in 1586 at hetsugigawa (present ōnogawa) in bungo province toyotomi's vanguard divisions under chōsokabe motochika and sengoku hidehisa landed on kyūshū with orders to act defensively until further troops were able to join them. but the advance party decided to disobey hideyoshi's commands and relieve the castle of toshimitsu. the shimazu besieging army noted their approach, and redoubled their efforts to take toshimitsu, so that when the invaders arrived at the hetsugi river, which flowed within sight of the castle, they could see the flags of shimazu flying from its towers.