Great Ming Military

Satellite map of modern Hetao region.  The plan to reclaim Hetao ...

Hu Tou Che (left) and Hu Yi Che (right) on the move, from 'Xu Shen Qi Pu ...

UPDATED MAY 14, 2023 Left: Inner side of Ying Yang Che. Top Right: Outer side of Ying Yang Che. Bottom Right: A Ying Yang Che with folded p...

From left to right: front view, side view and rear view of Chong Feng Lei Dian Che, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'. Chong Feng Lei D...

Drawing of Zhang Xue Yan's war cart, from 'Deng Tan Bi Jiu (《登壇必究》)'. The Zhan Che (戰車) was a type of war cart designed by Z...

Drawing of Ye Meng Xiong's Qing Che, from 'Deng Tan Bi Jiu (《登壇必究》)'.

Tactics Drawing of a Pian Xiang Che, from 'Lian Bing Shi Ji (《練兵實紀》)'.

The Mongol Threat It was no secret that the Mongols were formidable and extremely dangerous warriors. Being an all-cavalry army, their str...

Drawing of a Chong Di Tie Tou Che, from 'Yu Zi Shi San Zhong Mi Shu Bing Heng (《喻子十三種秘書兵衡》)'. Chong Di Tie Tou Che (沖敵鐵頭車, lit....

Other war carts in Yu Da You's division Du Lun Che (獨輪車) was not the only type of war cart in the war cart division. Yu Da You (俞大猷) al...

Entire war cart regiment was known as Da Ying (大營, large regiment), consisted of thirteen Xiao Ying (小營), or one hundred and sixty-nine war...

Circling up the wagons Defensive formation of war wagons was fairly straightforward: war wagons were deployed into a rectangle or circle to...

Yu Da You (俞大猷) organised his war cart regiment to be able to functions at different tactical levels. The smallest military unit in Yu Da Yo...

Contrary of popular misconception, war wagons formed an integral part of the Song, Ming and early Manchu armies, particularly in North Chi...