How were wars fought in ancient times?
War has been closely associated with human society since its formation. The ancient battlefield was not only a contest between warriors and warriors, but also a collision of wisdom and courage, and the interweaving of strategy and tactics. So, how exactly were wars fought in ancient times?
1. Pre-war strategy.
Ancient warfare attached great importance to "temple calculations", that is, pre-war planning. "The Art of War" emphasizes that "the husband is counted as the victor without fighting, and he has to count as much". Before the war, both sides would send scouts to probe each other's reality, strength, strength, and terrain. A strategy is developed only after the enemy is fully understood. Therefore, pre-war intelligence work was particularly important.
Second, the art of arrangement.
Formation is a key link in warfare. Different formations have different roles, either offensive or defensive, advancing or retreating. Such as the ancient Chinese Bagua Array, Sharp Arrow Array, Crane Wing Array, etc. The essence of the formation is to flexibly change according to the terrain, troop strength and other factors, so that the enemy is unpredictable.
3. The courage of the first battle.
Ancient warfare valued victory in the first battle, as victory in the first battle could boost morale and disrupt the enemy's disposition. Therefore, elite troops are often invested in the first battle, attacking the enemy formation with thunder, and striving to defeat the enemy army in one fell swoop.
Fourth, the change of Qizheng.
Sun Tzu's Art of War cloud: "All those who fight, with the right combination, with the odd victory." "The use of regular soldiers and surprise soldiers is the essence of war. Regular soldiers go head-to-head with the enemy and attract the enemy's main force;And the surprise soldiers are taken by surprise and attacked unprepared, so as to achieve the effect of winning more with less.
5. Psychological warfare.
Ancient warfare was not only a military contest, but also a psychological contest. By disseminating false information and using psychological tactics, we can achieve the goal of breaking the morale of the enemy's troops and disrupting the enemy's deployment. For example, Zhuge Liang's empty city plan during the Three Kingdoms period is a typical psychological warfare.
Sixth, conquer the city.
Conquering cities was one of the main goals of ancient warfare. Siege requires thorough preparation, including making siege equipment, digging tunnels, etc. Defending the city, on the other hand, requires making full use of the terrain to set traps and use defensive means such as rolling logs and stones. The contest between siege and defense often determines the outcome of a war.
7. Pursuit and siege.
A pursuit is an operation carried out after the defeat of an enemy army, with the aim of expanding the results of the battle and destroying the remnants of the enemy. Siege, on the other hand, is to block the enemy's supply lines and cut off the retreat routes, so that the enemy army will be in a difficult situation and collapse without a fight. The use of pursuit and siege requires the assessment of the situation and the avoidance of falling into the trap of the enemy.
8. Peace talks and peace negotiations.
When the war progresses to a certain extent, the two sides will often consider peace talks or peace talks. Peace talks are a means of settling disputes through diplomatic means;Peace negotiation is a compromise reached on the battlefield. Peace talks and peace negotiations require both sides to have sufficient sincerity and wisdom to reach a consensus.
9. Post-war governance.
After the end of the war, the victors needed to carry out post-war governance. Including reassuring the people, rebuilding homes, resuming production, etc. The quality of post-war governance has a direct bearing on the stability and prosperity of the country. As a result, ancient rulers often took a series of measures to consolidate their rule and pacify their people after the war.
In general, fighting in ancient times was not only a contest between warriors and warriors, but also a collision of wisdom and courage, and the interweaving of strategy and tactics. Every war is a contest of comprehensive strength, and every link from pre-war planning to post-war governance is crucial. Therefore, in order to achieve victory in the war, you need not only brave and good soldiers, but also wise and martial leaders to strategize and win a decisive victory thousands of miles away. Search Topic Full Time Challenge December