Folding Bridge

original: "Folding Bridge" (摺疊橋). A modular, portable bridge designed for rapid deployment during military campaigns. These were primarily used by vanguard units to cross moats or narrow rivers, allowing infantry and light cavalry to maintain momentum without waiting for permanent structures.

Miscellaneous Utensils, Item 24

Cloud Ladder

original: "Cloud Ladder" (雲梯). The most famous of Chinese siege engines, traditionally attributed to the master craftsman Lu Ban. Unlike a simple ladder, the "Cloud Ladder" was a massive, multi-staged mobile tower on wheels. It often featured a counterweighted base and a secondary, extendable ladder (the "fold-out" part) that could be dropped onto the top of a city wall once the main structure was rolled into place.

These illustrations serve as a visual encyclopedia of Ming Dynasty military technology. The "Cloud Ladder" represents the pinnacle of offensive siege craft, while the "Folding Bridge" highlights the importance of mobility and logistics in field operations.