Treatise on Armament Technology: Logistics for River Crossings

Whenever crossing, the combat units must first secure the opposite bank . They should be organized into a square formation original: 方陣 (fangzhen). A defensive formation used to protect the landing zone from all sides while the rest of the army follows. . Men should also be ordered to climb to high ground to scout into the distance, following the previously established methods .

Regarding improvised rafts original: 篰筏 (bufa). These were temporary vessels made from local materials or salvaged structures. . This means . using . bamboo . wood . and . existing . houses . or buildings . in the vicinity . which can . be . dismantled . or broken down . to . serve as . rafts . for floating . across . Furthermore . tightly bound . bundles of . grass . and hay . can . also . be . used . for this purpose .

Whenever encountering ditches or small mountain streams . one can . cut down . the trees . beside . the water . along with . their branches . and twigs . Bind them . with . vines . and creepers . or wrap them . with . ropes . Push . and place them . into . the water . so that . the front . and back . sections accumulate . and gather . while being . pulled . together . This creates a surface that can . support . the crossing . of men .

Whenever there is a great cold and one wishes to cross . but the drifting ice original: 流澌 (liusi). Small chunks of ice that have not yet formed a solid sheet across the river. . has not . yet . frozen solid . use . a massive . rope . to stretch . horizontally . across . the water's . surface . to catch . the ice . In a brief . moment . the drifting . ice . will naturally . join together . and it will be possible . to . cross indeed! .

Whenever an army on the march encounters streams or embankments . and is . not . yet . able . to . cross . then . measure . the water’s . width . and narrowness . and use . the army's . transport . wagons .