By the Song Dynasty, the appearance of large cannons and hand-held muskets had already emerged. Following continuous development through the Song and Yuan dynasties, the Ming Dynasty saw the rise of the Divine Engine Corps as the primary military unit outfitted with firearms. The main training regimen for soldiers in the Divine Engine Corps involved combat using firearms. All the infantry in the corps were equipped with firearms, and the unit also included artillery and cavalry, indicating that the Ming Dynasty was a period of significant development for firearms.
After the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, which succeeded the Ming Dynasty, the Divine Engine Corps persisted, and there even appeared specialized units such as the Eight Banners Firearms Battalion, dedicated to the drill of firearms. On one hand, the use of firearms greatly enhanced the combat capability of ancient armies; on the other, it also changed the course of warfare.
