As they had struggled against the group tactics of the Yuan army during the Bunei War (the first attempted invasion by the Mongols), the Japanese army issued orders in Tokimune's name during the Koan War (the second attempted invasion by the Mongols), and a Tokuso vassal was sent to the battlefield to command the gokenin.
一度目の元寇である文永の役の際、日本軍は元(王朝)軍の集団戦法に苦戦した経験から、二度目の元寇である弘安の役では、作戦指令が時宗の名で出され、得宗被官が戦場に派遣されて御家人の指揮にあたった。