Stories of the Japanese 00885 [Kenmu Period] The Northern Court's Second Emperor, Emperor Kōmyō

The battle between Takauji in Kyoto and Emperor Go-Daigo on Mount Hiei did not reach a conclusion, and after that, several months dragged on without any further fighting.
During that time, in Kyoto where Takauji was staying, the Retired Emperor Kōgon and his younger brother, Imperial Prince Yuhito, lived in the palace under the protection of the Ashikaga faction.
It might have been a natural idea for the Ashikaga faction to deny that Emperor Go-Daigo held the imperial throne and to install a different emperor. Before Emperor Go-Daigo appeared, it was common practice for the retired emperor to oversee government affairs as the sovereign, so the Ashikaga family looked up to the Retired Emperor Kōgon as the sovereign and thought to have his younger brother, Imperial Prince Yuhito, ascend to the throne.
On August 15, 1336 (the first year of Engen/third year of Kenmu), Imperial Prince Yuhito ascended the throne and became Emperor Kōmyō. However, since the Three Sacred Treasures had been taken away to Mount Hiei by Emperor Go-Daigo, the enthronement was based on an imperial decree from the Retired Emperor Kōgon. This was the third instance of an enthronement without the sacred treasures, following those of Emperor Go-Toba and Emperor Kōgon.
This Emperor Kōmyō would later be positioned as the second emperor of the Northern Court, but the details of that will be described later.
Furthermore, the Retired Emperor Kōgon and Takauji denied that Emperor Go-Daigo had changed the era name to 'Engen' and continued to use 'Kenmu.' 'Kenmu' was also an era name used by Emperor Go-Daigo, but Takauji did not intend to deny the fact that Emperor Go-Daigo had ascended the throne or his achievements up until the previous year; he only wanted to deny Emperor Go-Daigo from the point he issued the imperial decree to subjugate Takauji.
Two days later, on August 17, Takauji deposited a prayer written in his own hand at Kiyomizu-dera Temple. It still exists today, and its content is truly strange.
'This world is like a dream. I, Takauji, wish to enter the priesthood, so I ask for your salvation in the next life. I wish to abandon this world quickly. Since I am entering the priesthood, I do not need happiness in this life, so please save me in the next. Please grant any happiness in this life to Tadayoshi. Please protect Tadayoshi. August 17, third year of Kenmu.'
Not only are the same words repeated, but the characters also gradually become smaller as if they are fading away. Even though the battle against Emperor Go-Daigo's side was progressing in his favor and he was in a situation where he could be at the height of his success, having installed Emperor Kōmyō with his own hands, Takauji was merely muttering that he wanted to enter the priesthood.
It seems that Takauji was genuinely infatuated with Emperor Go-Daigo and felt a sense of guilt for continuing to fight against him and for having installed a different emperor. His actions and thoughts seem to be severely disconnected, but perhaps the battle against Emperor Go-Daigo was being led by Tadayoshi and his retainers, and Takauji was merely being hoisted up as their leader. He is certainly a strange leader.