Most military expenditures supporting the Uesugi army were obtained by commerce, a highly praised anecdote 'send salt to the enemy' was admired by Sanyo RAI as a heartwarming story, in actual fact Kenshin did not prohibit the selling of salt by the merchants in Kai Province and Shinano Province as an important source of funds for military expenditure.
上杉軍の行動を支える軍費の大半は通商によって得られており、頼山陽が美談として激賞した「敵に塩を送る」という逸話も、実際には軍費調達の必要上から甲斐・信濃の商人への塩販売を禁じなかっただけと見ることも出来る。