Wei Wuzu

The Wei Wuzu (魏武卒) were an elite unit from the State of Wei established by the famous general Wu Qi during the Warring States Period(475 BC-221 BC) of China. At that time, the Wei State and Qin State were constantly fighting for the Hexi region, the gateway to Guanzhong. After Wu Qi became the general of Wei State, he established this elite armored unit to improve the quality of the army.

Overview

The Wei Wuzu had to undergo extremely rigorous training. According to the Book of Xunzi on Military Affairs, they could march 100 li (41.6 km, based on the Eastern Zhou li) in one day while equipped with heavy lamellar armour, a helmet, a Halberd(Gē) strapped to their back, a sword(Jiàn) strapped to their waist, as well as wield a crossbow(Nǔ) with 50 bolts in their quiver, and three days of rations.^[1]^[2] Soldiers who met these standards earned an exemption from corvée labor and taxes for their entire family.^[3]

With this elite infantry unit, Wu Qi was able to conquer the Hexi region, winning many battles.^[4] One decisive battle that Wu Qi fought, was when the Qin State dispatched 500,000 men to retake back the Hexi region. Wu Qi then sent the 50,000 professionally trained Wei Wuzu to defend Hexi, which ended in a devastating loss for the Qin, despite the Wei Wuzu being heavily outnumbered. It was because of this that Wu Qi was able to fully annex the Hexi region, and the Qin was unable to reconquer it for decades to come.^[5]

References

^ Basic Writings of Mo Tzu, Hsün Tzu, and Han Fei Tzu. Translated by Watson, Burton. Columbia University Press. January 1967. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-231-52110-9.
^ Man, John (2009-03-05). The Terra Cotta Army: China's First Emperor and the Birth of a Nation. Hachette Books. ISBN 978-0-7867-3206-7.
^ Lewis, Mark Edward (2007). The Early Chinese Empires: Qin and Han. Harvard University Press. pp. 38–39. doi:10.2307/j.ctv1kmj82j. ISBN 978-0-674-02477-9. JSTOR j.ctv1kmj82j.
^ Qian, Sima (June 1993). Records of the Grand Historian: Qin Dynasty. Translated by Watson, Burton. Columbia University Press. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-231-08168-9.
^ Qian, Sima (June 1993). Records of the Grand Historian: Qin Dynasty. Translated by Watson, Burton. Columbia University Press. pp. 24–26. ISBN 978-0-231-08168-9.

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[1] Basic Writings of Mo Tzu, Hsün Tzu, and Han Fei Tzu. Translated by Watson, Burton. Columbia University Press. January 1967. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-231-52110-9.

[2] Man, John (2009-03-05). The Terra Cotta Army: China's First Emperor and the Birth of a Nation. Hachette Books. ISBN 978-0-7867-3206-7.

[3] Lewis, Mark Edward (2007). The Early Chinese Empires: Qin and Han. Harvard University Press. pp. 38–39. doi:10.2307/j.ctv1kmj82j. ISBN 978-0-674-02477-9. JSTOR j.ctv1kmj82j.

[4] Qian, Sima (June 1993). Records of the Grand Historian: Qin Dynasty. Translated by Watson, Burton. Columbia University Press. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-231-08168-9.

[5] Qian, Sima (June 1993). Records of the Grand Historian: Qin Dynasty. Translated by Watson, Burton. Columbia University Press. pp. 24–26. ISBN 978-0-231-08168-9.

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Wei Wuzu

Overview

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References