Why couldn't soldiers retreat when fighting in ancient times?

In ancient times, soldiers could not retreat, on the one hand, because they would be punished by military law when they got cold feet, and they were basically killed, and if they retreated, they would be trampled to death by soldiers who rushed up behind them.

Not only in ancient times, but also in modern times, as long as the superior gives the instructions to move forward, whether it is wind or rain, danger or trap, it must be carried out. Soldiers will also be afraid, and they will be afraid in their hearts, but there is no way. What the superior said was instructions. In fact, this phenomenon is vividly reflected in chess: China players only take one step after crossing the river, but they can only go straight before crossing the river, and they can rush after crossing the river. But we must insist on one thing-we must never retreat.

Since ancient times, soldiers have always been adhering to the spirit that soldiers must take the lead and forget their lives, and they are ordered to fight rather than surrender. Only in this way can they become heroes. Even if you die in the battlefield, you are also a hero and revered by future generations.

In addition to China people's own integrity, it is also because there will be overseers in the rear. If you are found to retreat or run away, you will immediately deal with it and execute it on the spot. This kind of death and immortality on the battlefield, people will choose the latter, so as to spread through the ages. Maybe there is a glimmer of hope when you rush forward, and maybe you can come back alive; But as long as they are found to have escaped back, they must be disposed of, and their previous reputation will be destroyed and fall short.

But in fact, the situation of soldiers is also very poor. Their status is very low, unlike generals. The state will distribute advanced weapons, strong armor and even the fastest horses to the generals. But the soldiers didn't. Some soldiers only fight with their own flesh and blood. Facing the enemy's weapons, they can only fight with their own bodies. A river of blood finally won the victory of the war, the majesty of the country, the prestige of the general and so on.

In some TV dramas, we also saw the scene that two armies were at war, and one army was forced to take the lead, while the other side had to defend it strictly, so we came up with many ways. For example, a wave of arrow rain or pike puncture and so on.