Stories of the Japanese 00913 [Early Northern and Southern Courts Period] The Battle of Otokoyama: The Burning of Hachimangu

Upon seeing the letter of consultation from Yoshisada, the monks of Mount Hiei understood his strategy well and promised,
"We have no intention of betraying the Southern Court."
Having confirmed the cooperation of Mount Hiei, Yoshisada decided to remain in Echizen with 3,000 cavalry, while sending his younger brother, Wakiya Yoshisuke, toward Otokoyama with 20,000 cavalry. Originally, he had consulted Mount Hiei out of concern that
"if the troops heading to Otokoyama are too few, we risk being looked down upon by the monks of Mount Hiei,"
so it feels rather strange that he would send the majority of his forces to Otokoyama.
Regardless, on July 19, 1337 (the 2nd year of Engen/4th year of Kemmu), Yoshisuke departed from the Echizen provincial government office.
Upon learning of this, Takauji decided to have Ko no Moronao return to Kyoto, instructing him,
"It is a grave matter that Wakiya Yoshisuke is attacking from the north while we have yet to capture Otokoyama. Return to Kyoto immediately to prepare for Yoshisuke's attack before the situation escalates."
Ko no Moronao, struggling with the dilemma, thought,
"Even though it is the Shogun's order, if we withdraw without capturing Otokoyama, it will only benefit the enemy in the south. What should I do?"
He decided to resort to a hardline tactic. He sent ninjas into Otokoyama under the cover of the night wind to set fire to the castle. He intended to strike one final blow against the enemy forces at Otokoyama.
Although called a castle, this site was a shrine known as the "Otokoyama Hachimangu," where the Hachiman deity revered by the Minamoto clan was enshrined. For Moronao, the steward of the Ashikaga family which descended from the Minamoto, to set fire to Hachimangu was truly an act that feared neither god nor man. Incidentally, Otokoyama Hachimangu is perhaps more commonly known today as "Iwashimizu Hachimangu." It is a famous shrine that also appears in the Tsurezuregusa.
The Southern Court forces led by Nitta Yoshioki and Kitabatake Akinobu, who were holed up in Otokoyama, fell into great chaos. Taking advantage of this, Moronao's army of 100,000 cavalry charged up one after another.
Incidentally, while the Taiheiki records this Battle of Otokoyama as an event in July 1337 (the 2nd year of Engen/4th year of Kemmu), it is believed that it actually took place in March 1338 (the 3rd year of Engen/5th year of Kemmu). This is because there are discrepancies with records concerning the movements of Kitabatake Akiie. I will explain this in more detail later.