を挙げられませぬ」と述べて拒絶したとされている。