Stories of the Japanese 00487 [Late Heian Period] Yoshinaka's Isolation

　Carried away by his success, Yoshinaka began to handle personnel matters as he pleased. He boasted to his retainers,
“Should I become Emperor? Or perhaps Cloistered Emperor? Very well, I shall become Regent.”
When his vassals told him,
“You cannot become Regent unless you are of the Fujiwara clan,”
he gave up, which gives us a glimpse into just how uneducated a man he truly was.
　Since he could not appoint himself Regent, he likely thought he would place someone under his influence in the position of regent instead. On November 21, Juei 2 (1183), Yoshinaka dismissed the pro-Taira Regent Konoe Motomichi and, in coordination with the anti-Taira former Regent Matsudono Motofusa, appointed Motofusa's son, the mere 12-year-old Matsudono Moroie (1172–1238), as Regent. Furthermore, Yoshinaka focused on enhancing his own authority by marrying Matsudono Motofusa's daughter, Ishi (1167?–1207?). However, one cannot help but worry whether any meaningful dialogue could have taken place between a naive, wild child like Yoshinaka and a refined court lady raised in the capital.
　For Yoshinaka, his greatest concern was likely not the Taira clan, but Yoritomo's forces in Kamakura. Even though he had sent his son Yoshitaka as a hostage, now that he had imprisoned the Cloistered Emperor, it was inevitable that Yoritomo would become a hostile force.
　So, Yoshinaka made a surprising move. On December 2, Yoshinaka sent an envoy to Taira no Munemori to propose peace, saying,
“Let us join forces to defeat Yoritomo.”
To suggest teaming up with the Taira to defeat Yoritomo, the legitimate heir of the Minamoto clan, was completely putting the cart before the horse—a thought truly characteristic of Yoshinaka, who sought only practical gain rather than honor or consistency.
　The leader of the Taira, Munemori, who lacked firm convictions, was happy to accept this proposal, but his younger brother Tomomori insisted that it should be rejected. Indeed, Yoshinaka, a wild child with a bad reputation in the capital, was not a partner worthy of trust, as there was no telling when he might betray them again. In the end, the Taira did not go along with this.
　On December 10, the Cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa issued an imperial decree to Yoshinaka ordering the subjugation of Yoritomo. However, it was clearly issued under duress from Yoshinaka.
　Furthermore, on December 15, a similar imperial decree ordering the subjugation of Yoritomo was issued to Fujiwara no Hidehira of Hiraizumi. Of course, Hidehira understood the circumstances well, so he did not attempt to comply.
　With no one willing to defeat Yoritomo, Yoshinaka began to grow increasingly impatient. In an attempt to increase the number of those who would follow his orders, on January 10, Juei 3 (1184), Yoshinaka assumed the title of “Seito Daishogun” (Great General Who Subjugates the East). This, too, was an appointment made by the order of the imprisoned Go-Shirakawa, and the warriors refused to follow him.
　Although he had succeeded in imprisoning Go-Shirakawa, Yoshinaka found himself isolated even within the Minamoto clan, with the Taira—his only hope—refusing to side with him, and he was gradually being driven into a corner.