The Chain of Command

On the Command Platform, it is simply announced that the orders from the high command have been received. Once this is concluded, the Company Commander original: 把總 Bazong; an officer typically in charge of 400–500 men summons everyone from the rank of Centurion original: 百總 Baizong; an officer commanding roughly 100 men and below to issue the briefing. They are to relay only the words spoken directly by the commanders on the platform; they are not to rely on the administrative language used for signal drums and gongs .

Furthermore, once it is announced that the orders from the platform have been received, the Centurion summons the Platoon Leaders original: 旗總 Qizong and Squad Leaders original: 隊總 Duizong to issue the briefing. He first relays what he heard from the Company Commander, and then concludes by adding his own specific instructions . After this, the Platoon Leader gathers the Squad Leaders and the soldiers of each squad to issue their instructions. He also states that these are orders received from the platform, and he must explain each point of the superior officers' words clearly and one by one .

Once the explanation is finished, the Squad Leader shall also order all the soldiers to kneel and listen to the instructions Kneeling during the briefing was a ritual act of submission intended to ensure the soldiers recognized the gravity of the commands as if they were coming directly from the Emperor's representative, stating that these are orders from the platform. Whenever instructions are issued, they must be attributed as orders from the platform. Once the briefing is complete, all those of a certain rank must listen while kneeling . Should anyone dare to disobey, the Patrol Flag original: 巡視旗 Xunshiqi; the military police or provost guard responsible for enforcing order during briefings shall immediately seize them and deliver them to the Command Platform to be bound, beaten, and paraded through the camp as a warning to all .