The five elite troops of ancient China

  Five, The Mercenaries of the Eastern Jin's Aristocratic Clans - The Northern Garrison Troops

  "In the beginning of Taiyuan, Xie Xuan was stationed in Guangling to the north. At that time, Fu Jian was at the height of his power, and Xuan recruited many brave warriors, including Lao Zhen, He Qian from Donghai, Zhuge Kan from Langya, Gao Heng from Le'an, Liu Gui from Dongping, Tian Luo from Xihai, and Sun Wuchun from Jinling. Xuan appointed Lao Zhen as his assistant officer, leading the elite troops as vanguard, winning every battle, and was known as the Northern Garrison Troops."

  He recruited brave and heroic warriors, obtaining several men including Liu Yao from Pengcheng. He appointed Liu Yao as a military advisor, who often led the elite troops at the forefront of battles, never failing to win, and was known as the Northern Garrison Troops.

  The Xie family of the Eastern Jin Dynasty integrated the northern refugees, vagrants, and the elite of the original garrison troops to form an army that could defend the capital, counter the northern cavalry, and indirectly take orders from the aristocratic families - the Northern Garrison Troops.

  Xie family's integration of Northern Garrison Troops had a great impact on their own family, Eastern Jin politics and even Chinese political situation.

  In August 383 AD, the Former Qin Emperor Fu Jian personally led an army of 60 million infantrymen, 270,000 cavalrymen and 30,000 imperial guards, a total of 900,000 troops, from Chang'an to march south. Fu Jian declared: "With my great army of one million men, even if I throw horse whips into the Yangtze River, it will be enough to make the Yangtze River stop flowing."

  Xie Xuan sent Liu Laozhi to lead 5,000 elite soldiers from the Northern Garrison to launch a surprise attack on Luojian, defeating the 50,000-strong army of the Former Qin and killing 15,000 enemies. The Northern Garrison troops won their first battle. At the Battle of Fei River, Xie Xuan's 8,000 cavalrymen took advantage of Fu Jian's retreating army and launched a fierce attack on the Former Qin army's formation after crossing the river. The Former Qin army collapsed instantly, and Fu Jian's brother Fu Rong was killed in battle. Fu Jian himself was shot by an arrow and fled in disarray.

  The Battle of Fei River, 8,000 Northern Garrison troops defeated the main force of Qin army. Historical records: killed and annihilated 700,000 soldiers of Former Qin! Fu Jian's dynasty also collapsed because of this.

  Later, the Northern Garrison Troops captured Huan Xuan and followed Liu Yu to Jiankang to claim the throne in 420. The Northern Garrison Troops had an impact on China for decades.

  Although the "Northern Garrison Troops" had several periods in a strict sense, generally speaking, from the integration of Xie's family, the Northern Garrison Troops became a truly elite force. The famous generals of this army, such as Liu Laozhi and Liu Yu, also became important figures. Which aristocratic family controlled the Northern Garrison Troops, they controlled the Han Chinese regime in Jiangnan.

  The Northern Garrison Troops have been mercenaries of the Great Families since Xie Xuan's integration, and the Eastern Jin court has no control over them.

  The selection of Beifu soldiers is because they have both strong combat power and great influence on politics.

  The elite guards of the imperial court - The Xue Army

  The Imperial Guards, the emperor's forbidden troops. During the time of Taizu, Muqali, Shimo Wuren, Boro Hulai and Boro Shulai were appointed as the four Keshikten, leading the Keshikten troops to take turns guarding the palace. At that time, they were called Khurilai, meaning the Four Heroes, and Taizu ordered them to be the hereditary leaders of the Keshikten. Keshikten means taking turns to guard the palace at night.

  In the fourth year of Taizong, Genghis Khan established the Kheshig army, selecting the elite and not many in number. Later, he expanded the Kheshig army to over 10,000 people, mainly composed of nobles, generals and other meritorious sons. Each ordinary Kheshig soldier had the salary and military rank of an ordinary general, and its commander was even more extraordinary, with four people, namely the "Four Heroes" of the early Yuan Dynasty: Muqali, Shimo Xiwu, Boroqul, and Boroqul, who were also granted the title of "Four Kheshig".

