Northern Song infantry

[nikgaukroger]

I have been looking at the Later Zhou as a possible Chinese army to build, and as they transformed into the Song in 960 CE with Zhao Kuangyin's coup I have inevitably drfited into the Northern Song period as well.

This has made me wonder about the classification of the Northern Song infantry. I read that their formations were 1 rank of troops with a mix of spears, pole arms, etc, 3 ranks of crossbowmen and a final rank of archers. This feels more like classification in the Five Dynasties list (half SSp + Xbow, half Xbow) than in the Northern Song (all Pole Arm + Xbow).

[rayfredjohn]

In anticipation of a possible future change and to make the bases more universal I went with the spear and bow on separate bases in my Song army.

[nikgaukroger]

Sensible chap 

[nikgaukroger]

I have been looking at the Later Zhou as a possible Chinese army to build, and as they transformed into the Song in 960 CE with Zhao Kuangyin's coup I have inevitably drfited into the Northern Song period as well.

This has made me wonder about the classification of the Northern Song infantry. I read that their formations were 1 rank of troops with a mix of spears, pole arms, etc, 3 ranks of crossbowmen and a final rank of archers. This feels more like classification in the Five Dynasties list (half SSp + Xbow, half Xbow) than in the Northern Song (all Pole Arm + Xbow).

Having found nothing that contradicts what I wrote above I'm wondering where the all pole arm + crossbow classification actually comes from.