According to "Nihon Gaishi" (historical book on Japan) written by Sanyo RAI during the Edo period, it was written that 'We will be reviewed by Nobunaga.' when they departed Kameyama-jo Castle with the intention to attack Nobunaga made clear to all the troops only after they crossed the Katsura-gawa River, but it is a widely-accepted view that, in reality, only a limited number of key vassals were informed of the real intention.
江戸時代の頼山陽の『日本外史』では、亀山城出陣の際に「信長の閲兵を受けるのだ」として桂川渡河後に信長襲撃の意図を全軍に明らかにしたとあるが、実際には、ごく一部の重臣しか知らなかったとの見解が有力である。