When was the Song dynasty?
Song dynasty
Although the scholar-officials viewed military soldiers as lower members in the hierarchic social order,[102] a person could gain status and prestige in society by becoming a high-ranking military officer with a record of victorious battles.[103] At its height, the Song military had one million soldiers[27] divided into platoons of 50 troops, companies made of two platoons, battalions composed of 500 soldiers.[104][105] Crossbowmen were separated from the regular infantry and placed in their own units as they were prized combatants, providing effective missile fire against cavalry charges.[105] The government was eager to sponsor new crossbow designs that could shoot at longer ranges, while crossbowmen were also valuable when employed as long-range snipers.[106] Song cavalry employed a slew of different weapons, including halberds, swords, bows, spears, and 'fire lances' that discharged a gunpowder blast of flame and shrapnel.[107]