Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 111

Military Equipment: War Banners, Part 3

Page 5

Inspectors and Military Supervisors of the Administrative Division

Gong, Drum, and Flag Unit (four sides): 4 personnel required.

Gongs and drums (2 sets); Zhengoriginal: 鉦 (zhēng). A bronze bell-shaped gong used specifically to signal the army to halt or retreat—the counterpart to the drum, which signaled the advance. (2); Cymbals (2); Boluooriginal: 孛囉 (bó luò). A long, conical brass horn used in military music to produce deep, mournful tones for signaling. (4); Trumpets (4); Drums (12); Flutes (2); Ritual Attendantsoriginal: 捧飯 (pěng fàn). Literally "carrying rice/sustenance." These individuals likely held a ceremonial role related to the unit's provisions or ritual offerings during the march. (2); Clappers (2); Refined Music Instruments (8). Total number of musicians and drummers: 38 personnel.

For each Five-Directional Flagoriginal: 五方旗 (wǔ fāng qí). Colored banners representing the cardinal directions and the center (East/Green, South/Red, West/White, North/Black, Center/Yellow). and each High Banneroriginal: 高招 (gāo zhāo). Large, tall signaling flags used to convey orders over long distances., there are five elite soldiers assigned as rear guards. With a total of ten layers of such banners, this unit consists of 50 soldiers.

Before the General's Horse

Command Tablets (3); Officials (3).

Infantry with Long and Short Weaponsoriginal: 長短兵 (cháng duǎn bīng). A tactical mix of soldiers carrying long-reach weapons like spears or halberds and short-range weapons like swords and shields for close-quarters protection.: 5 personnel per row, with a total of 5 rows. This forms a single squad of 25 personnel.