Great Ming Military

3 March 2016

Xu Guang Qi's De Sheng Bing (得勝兵) — Part 2

Dui-level Formations

Dui-level formations were scaled up from Wu-level formations. It consisted of four Wu (伍) and four porters, led by a Dui Zhang (隊長). From Dui-level onward, these formations became gradually more complex.

Fang Dui (方隊, square platoon)

Layouts of Fang Dui, from 'Xuan Lian Tiao Ge (《選練条格》)'.

Fang Dui was the square formation for Dui-level tactical unit. Unlike its smaller counterpart, Fang Dui was a defensive formation similar to a hollow square. Twenty-five troops were deployed inside a five chi by five chi square (it was actually more compact than its Wu-level counterpart), with all their weapons pointing outward. Platoon leader was positioned inside the square, surrounded by four porters. If the square was formed without porters, then the formation became slightly more flexible, occupying a six chi by six chi square. Every Wu inside the square was deployed in Er Zi Ping Wu (二字平伍) formation.

28 February 2016

21 February 2016

Yu Da You's Du Lun Che (獨輪車) — Part 5

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) also designed several other war carts to be used together with Du Lun Che.

Shuang Lun Zhan Che (雙輪戰車, lit. 'Two wheeled war cart')

Basic layout of Shuang Lun Zhan Che, from 'Zhen Qi Tang Ji (《正氣堂集》)'.

Shuang Lun Zhan Che was more stable and compact that its one wheeled counterpart. It was pushed by six crews instead of eight, with two of the pushers stationed inside the cart. Yu Da You mentioned that it had the same armament as Du Lun Che, however the illustration shows that it had seven spearheads instead of the usual four.

Shuang Lun Liang Che (雙輪糧車, lit. 'Two wheeled grain cart')

Basic layout of Shuang Lun Liang Che, from 'Zheng Qi Tang Ji (《正氣堂集》)'.

Shuang Lun Liang Che was the supply cart of the war cart division. It was almost identical to Shuang Lun Zhan Che, except slightly smaller and only had five spearheads. It was not known whether this supply cart was armed with firearms or not.

Xin Zhi Shuang Lun Zhan Che (新製雙輪戰車, lit. 'New model two wheeled war cart')

Basic layout of the Xin Zhi Shuang Lun Zhan Che, from 'Zheng Qi Tang Ji (《正氣堂集》)'.

After the success of war cart at Datong Defence Region (大同鎮), Yu Da You also tried to introduce the war cart to Jing Ying (京營, lit. 'Capital Regiment') stationed at the capital. He succeeded in raising a sixty thousand strong war cart army in his elderly years.

Xin Zhi Shuang Lun Zhan Che was the war cart designed for imperial guards. It was slightly larger than its Datong Defence Region counterparts, had two wooden screens instead of leather shields, and came equipped with five spearheads and three Fo Lang Ji (佛狼機) cannons. It also had two iron chains that were used to link multiple war carts together.