[Archive] Zhao Shi Zhen's Ying Yang Che (鷹揚車)

NOTE: This is a repost of a blog post that was previously published in Great Ming Military blog. I've since detected some errors in the article and will soon update it, so the older version will be kept here for archival purpose.

Up-to-date version of the article can be read here.

Ying Yang Che (鷹揚車, lit. 'Eagle soaring cart') is the largest of the war wheelbarrows designed by Ming firearm specialist Zhao Shi Zhen (趙士楨), and one of his most powerful and versatile weapon systems. Like its smaller cousin, the multipurpose shield, Ying Yang Che is a more advanced version of existing Ming weapons, in this case various wheelbarrows, carts and wagons used by Ming Northern armies to defend against Mongol horsemen.

Components of the Mark 2 Ying Yang Che, which is a slightly smaller version of Mark 1 Ying Yang Che. Shown here are wheelbarrow bed (top), one set of handles (left), wooden rack to mount protective screens (middle left), balancing scale (middle right), single wheel connected to steering wheel (upper right), two water tanks (lower right), and two pole forks (bottom). From 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'.

Top: 18-shot volley gun for Mark 1 Ying Yang Che, consists of six 3-shot guns. Bottom: 18-shot volley gun for Mark 2 Ying Yang Che, consists of two 3-shot guns and six 2-shot guns. From 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'.

Ying Yang Che is a large, 9 chi (2.88 m) by 2.5 chi (0.8 m) wheelbarrow with three sets of shafts/handles mounted on three sides, with its remaining side equipped with six folding protective wooden screens and skirts to cover the wheel, which measured 6.5 chi (2.08 m) in height. The wheelbarrow is also equipped with two sets of 18-shot volley guns called Lian Chong (連銃, lit. 'Linked gun'), also known as Zhan Gan Lian Fa Bing Bei Di Chong Tu Chong (戰酣連發並備敵衝突銃, lit. 'Rapid fire during the heat of battle and guard against enemy assault gun'), for a total of 36 shots, two gun loops on the protective screens, as well as two double-legged stands to keep the wheelbarrow upright. It even comes with a four-sided balancing scale to help keeping the vehicle balanced, two pole forks, as well as two water tanks for gun cooling and firefighting.

While undoubtedly a potent weapon, by itself a shielded wheelbarrow armed with volley gun is not particularly noteworthy. What makes Ying Yang Che a truly one-of-a-kind weapon is the addition of a simple steering wheel (not invented elsewhere until the advent of automobile in the 19th century), which allows the passenger of Ying Yang Che to sheer the wheelbarrow without having to change the facing of its protective screens. The steerable wheel not only allows Ying Yang Che to form into a wagon fort of any shape, but also allows the formed fort to remain mobile.

Zhao Shi Zhen's Wheelbarrow regiment

Like with the multipurpose shield, Zhao Shi Zhen also drafted the required personnel for Ying Yang Che. Due to the fact that Ying Yang Che is a significantly larger vehicle than multipurpose shield, and that it was designed for large scale battle, it requires a larger team and more complex supporting elements than multipurpose shield team in order to realise its full potential and tactical application. In fact, Zhao Shi Zhen envisioned a powerful 3,000-strong regiment operating 120 Ying Yang Che, clearly a throwback to the then-active Ji Garrison war cart regiments raised by Qi Ji Guang (戚繼光).

Table below provides a conjectured full Ying Yang Che regiment based on Zhao Shi Zhen's writings:

Wheelbarrow team

Two wheelbarrow teams, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'.

A basic Ying Yang Che team consists of one captain, two vice captains, two assistants, two volley gunners, two reload assistants, and one fireman. Unlike Zhao Shi Zhen's multipurpose shield team, Ying Yang Che team is not armed except with the volley guns on the wheelbarrow itself, as combat role is relegated to the attached arquebusier team.

Arquebusier team

Three wheelbarrow teams and one attached arquebusier team, as well as assorted standard bearers and musicians. From 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'.

An arquebusier team consists of two arquebusiers and six reload assistants armed with eight Lu Mi Chong (嚕密銃) as well as two firemen. Due to the cramped space caused by having dozens of men hiding behind the wooden screens of Ying Yang Che, Zhao Shi Zhen did not employ his usual shooting method.

Presumably, one arquebusier team is assigned to every three wheelbarrow teams.

Infantry support team

Four infantry support teams in resting position, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'

An infantry support team is tasked with protecting one Ying Yang Che. It consists of one standard bearer, one soldier armed with Lang Xian (狼筅), one pikeman, as well as two arquebusiers armed with triple-barreled Yi Hu Chong (翼虎銃). When fighting against Mongol horsemen, pikeman and Lang Xian troop may swap out their weapons for a Gou Lian (鉤鐮) and a Zhao Shi Zhen's fire lance-equipped Tian Peng Chan (天蓬鏟) respectively.

Cavalry support team

A cavalry support team, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'.

A cavalry support team consists of five horsemen, all of them armed with bows and arrows, or an assortment of San Yan Chong (三眼銃), Tie Jian (鐵鐧), glaives, and quarterstaves.

Logistics team

A logistics team and assigned supply wheelbarrow, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'

A logistics team consists of five porters and is assigned one supply wheelbarrow, five pots, a spade, an axe, two water buckets, one water well bucket, a sickle, five poles, five bags, and one waterproof wrapping cloth.