Around this time, it is said that, Motouji cooperated with his older brother Yoshiakira ASHIKAGA to secretly give Echigo shugoshiki (provincial constables of Echigo Province) to Noriaki UESUGI, without knowledge of Ujitsuna UTSUNOMIYA, who was appointed to Echigo and Kozuke shugoshiki (provincial constables of Echigo and Kozuke Province) as he helped the late Takauji.
この頃、基氏は兄の足利義詮と図り、先代・尊氏を助けて越後・上野守護を拝命していた宇都宮氏綱に隠れて、密かに越後守護職を上杉憲顕に与えていたと見られる。