I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Next came four spearmen, two on each side, to support the shield bearers and wolf-tooth rake bearers on the left and right flanks. Following them were two soldiers wielding halberds, who provided guard and support.

The "Mandarin Duck Formation" not only tightly combines spears and shields, long and short weapons, giving full play to the effectiveness of various weapons, but also allows for flexible changes in formation.

However, its disadvantages are also obvious—it is only suitable for narrow areas with limited open terrain.

Isn't this perfect for the current battlefield in Kyoto?

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Please vote with monthly tickets! Please vote with recommendation tickets! (Leopard crying.jpg)

Palu Seal wants to slack off! Wants to laze around in bed! Wants to play Yakuza 8 (crying leopard head.jpg)

P.S.: Please remember the character "Shimada Kai". He represents the ordinary soldiers of the Shinsengumi. Leopard will use his perspective to fill in the gaps in the lives of the lower and middle ranks of the Shinsengumi, making the story more vivid.

Chapter 630: The Shinsengumi's uniforms and new equipment have arrived! Light blue haori! [4200]

During the Ming Dynasty in China, the Japanese pirates who ravaged the southeastern coast were fierce and cruel, but they had a fatal weakness.

That is to say, they are not a regular army, but a bunch of cowardly bullies who only know how to fight alone and do not know how to form a battle formation.

Qi Jiguang then created the "Mandarin Duck Formation" based on this weakness of the Japanese pirates and the terrain characteristics of the East China Sea coastal area.

To put it bluntly, the terror of the "Mandarin Duck Formation" can be summed up in one sentence: using numbers to defeat fewer enemies and using strengths to attack weaknesses.

In the tactical configuration of the "Mandarin Duck Formation," wolf-brush wielders and spearmen are the absolute main force.

As for the other personnel, whether they are shield bearers or swordsmen, they are just playing a supporting role.

On the battlefield, every inch counts – this is a universal truth.

Let alone the era of cold weapons, even in the era of firearms, the wider the attack range of a weapon, the better.

An intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching a range of 1000 kilometers is far more powerful and deterrent than a rocket that can only reach a range of 100 kilometers.

Imagine this: if you were a Japanese pirate, what would it be like to encounter a fully-equipped "Mandarin Duck Formation" on the battlefield?

A direct, frontal assault?

You will directly collide with the bamboo tips and spearheads of the wolf-brush and spearmen, as well as the large shields of the shieldmen.

To launch a flanking maneuver and attack its flanks or rear?

Regardless of whether the wolf-brush wielders and spearmen will let you get your hands on someone's anus as you wish.

Even if you manage to flank them, all you'll get is a beating from the knife-wielders and halberd-wielders.

Not only do they outnumber you, but they also have a more comprehensive range of weapons—long ones, short ones, offensive weapons, defensive weapons, you name it.

And you... your only weapon is a katana...

This katana, though sharp as it may be, is nothing compared to a wolf-tooth rake, a spear, and a shield.

Of course, in historical fact, the weapons and equipment of the Japanese pirates were certainly far more than just swords.

However, their fatal flaw of "insufficient organization and lack of formation" meant that even with the best weapons and equipment, they could only be unilaterally slaughtered when faced with the well-organized Qi Family Army.

Thus, relying on the strength of the "Mandarin Duck Formation" and the Qi Family Army he had personally trained, Qi Jiguang was victorious in every battle.

They repeatedly achieved the terrifying feat of "eliminating hundreds or thousands of Japanese pirates with only single-digit casualties, or even zero casualties."

Although later generations always exaggerate the "Mandarin Duck Formation" to the heavens, praising it as "the supreme masterpiece of ancient Chinese warfare history," and so on.

However, as mentioned above, the "Mandarin Duck Formation" has significant limitations and is only suitable for narrow areas with limited open terrain.

Furthermore, the "Mandarin Duck Formation" can only bully the weak.

On a flat, open grassland, using the "Mandarin Duck Formation" to deal with the swift and unpredictable Mongol soldiers would be a sure way to lose as many heads as you send.

In open plains warfare, "forming a solid defensive line" is the only true strategy.

Therefore, after the "Wokou Rebellion" was quelled and Qi Jiguang's army was moved to Jiliao, Qi Jiguang did not use the "Mandarin Duck Formation" to deal with the Mongol soldiers.

Kyoto is a strategically vital location that must not be lost.

It is not only the "heart" of the Gyeonggi region, but also has immeasurable political significance.

By occupying Kyoto, one can completely control the court, thereby holding the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords and occupying the moral high ground.

Regardless of which side it was, whether it was the shogunate or the various domains, it was impossible for them to easily give up Kyoto.

In the struggle for control of Kyoto, this ancient capital with a history of over a thousand years will sooner or later become a battlefield.

In order to defend Kyoto, Aoto will inevitably have to engage in a bloody tug-of-war with various forces in the streets and alleys of Kyoto for a long time to come.

Currently, Japan does not have any "urban planning schemes".

During Toyotomi Hideyoshi's reign, he did undertake a large-scale renovation and reconstruction of Kyoto's urban layout.

The "Oto-i" system, which divided Kyoto into "Rakuchu" and "Rakugai," was the work of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

With the arrival of the Edo period, Kyoto's population began to surge.

The unprecedented peace and tranquility led to an unprecedented increase in the population of Kyoto.

To meet the daily needs of this huge population, longhouses with complex structures, capable of accommodating hundreds or even several hundred people, sprang up like mushrooms after rain.

[Note: Longhouse: A type of building where adjacent houses share walls and are connected in a row. A longhouse is a small community, and the residents often share a well and a toilet.]

