In ancient history, Alexander the Great shocked the world with his prowess and fame for his military exploits. If he hadn't strayed into China on the way, would the Qin army at that time be able to hold back his formidable Macedonian phalanx?Let's dive into the balance of forces between the two armies at that time.
First, let's get acquainted with the Macedonian phalanx, which evolved from the Greek heavy infantry phalanx. In those days, the infantry was often disorganized in battle, and Alexander's Macedonian phalanx easily defeated the outnumbered but disorganized enemy forces with its rigorous formation.
The composition of the Macedonian phalanx is very interesting, the united phalanx consists of four primary phalanxes. A platoon has 64 people, a company has 128 people, 256 people form a battalion, 1024 people form a regiment, and a division makes up 4096 people. The entire United Phalanx was huge, equivalent to a modern small army or field army, with a total number of 32,000 men.
The tactical arrangement of the Macedonian phalanx is also unique, with a horizontal formation of 16 people in depth, forming a solid dense formation. The team was like a battering ram, slamming into the enemy in front of them. However, it is precisely because the phalanx is afraid of attacks on both flanks or from the back that long-range and melee tactics become its Achilles' heel.
If Alexander broke into China, he would face the most powerful state of Qin at the time. During the Warring States Period, the Qin State was known for its strong soldiers and talents, and the great cause of unifying the six countries had begun to be paved.
At that time, the Qin State was quite mature in the establishment of chariots, infantry, and cavalry. The infantry phalanx of the Qin army, with soldiers holding 7-meter spears, was superior to the 6-meter spears of the Macedonian phalanx. This spear has a clear advantage in head-to-head matches.
What terrified the Macedonian phalanx even more was the Qin State's bow and crossbow, which had a longer range than the pistols of the time. Before engaging in hand-to-hand combat, the Qin army could inflict heavy damage on the enemy with crossbow arrows. And the Qin state also had a powerful **-chariot to deal with mobile cavalry.
If Alexander attacked China, how powerful would Qin's battle be be?Under the reign of King Qin Huiwen, the monarch of the Qin State, the army was strong and the arms coordinated and cooperated. According to the "Six Tao Jun Soldiers", the Qin State at that time had formed an orderly establishment of chariots, infantry, and cavalry.
In terms of long-range attack power, the Qin army has an absolute advantage with the accurate shooting of bows and crossbows. In the mid-range attack, the spears of the Qin infantry phalanx were superior. In close combat, Qin's chariot soldiers are more flexible and also have an advantage.
In terms of mobility, the Macedonian phalanx moved slowly, especially its hoplites, and there was a significant gap in mobility compared to the Qin army. In the battle of the array, the Macedonian phalanx could only charge step by step, while the Qin army could use speed and crossbows to counter.
Considering the home field advantage, if the Macedonian army enters the territory of Qin, it will face a large number of Qin troops, and the Qin army can continuously replenish the supply of troops. In an unfamiliar environment, the Macedonian army not only had to overcome many difficulties, but also had to deal with the strong military pressure of the Qin army.
To sum up, the Macedonian phalanx had almost no advantage in the confrontation with the Qin army. Its slow-moving formation would become a live target for the Qin army's crossbows, and could eventually be routed on the battlefield. If Alexander the Great had decided to challenge China at that time, he would have faced a powerful counterattack by the Qin army, and he could have suffered the fate of total annihilation.
This article provides an in-depth analysis of Alexander the Great's vision of an invasion of China, especially the contrast between the two major powers of the time, the Macedonian phalanx and the Qin army. From the perspective of the overall structure, the author has made a relatively comprehensive exposition in the introduction of the formation, tactical arrangement and main equipment of the two armies, showing profound historical knowledge and unique insights into war strategies.
First of all, through vivid descriptions, the article gives readers a clear understanding of the strength of the Macedonian phalanx and the Qin army. For the Macedonian phalanx, the article points out that it originated from the Greek heavy infantry phalanx, and through a detailed introduction to its composition and combat characteristics, readers have a deep understanding of its powerful and limited combat power. In contrast, the Qin army showed a more outstanding comprehensive strength with its strong establishment, advanced ** and flexible tactics.
Secondly, the article highlights the weaknesses of the Macedonian phalanx and the strengths of the Qin army. By comparing the long-range, medium-range, and close-range attacks of the two sides, the article vividly depicts the skillful use of the Qin army's bows, crossbows, spears, chariots, and other equipment, providing sufficient arguments for the Qin army's clear superiority in many aspects. Such an analysis enables the reader to better understand why the Macedonian phalanx might have been a target for the Qin army in the battle situation at that time.
Finally, through the analysis of mobility and home field advantage, the article once again emphasizes the flexibility and coping ability of the Qin army in war. The exposition of home field advantage is particularly impressive, the absolute superiority of the Qin army in numbers and the familiarity of the territory make it able to mobilize resources and replenish troops more calmly in the war, forming a huge pressure on the enemy.
Overall, this article vividly outlines the possible scenarios of Alexander the Great's invasion of China in a simple way, and fully analyzes the confrontation between the two armies at that time and the strategic layout behind it. In the process of reading, the reader will be able to appreciate both the grandeur of the historical background and the intricacies of the war through comparative analysis. On the whole, this review** provides readers with a rich space for thinking through a detailed interpretation of the article, and makes people can't help but have a deeper interest in the mysteries of historical wars.
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