Leaden clouds lay thick as quilts, and daylight gloomed like dusk.
At noon, Yang Ge led the Japanese slave Auxiliary Army out of Tajima Province, following more than twenty li of mountain roads into Tanba Province. Ahead lay Tanigawa, and at its far end, Sasayama-the unavoidable passage from Tanba Province into Heian-kyō, and the capital's final barrier to the northwest. Once Sasayama fell beneath their feet, the army could drive straight through and strike at Heian-kyō!
Dressed in fitted black clothes, Yang Ge rode Erhei at the head of the army. Erhei's back stood nearly eight feet high, carrying the eight-foot-tall Yang Ge. With most of the auxiliary soldiers behind them standing less than six feet tall, horse and rider looked like a dark eagle leading a flock of chicks...
"Report!"
A rider galloped in from the southeast, a Gilt Ox-Tail Saber at his waist. His powerful, agile posture as he raced forward resembled a lion or tiger pouncing on its prey. It was Liu Tang, Deputy Thousand-Household Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Liu Tang swung down before the army and hurried forward. "Second Master, the Japanese army is less than ten li away. They've deployed in a triangular formation, with nearly a hundred thousand troops... Here is their deployment map. Please take a look."
Yang Ge dismounted and accepted the map with both hands. After studying it briefly in the gloomy daylight, he pointed to the northeastern corner of the Japanese formation, which faced northwest. "Send more scouts in this direction... Be careful. There may be an ambush!"
Liu Tang examined the map closely, then cupped his fist and answered loudly, "Yes, sir!"
With that, he turned, mounted, wheeled his horse around, and galloped away.
Yang Ge stroked Erhei's cheek with one hand, his expression thoughtful.
Seeing this,