  Historical evaluation: This army laid the foundation for the Mongol Empire's rule!

  Jade Xu Jun as Genghis Khan's treasured possession would naturally not be used casually, its function was mainly to maintain Genghis Khan's rule.

  But because of the Mongols, especially Genghis Khan's military prowess was too dazzling, too shocking, and too astonishing, so it is hard to mention the elite troops without mentioning the Mongolian crack troops, while the Kheshig army is undoubtedly the most representative.

  Three, The Real Elite of the Late Ming Dynasty - Yi Ding Tu Qi

  It is recorded that Wu Sangui's troops had 40,000 elite soldiers and 700,000 to 800,000 Liaodong civilians who were all capable of withstanding fierce battles. The several thousand Dings' cavalry were particularly valiant. Whenever the enemy saw them, they would retreat.

  Wu Sangui garrisoned Shanhai Pass, with the main force in his hands being the "Guanning Army" trained by Yuan Chonghuan. This army group was the elite of the Ming army and also the main force that dominated China's political situation.

  Li Zicheng led the main force of 100,000 Dashun Army to march into Shanhai Pass. Under the fierce attack of the Dashun Army, Wu Sangui's defense system gradually collapsed. The North Wing City was Li Zicheng's chosen breakthrough point. Just as it was about to be breached, Wu Sangui personally led his "Yiding Tuqi" cavalry to support and stopped the Dashun Army's offensive. Even at the most critical moment, Wu Sangui still relied on this elite force of hundreds of soldiers to break through the siege and seek help from the Qing army.

  In this war that changed the course of Chinese history, Wu Sangui's "Yiding Tuqi" played a crucial role in turning the tide several times. This unit had "twenty teams, with team leaders' names written on signs inserted into their boots. In urgent situations, they would receive orders to summon certain teams, which would immediately lead their cavalry to charge forward, achieving victory every time."

  To know that the Liaodong Army of the Ming Dynasty was a team that gathered the best in the world, and "Yiding Tuqi" was Wu Sangui's personal army in the early days. Later, he became a big official, and this army also expanded greatly. The essence of the Gengjing Army is here. So it can be said that: Gengjing Army is the gathering of the best in the world, Yiding Tuqi is the gathering of the elite of Gengjing Army.

  Its selection is due to the fact that the essence of the Gengjing Army, which was personally formed by Yuan Chonghuan and could rival the Eight Banners of the Qing Dynasty, lies here.

  Two, Li Shimin's Sharp Sword - Xuanjia Army

  "It is recorded: 'Emperor Taizong of Qin selected over a thousand elite cavalrymen, all dressed in black clothes and dark armor, divided into left and right squads, with Qin Shubao, Cheng Zhiye, Wei Rui and Di Changsun each commanding one. In every battle, Taizong personally wore dark armor to lead the vanguard, taking advantage of opportunities to launch attacks, wherever they went, none could withstand them, the enemy feared him.'"

  Li Shimin created the peak of China's feudal society, and his country's great sword was the "Xuanjia Army".

  The Battle of Tong Pass, Li Shimin led several thousand Tang soldiers against tens of thousands of Xueyantuo troops, including 3,500 "Iron Armor" cavalrymen.

  Li Shimin once used 1,000 elite soldiers to defeat Wang Shichong, killing or capturing over 6,000 people. In the decisive Battle of Hulao Pass, Dou Jiande led his main force of over 100,000 troops to support Wang Shichong, but Li Shimin only sent 3,500 elite soldiers as vanguard to reinforce Hulao Pass. As a result, Dou Jiande's army of over 100,000 was defeated, and Dou Jiande himself escaped with only a few hundred cavalrymen. Subsequently, Wang Shichong in Luoyang was also eliminated. The situation across the country completely turned in favor of the Tang army.

