Stories of the Japanese 01232 [End of the Northern and Southern Courts Period] The Meitoku Rebellion: The Rise of the Ouchi

Regarding the rewards for military service, it was discovered that Toki Mitsusada had tried to claim the heads taken by other generals during the Battle of Uchino as his own. This angered Yoshimitsu, leading to his dismissal as the Shugo of Owari. Mitsusada relied on the Imagawa family, the Shugo of Suruga, and hid away in Shimada (Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture), effectively ending his political career.
Two weeks after the battle, on January 13, 1392 (the 9th year of Genchu / 3rd year of Meitoku), the wife of Yamana Ujikiyo committed suicide. It is understandable to despair and take one's own life upon hearing of a husband's death in battle, but the reason for her suicide as reported by the 'Meitoku-ki' is quite surprising:
'Upon hearing that her sons Tokikiyo and Mitsuuji had fled from the battlefield, she lamented their behavior as lacking the shame expected of a warrior and took her own life.'
That is what it says.
When the letter she had gripped tightly in her hand at the time of her suicide was opened, it contained a poem composed by Ujikiyo:
'If I cannot take it, think of it as vanished; like the dew on the roadside grass, the arrow once released from the catalpa bow cannot return.'
(My life is like an arrow once released, like dew that cannot return.)
To this, his wife had added:
'Even if you sink, I will cross over as well; wait for me a while, on the floating bridge of dreams across the painful sea.'
(Even if you die, I intend to cross the bridge at the same time, so please wait for me.)
In February, Yamana Yoshimasa, who was in Kii, apologized to Yoshimitsu, but Yoshimitsu did not accept it. Ouchi Yoshihiro, who had become the new Shugo of Kii, landed in Kii with a naval force, forcing Yoshimasa to flee to Yura Port, where he and his son entered the priesthood at Kokoku-ji Temple (Yura Town, Wakayama Prefecture). His subsequent whereabouts are unknown.
Meanwhile, Yamana Mitsuyuki, who had fled to San'in, went into hiding, but three years later, on March 10, 1395, he was discovered hiding in Kyoto by the Shugo of Izumo, Kyogoku Takamitsu, and was beheaded.
Now, the one who gained the most from the Meitoku Rebellion was likely Ouchi Yoshihiro, who had newly acquired the two provinces of Izumi and Kii. With bases in Suo and Nagato, the Ouchi clan now completely controlled the sea routes from the Seto Inland Sea to Goryeo.
However, Ouchi Yoshihiro remained calm even at the height of his success. His ally, Imagawa Ryoshun, recorded the following words that Yoshihiro let slip around this time:
'The Shogun does not blame powerful opponents even if something happens, but he punishes weak opponents even if they are innocent. You feel secure because you have been loyal, but if you lose your power, there is no telling what might happen. You should also strengthen your ties with Otomo and me.'
To this, Ryoshun retorted,
'As long as you remain loyal, your territory should not be confiscated.'
But in later years, Ryoshun would come to realize that Ouchi Yoshihiro's assessment of Yoshimitsu had been spot on.