In ancient times, when facing a battle, the clear advantage lay with the side that had a larger number of soldiers. The number of soldiers in an army was considered one of the important factors in assessing combat effectiveness. However, managing a large number of soldiers, such as tens or hundreds of thousands, was not easy during military campaigns. Many minor issues in daily life could become major problems in the army.
Most soldiers are usually in their youth to middle age, a period when they are full of energy and cannot avoid physical desires. This is not only detrimental to the health of the military but also affects combat effectiveness if the situation becomes serious. So, in the situation of being far from home, what should these soldiers do when they “miss their wives”? In fact, these issues have been considered for a long time and there have been 4 proposed solutions.
So, in the situation of being far from home, what should these soldiers do when they “miss their wives”?
For the commander-in-chief and lower-ranking generals in the military, they belong to the leadership class and are usually treated with special favor. Typically, the generals would bring their loved ones along when going to battle to address some of their personal concerns. While bringing wives along makes it easier for soldiers to care for and meet their personal needs, it can also create many complicated issues.
How did ancient soldiers address their physiological needs?
So for ordinary soldiers, how did they deal with their personal issues?
Firstly, in ancient warfare, there was not always marching. When there was no military tension, or when stationed in a stable place, soldiers were given “leave” and had the freedom to move around. At this time, they could return to their hometown to reunite with their wives or visit nearby towns for entertainment.
Secondly, in ancient times, “facilities” were established for the military, where soldiers could entertain themselves according to regulations. The women chosen to be in the “comfort” places in the army were not only widows but could also be punished criminals.
Secondly, in ancient times, “facilities” were established for the military, where soldiers could entertain themselves according to regulations.
Thirdly, after capturing a city, many armies were allowed to loot the enemy’s possessions, including people. On the other hand, this action could also demonstrate power and create fear. In this situation, many soldiers would take advantage of the opportunity to address their physiological needs by capturing the women in the city they had conquered. However, this behavior often aroused anger and was inhumane.
Fourthly, a humane solution was to encourage soldiers to write letters. Those who were already married often wrote letters to their wives to express their affection and concern. As for those who were unmarried, they would usually write letters to their families, expressing gratitude and determination to fight to protect their homeland. This method not only cost nothing, did not harm others, but also helped to enhance the fighting spirit in the military.
