Wubei Zhi (Vol. 31)

The character "He" (Grain/Harmony) likely serves here as a section marker or a page index character common in traditional woodblock printing.

Organizing the troops and managing the weaponry original: "振旅理兵" (zhenlü libing) are the means by which one ensures that the reality of war is never forgotten. The Prince of Civil Diffusion A posthumous title for Confucius. The quote is from the Analects. said: "To lead a people to war without first instructing them is to throw them away."

In the present day, the border armies have renamed these drills "Teaching the Flags" Jiaoqi (教旗): a comprehensive system of maneuvers where soldiers learn to move in response to specific visual and auditory signals. This system enables the soldiers to recognize the gongs and drums, distinguish the various flags and banners, maintain their positions in the ranks, and understand their specific divisions. This constitutes the essential discipline of an entire army.

Whenever the "Teaching the Flags" exercise is conducted on the open plains of the Central Wilds, a location with an isolated hill or a high mound is chosen. The Great General takes his position upon the heights, facing south. To his left and right are placed twelve drums and twelve horns. To his left and right, he also plants the five-colored flags, with the six great banners original: "纛" (dao). These were large, heavy banners, often tufted with yak hair, representing the supreme authority of the commander. stationed in the very front, followed by the various signaling staffs and secondary flags in their proper order.

The Inspecting Censor, the Lieutenant Generals, the Vice Generals, the officers of the Left and Right Guards, and the stationary reserve units are arranged in a crescent moon formation original: "偃月形" (yanyue xing). A defensive or observational curving line that protects the flanks of the command post.. As a body of reserve cavalry original: "複騎" (fuqi), they look down upon the level plains from their height. This allows the soldiers below to see the banners with their eyes, hear the drums and horns with their ears, and hold the commands in their hearts.

Orders are then given to the Ten Generals and the Left and Right Victory-Deciding Generals—a total of twelve generals commanding twelve thousand men. They wear fresh armor with the blades removed from their weapons A safety precaution for live-action maneuvers to prevent accidental injury., and their banners and flags are divided...