Dian Guang Jian (電光劒)

Drawing of a Dian Guang Jian, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'.

Dian Guang Jian (電光劒, lit. 'Lightning sword') was an unusual fire lance designed by Zhao Shi Zhen (趙士楨). It was a formidable pole-sword with a broad, double-edged chopping blade mounted on a shaft with a disc guard, and came with two barrels—one handgonne and one Pen Tong (噴筒)—mounted on either flat of the blade.

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Qi Ji Guang's Yuan Yang Zhen (鴛鴦陣) — Part 5

Heavily armoured Sha Shou Dui, from 'Lian Bing Za Ji (《練兵雜紀》)'.

Reunion with the old army

Even after the conception of new Mandarin Duck Formation and the formation of Bu Ying (步營), Qi Ji Guang (戚繼光) was still unsatisfied with the performance of the soldiers of Northern frontiers. He requested for the transfer of Southern troops from Zhejiang province—troops he personally raised, trained, and fought together with—to Northern frontier almost as soon as he took charge in Ji Defence Region (薊鎮). The request was granted. At first three thousand Southern troops were sent, but this number gradually expanded to about twenty thousand.

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Lian Zi Chong (連子銃)

Drawing of a Lian Zi Chong, from 'Ji Xiao Xin Shu (《紀效新書》)'.

Lian Zi Chong (連子銃, lit. 'Rapid bullet gun') was a type of burst-firing handgonne developed during mid Ming period. It had a round iron tube magazine mounted perpendicular to its barrel that held several lead balls, also loaded with several paper cylinders containing pre-measured charge of gunpowder (essentially blank paper cartridges), all connected to a single fuse.

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