It is said that considering the strong loyalty to Nobunaga by his followers, Mitsuhide hid that the target of the attack was Nobunaga and only a few followers declared loyalty to Mitsuhide.
この際に光秀は部下の信長に寄せる忠誠の篤きを考慮し、現に光秀への忠誠を誓う者が少なかったため、侵攻にあたっては標的が信長であることを伏せていたといわれる。