  There was a Tang Dynasty, with strong military power for a time. The title of "Tian Kehan" was not obtained in vain. Li Shimin relied on his brilliant military ability to create an era, and the Xuanjia Army was the sharpest sword in his hand! Bai Juyi praised: "Taizong launched eighteen righteous armies, with white horsehair banners and yellow axes, conquering the two capitals. Capturing and executing Dou, the four seas were cleared, and by twenty-four years old, his achievements were accomplished."

  It was selected because the Tang Dynasty was the strongest in the world at that time, and the Xuanjia Army was the strongest army of the Tang Dynasty.

  The Invincible Legend - Yue Family's Backyard Army

  "Yunlu Manchao" records: "The Korean and Yue armies were particularly elite, often selecting the bravest and strongest soldiers from the army to form a special unit called 'Bei Wei'. Once they entered Bei Wei, all other troops had to show them respect and courtesy. They received extraordinary rewards and treatment, and their bravery was unmatched. Whenever there was a strong enemy, the Bei Wei army would be dispatched, and none of them failed to defeat the enemy."

  The Southern Song Dynasty's four most powerful generals, Yue Fei's Yue Family Army was the strongest, and his "Ba Wei Jun" was the elite of the elites. Without exaggeration, this army represented the essence of the "Yue Family Army".

  The name "Bei Wei Army" has multiple interpretations: one says that the original meaning of Wei referred to a wine bottle, and the commander's wine bottle must be held by trusted personnel, so it is used as a metaphor for trusted personnel. Another theory suggests that it refers to a leather signboard. There is also another theory that it refers to the bravest soldiers in front of the general's tent. Others say that this is a foreign language term and Yue Fei simply borrowed the word.

  Yue Ke, Volume 22 says: "The soldiers of Bei Wei were the first to surrender and become my vanguard troops." It also says that "Ying Chang and Zhu Xian both won victories with this army."

  Yue Fei's Yue Family Army had around 100,000 soldiers at its peak and was divided into: Front Army, Rear Army, Left Army, Right Army, Central Army, Patrol Army, White Armor Army, Elite Vanguard Army, Victory Army, Enemy Vanquishing Army, Navy, and the Back Wei Army. Among them, the Back Wei Army had 8,000 cavalrymen and several thousand infantrymen.

  In a series of battles against the Jin army in Yingchang and Yancheng in Shaoxing, the Beiwei army played a crucial role.

  Yue Fei's army defeated the Jin army's elite "Hooked Horse" infantry in a battle at Yancheng, and then used a small number of elite cavalry to charge into the enemy formation, ultimately defeating Wuzhu's 15,000 elite cavalry. Wuzhu sighed: "Since I started my rebellion from the coast, I have always won with this tactic, but now it is no more!" Yue Fei reported in his memorial: "The dead bodies of the enemy soldiers filled the entire field."

  Wuzong was not willing to accept defeat, and gathered 30,000 cavalrymen to attack Yingchang again. Yue Yun led the 800 elite cavalrymen of the Baoyi Army to engage in a decisive battle, and once again greatly defeated Wuzong's Golden Army's elite cavalry, killing them until "the people were covered in blood and the horses were covered in blood". The main force followed up afterwards, killing Wuzong's son-in-law Xia Jinwu and deputy commander Zhan Han Suo Baqi. Wuzong fled.

  In Zhuxian Town, 500 elite soldiers defeated more than 100,000 Jin troops.

  No wonder Jin Ren exclaimed "Shaking mountains is easy, but defeating the Yue Family Army is difficult".

  At that time, the combat effectiveness of the Song army had been greatly improved, and it was not at a disadvantage in fighting against the Jin army. The Yue Fei's Baowei Army even created the classic example of "infantry defeating the elite cavalry of the Jin people on the plain".

  The myth that "a force of less than 10,000 is not enough to defeat the enemy" has been broken by the Beiwei army more than once. Perhaps this sentence should be rewritten: "A force of less than 10,000 from Beiwei cannot be defeated even if it's less than 10,000!"

  Yuan Fu's poem "Zan Beiwei Jun Dao": The warhorse of the Beiwei army has no match, it tramples all the vassals of that year. The predecessors have heard of its numerous exploits, but who among the younger generation can recognize its hidden and subtle power?