Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 76

Tactical Formations and Training: Flag Training 1

Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 76, Tactical Formations and Training, Flag Training 1

When the banners are raised and the spears are clustered into squads, all actions must follow the previously taught combat maneuvers. To dismiss the troops and return to camp, observe the Commander-in-Chief’s original: da zongguan (大總管). The supreme military governor or coordinator of the region. position. When two flags are laid horizontal, the units must immediately disperse and revert into squads of one hundred and fifty men, with each soldier standing in his original position.

When the two flags signal a further dispersal, fifty men shall form a single squad and return to their original standing positions. Listen for the blasts of the horn original: jiaosheng (角聲). A bugle-like instrument used for signaling over long distances.:

At the conclusion of the first blast, all shall simultaneously press down their spears naqiang (捺槍): a specific drill movement where spears are lowered or grounded as a sign of readiness or transition and unfurl their banners. At the conclusion of the second blast, all shall simultaneously raise their spears. At the conclusion of the third blast, all shall simultaneously cluster into squads.

Listen for the signals to advance or halt for the return to camp, following the same procedure as the dismissal. Upon hearing a final sequence of horn blasts, the troops shall set out to return to camp according to their assigned military order.

Those who should advance but do not, who should retreat but do not, who should sit but do not, who should rise but do not, who should cluster but do not, who should disperse but do not, who should press down [spears] but do not, who should roll up [banners] but do not, who should join their squad but do not, or who should split bo (擘): the tactical maneuver of dividing a larger formation into smaller sub-units or diverging from the main body but mistakenly enter another squad; or those who engage in loud talking and chattering, such that they do not hear the drum—