Masakado received the following advice from Okiyo-o, who had become his vassal: "Upon assessing the overall situation, it became clear that we could be accused harshly of subjugating even one local government by the Imperial court, so, we might as well defeat Bando, and wait to see what they do first."
将門は側近となっていた興世王の「案内ヲ検スルニ、一國ヲ討テリト雖モ公ノ責メ輕カラジ。同ジク坂東ヲ虜掠シテ、暫ク氣色ヲ聞カム。」との進言を受けた。