Qiang Pikeman

The Qiang Pikeman is pikeman-type infantry unit available to the Chinese. It is the equivalent of the European Pikeman or the Aztec Puma Spearman.

Recruitment
The Qiang Pikeman can be recruited at the War Academy in the Old Han Army or the Ming Army. It is recruited in blocks of 3 but with one other type of unit. In the Old Han Army, it is recruited with 3 other Chu Ko Nu, and in the Ming Army it is recruited with 2 Keshiks.

Tactics & Cards
The Qiang Pikeman is the primary anti-cavalry unit in the Chinese army starting from the Colonial Age. It can be shipped in a group of 9 in the Colonial Age. As a unit in the Old Han Army, it can operate as a cheap infantry force meant to protect the Chu Ko Nu, mainly to shield it from enemy hand cavalry. The Ming Army is basically used as an all-rounded anti-cavalry force. As it starts off weak, it should be used with the 3 upgrade shipments available in the Industrial Age, listed as follows.
 * Western Reforms Card, which increases the attack and hit points of all units by 8%
 * Old Han Reforms card, which improves the Old Han Army units, increasing attack by 100%, hit points by 50%, and cost by 50%, but with a cost of 1000 food
 * Manchu Combat card, which increases the attack of the Qiang Pikeman, Changdao Swordsman . and the Iron Flail by 15%.

Combat bonuses
For unknown reasons, the Qiang Pikeman is easily defeated by the Coyote Runner. This is considered by some a bug, and is to be fixed in a fan patch.
 * Cavalry- 5x attack bonus
 * Light Infantry- 2.25x attack bonus

The real-life Qiang
"Qiang" literally means "pike" or "spear" in the Chinese language. Due to the simplicity in the manafacturing process, the Qiang was pervasive weapon in any Chinese battlefield prior to the modern age. The Qiang was usually made of wax wood, which was strong yet flexible, which allowed to bend and absorb damage. It was one of the four important weapons, the Gun (Staff), the Dao (Saber), the Jian (Sword) and the Qiang (Pike). The trademarks of the Qiang is the leafed-shaped spear-point and the red horse-hair tassle immediately below, meant to stop the opponent's blood from flowing down the shaft, which would have made the spear sticky. It was also meant to blur the opponents vision when the Qiang was moving very quickly. An infantry Qiang would have been approximately 2 meters long, although 4 meter variations were used by cavalry lancers. Many Chinese martial art academies use the Qiang as a training weapon for its invaluable potential in the hands of a master, often nicknaming it the "King of Weapons".