Hirotsugu led 5000 soldiers of Osumi Province, Satsuma Province, Chikuzen Province and Bungo Province, and marched on Kurate-do Road; his brother FUJIWARA no Tsunate led 5000 soldiers of Chikugo Province and Hizen Province, and advanced from Bungo Province; and TAGO no Komaro marched on the Tagawa-do Road; their tactic was to siege the government army from three sides.
広嗣が大隅国・薩摩国・筑前国・豊後国の兵5000人を率いて鞍手道を進軍、弟の藤原綱手は筑後国・肥前国の兵5000人を率いて豊後国から進軍、多胡古麻呂が田河道を進軍して三方から官軍を包囲する作戦であった。