Does a soldier block the flying-general rule the same as any other piece?
These answers restate the rules implemented by our open-source engine, which follows the WXF laws and is regression-tested against the official 110-diagram repetition casebook. Where an answer refers to a specific position, that position lives on the linked reference page, where the build verifies it against the engine before publishing.
Direct answer
Yes, exactly the same as every other piece. The flying-general rule only counts pieces, not their type or value. A lone soldier sitting on the central file between the two generals blocks the rule just as completely as a chariot would, and removing that soldier creates the same illegal exposure removing any other piece would.
Why value does not matter here
Most rules in xiangqi treat pieces very unequally, a chariot and a soldier are worlds apart in strength. The flying-general rule is one of the few that does not care at all: it is a pure count of what stands on the file, so the cheapest piece on the board does the same job as the most expensive one.
What this means practically
A soldier parked on the central file can be an accidental hero, its presence alone can be the only thing stopping the enemy general from ever threatening yours down that file. Trading it away without noticing can quietly hand the opponent a resource they did not have a move earlier.
Related questions
Does it matter which side's soldier it is?
No. Either colour's piece blocks the file; ownership is irrelevant to the flying-general rule, just as it is to a cannon's screen.
Can a soldier that has not crossed the river still block the file?
Yes, as long as it stands somewhere on the central file between the two palaces, its own river status makes no difference.
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