Chong Che (衝車)

Drawing of a Chong Che, from 'Wu Bei Yao Lue (《武備要略》)'.

Chong Che (衝車, lit. 'Assault cart') was one of the 'Classic Trio' of Chinese siege engines that had been in use since Warring States period. Though called by the same name, Ming period Chong Che was a very different beast compared to its predecessors, as the invention of gunpowder weapon changed the nature of siege warfare drastically. Instead of assaulting the wall directly, it was used to blast down enemy fortifications with cannons before sending the troops in.

This Ming period Chong Che was essentially a small, three storey tall siege tower on four wheels crewed with sixteen gunners and twenty-four wagon pushers. Armoured in thick willow planking and covered in cowhides, the wagon was equipped with two Wei Yuan Pao (威遠砲) and two Da Jiang Jun Pao (大將軍炮) at the front, as well as six Wei Yuan Pao on either side, for a total of sixteen cannons.