in a memorial sent to the emperor in september 740, hirotsugu declared that he held kibi no makibi and the priest genbō responsible for corruption and general discontent at the capital. he pointed out "failures of recent policy, described catastrophes of heaven and earth" and demanded their dismissal. four days after the court received his message, he declared himself in rebellion not unlike what iwai did some 200 years before. at the time the people on kyushu were experiencing hard times after the smallpox epidemics, years of drought and bad harvest. the government had responded to this situation with a large scale temple building project aimed at appeasing the gods. however farmer families could not afford the imposed corvée on temple construction. hirotsugu's cause was supported by discontented farmers, local district chiefs and members of the hayato minority of southern kyushu; he also tried to secure support from the korean kingdom of silla. making use of his official position at dazaifu, hirotsugu soon had an army of about 10,000 to 15,000 men assembled.