Turning Naoyoshi's temporary false surrender around to their advantage, the Southern Court had planned to recapture Kyoto to absorb and eliminate the Northern Court while Takauji was away from Kyoto to subjugate Naoyoshi, an Imperial Order dated October 24 to search and kill Naoyoshi was given to Takauji.
しかし、一時的な偽降を逆手にとって、尊氏が直義を討伐するため京を離れている間に、京都を奪還し北朝を吸収し解消してしまう計画を立てたうえで、10月24日付で尊氏に対し勅免および直義追討の綸旨を下した。