In July 1372, he drove Imperial Prince Kaneyoshi and Takemitsu KIKUCHI from Mt. Kora in Chikugo Province (present-day Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture) and tracked down them at Kumabe of Higo Province, the headquarter of the Kikuchi clan, then he recaptured Dazaifu from Seiseifu fortress and put a foothold there.
1372年（文中元年/応安5年）6月には懐良親王、菊池武光らを筑後高良山(福岡県久留米市)から菊池氏本拠の肥後隈部まで追い、征西府から大宰府を奪回し、拠点とする。