Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 27

Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 87: Military Drills, Part 8

Page 8

The Two-Wing Formation original: 二翼陣 — èryì zhèn in the movement of troops requires a mastery of countless variations. Contained within it is the principle of the Three PowersThe "Three Powers" (三才 — sāncái) traditionally refer to Heaven, Earth, and Humanity. In a military context, this often signifies a tripartite division of forces—such as a vanguard, a central body, and a rear guard—allowing for balanced offense and defense., where the front and rear units respond to one another and coordinate ambushes.

One must assess the advantages of the terrain: whether it favors our own troops or benefits the enemy. Whether we are strong and they are weak, or we are weak and they are strong, a commander must observe the "emptiness and fullness" A reference to the Art of War concept of xu (weakness/void) and shi (strength/solidty). of the situation. Success depends on adapting to the changes of the moment—employing the winning momentum of the Long Snake Formation A linear, flexible formation that can strike with its "head" or "tail." or the clever efficiency of the Waterwheel maneuver A tactic of rotating fresh troops into the front line to maintain a continuous, exhausting assault on the enemy. to secure a quick victory.

This formation can also transform into a Square Camp, which in turn can be modified into various other tactical shapes. By using the "Three Powers," one can deploy Orthodox and Unorthodox forcesOriginal: 奇正 — qí zhèng. "Orthodox" (zhèng) forces engage the enemy directly, while "Unorthodox" (qí) forces perform flanking maneuvers or surprise attacks.. Determining which units go forward, which stay back, which lie in ambush, and which seize the objective depends entirely on the specialized skill of the General. As the one in whose hands the lives of the Three Armies rest, he must calculate every factor with absolute precision.

This formation is not only convenient for land warfare but is also highly advantageous for Naval Forces. Those engaged in maritime combat or defense must wait for the tide to rise before weighing anchor and turning the ships. They must catch a favorable wind to intercept the enemy and capture the Wooriginal: 倭 — wō. A historical term used during the Ming dynasty to refer to "Wokou" or Japanese pirates/marauders who frequently raided the Chinese coast..

Vigilance must be maintained during the watch; use scouts with signal flags and lanterns. When encountering the enemy at sea, one must know the depth of the waters. Although the commands for attacking with ships and land troops differ in their specifics, the principles of coordination for both land and sea are...