It has been said that, in January 1586, he hired Sakon SHIMA, who was renowned as a commander having wisdom and courage, at a chigyo (fief) of 20,000 koku, which was the half amount of Mitsunari's chigyo.
天正14年（1586年）1月、当時智勇兼備の名将として名高かった島左近を4万石のうちの半分の2万石の知行を与えて召抱えたといわれる。