Research On The Construction Of Cavalry Fromemperor Wen To Emperor Wu Of The Westernhan Dynasty ——A Case Study Of Horse Administration,Melee Weapons And Tactics

The period from Emperor Wen of the Western Han Dynasty to Emperor Wu was the first turning point in the development of the Central-Plains cavalry,which marked that the Central-Plains cavalry really became an independent military unit,capable of fighting independently,and achieved a qualitative leap from the auxiliary to the main force in terms of numbers and tactics.Firstly,during this period,the government of the Western Han dynasty overhauled the horse administration,which greatly increased the number of state-owned horses and laid a solid foundation for the establishment of a large cavalry army.Secondly,due to the continuous progress of iron and steel smelting technology,the iron and steel long sword with flat handle,the single-edged sword with a ring pommel are all began to be equipped in cavalry troops,which greatly improved the ability of close combat for Western Han cavalry;Thirdly,through standardized military training and strict military law and discipline,the government of the Western Han Dynasty not only improved the fighting skills and physical strength of the soldiers,but also shaped the strong cohesion and centripetal force of the army of the Western Han Dynasty,the combat effectiveness of the cavalry of the Western Han Dynasty caught up with or even exceeded the Huns cavalry.Finally,benefiting from the first three conditions,the cavalry of the Western Han dynasty finally broke through the shackles in number and tactics and reached a new height.The number of the cavalry of Western Han Dynasty is about the same amount of the chariot and infantry,and the cavalry can be taken to combat mission as the main force and can also battle with the Huns cavalry.The Western Han cavalry created the examples where cavalry battle circuitously in a long-range,It provides important experience for the development of cavalry strategy and tactics in central Plains after the Western Han Dynasty.