Stories of the Japanese 00300 [Mid-Heian Period] The Jōhei-Tengyō Rebellion: The Appearance of Fujiwara no Hidesato*

In January of the 3rd year of Tengyō (940), the Imperial Court decided to "take a policy of thorough suppression against Masakado, and a policy of appeasement against Sumitomo." They likely realized they could not handle both at the same time.
The Imperial Court appointed Fujiwara no Tadafumi (873–947) as Seitō Daishōgun (General for the Pacification of the East) and dispatched him to deal with Masakado's rebellion. Furthermore, it was decided to grant rank and office to Fujiwara no Fumimoto, a subordinate of Sumitomo, and appoint him as a military inspector for the army tasked with hunting down Masakado. They intended to appease a high-ranking member of Sumitomo's army and then send him to the East to fight against Masakado.
However, Fumimoto never appeared in the capital, and this strategy ended in failure. I feel that the plan was unreasonable from the very beginning.
While the Imperial Court was standing by, the person who broke the deadlock was a man named Fujiwara no Hidesato, who was based in Karasawa (Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture). This Fujiwara no Hidesato is the very person who, along with Taira no Sadamori, would suppress Masakado's rebellion.
Hidesato's descendants later began to use the surname "Sano," and went on to produce famous figures such as Sano Tsuneyo in the Kamakura period and Sano Masakoto in the Edo period. I will likely have an opportunity to touch upon them later.
Incidentally, Karasawayama Shrine, which enshrines Hidesato, is located on Mt. Karasawa today. Like Masakado, he is a figure who gained such popularity locally that he was enshrined as a deity.
Hidesato thought, "First, I will determine what kind of person Taira no Masakado really is," and he went alone to Masakado's stronghold to meet him face-to-face.
When Fujiwara no Hidesato visited Masakado, Masakado appeared without having his hair tied up and brought out two cushions himself. It is said that upon seeing this, Hidesato judged that "Masakado does not have the capacity to rule the world" and decided to subdue him.
Personally, I find it rather likable that he didn't act like a big shot and brought the cushions himself, but I suppose the values of that time were different from those of today.
In that era, to establish and operate a regional state that would replace the Emperor, one likely needed authority equal to that of the Emperor. Masakado, who brought the cushions himself, was probably a simple and easygoing good person, but he gave the impression of being nothing more than the leader of a small group. At this point, it could be said that Masakado failed at self-branding.