As for the layout of Kyoto's streets and alleys, it has become increasingly complex.

Leaving aside the maze-like longhouse, the various paths and tsujiko, which are as intricate as a spider web, are already dazzling.

[Note: A lane or alleyway with only one entrance/exit.]

[Note: Tsujiko: A small path with two or more entrances/exits connecting two main roads.]

Among them are narrow, winding paths that can only accommodate two people walking side by side.

Even worse, some are so narrow that it is difficult to even turn around once you walk in alone.

Everywhere there are treacherous terrains where one man can hold off another... In such a situation, it is difficult to use a large human wave tactic.

When two armies clash, the enemy only needs to send out a highly skilled general to block key points—such as alley entrances or longhouse gates—to prevent a million-strong army from advancing or retreating.

We are no longer in the age of swords, and there is no need for classical armies clad in helmets and armor.

Studying outdated things like the Koshu-ryu and Echigo-ryu military strategies is a complete waste of time.

It is utterly pointless to have soldiers train in outdated formations like the Bagua Formation and the Crane Wing Formation, which should have been swept into the dustbin of history.

However, it is still quite necessary to retain a melee unit skilled in swordsmanship.

Although modern firearms dominate the battlefield, their rate of fire is still very slow and their accuracy is insufficient. After firing a single shot, it takes a long time to reload, making them unsuitable for fast-paced urban warfare.

Moreover, in Japan, a country with a large population and extremely scarce habitable land, the urban landscape is generally frighteningly complex.

In those narrow alleys and cramped rooms, even katana are difficult to use effectively, making it even less suitable to send musketeers to fight in urban warfare.

Therefore, considering the practical needs and Japan's current national situation, from the very beginning, Aoto planned to establish four units, each with its own responsibilities and each in charge of a different battlefield.

One type was the close-combat unit responsible for urban warfare, which is now known as the "sword-wielding squad".

Secondly, in field battles, they deployed musket teams in a "line-up firing" formation, unleashing a torrential downpour of bullets at the enemy.

Thirdly, there were artillery units that could "fire the cannons and blast their mothers."

Artillery is the "valkyrie" of the battlefield.

Even in the 21st century, artillery remains a terrifying force that inspires fear.

It is no exaggeration to say that since the 15th century, the number and firepower of cannons have largely determined the course of battles.

Therefore, Qingdeng had long ago made up his mind: even if it meant selling everything he owned, he would still build an artillery unit!

Finally, there were the cavalry units responsible for reconnaissance and pursuing the enemy in the field.

Although swords and spears have fallen out of favor, cavalry still play a vital role on the battlefield.

Whether it's battlefield reconnaissance or pursuing and annihilating enemy troops, flexible and highly mobile cavalry are needed.

During the Napoleonic Wars, the French cuirassiers struck fear into the hearts of the entire European continent.

Swordsmen who lash out like fire, fearless line infantry, artillerymen who shake the heavens and the earth, cavalry who move like thunder... If he could possess these four forces, let alone guard the capital region, Qing Deng felt he could sweep across the land and conquer all! He would go straight to the Imperial Palace and ask the old emperor, "Can a strong and well-equipped army be the emperor?"

Unfortunately... the latter three are all extremely difficult to please, capable of swallowing half a mountain of gold with a single bite.

Our current financial resources are insufficient, and we have not yet found a suitable channel to purchase firearms and warhorses.

In other words, line infantry, artillery, and cavalry are not to be relied upon for the time being...

In Qingdeng's plan, the sword-wielding squad only needed to be good at urban warfare.

Under this military development strategy, the daily training of the "Sword-Drawing Squad" has always revolved around "how to fight street battles well".

Therefore, the soldiers of the sword-drawing squad do not need to practice anything else; they only need to focus on the "Mandarin Duck Formation"!

Back then, when he was thinking about "how to improve the Shinsengumi's combat power as quickly as possible", Aoto thought about it and suddenly realized that the "Mandarin Duck Formation" was a perfect match for the Kyoto battlefield... no, for the current urban warfare in Japan!

The narrow terrain and the fact that the opponents are mostly Japanese pirates wielding swords... using the "Mandarin Duck Formation" to fight the Japanese is like returning to the classic version of the game.

Unless you encounter humanoid Gundams like Souji, Nagakura Shinpachi, or Saito Hajime, using the "Mandarin Duck Formation" to strike the loyalists is guaranteed to be a sure hit!

Of course, it's definitely not feasible to simply copy Qi Jiguang's "Mandarin Duck Formation".

We need to create a "double-team formation full of Shinsengumi characteristics"!

The original "Mandarin Duck Formation" consisted of 11 people per team—using such a formation for street fighting would inevitably seem bulky and inflexible, making it difficult to even turn a street corner.

Therefore, Qingdeng reduced the number of people to 5.

Only one captain in charge of command, one spearman to attack the enemy from the front, one shieldman to cover his teammates, and two swordsmen to protect the flanks.

There was no suitable bamboo around Kyoto to make wolf-tooth spears, so the wolf-tooth spear was abandoned, and only long spearmen were kept.

Although it is an incomplete version of the "Mandarin Duck Formation", it is sufficient for maintaining town security and dealing with the patriots who have basically no other weapons besides swords!

After the Shinsengumi soldiers practiced standing at attention for several days and initially established discipline and order, Aoto ordered them to begin practicing the "Mandarin Duck Formation".

Recently, at the No. 1 training ground of the Xinxuanzu garrison, one can often see pairs of "mandarin ducks" repeatedly practicing formation, dispersal, movement, and attack in the open field.

With his outstanding personal qualities, Shimada Kai successfully became the captain of his squad.

"Phew... I'm exhausted...!"