According to the "Heike monogatari," leaders at the war council held before the battle wished to have commander Kagetoki KAJIWARA lead the vanguard in the battle, but Yoshitsune spurned their advice and appointed himself leader of the vanguard.
『平家物語』によれば、合戦前の軍議で軍監の梶原景時は合戦の先陣になることを望むが、義経は自らが先陣に立つとはねつけた。