The forces mobilized to deal with the Southern Xiongnu people entrenched in Bingzhou were not particularly large: twenty thousand cavalry and ten thousand infantry. The commanders were Lu Bu and his subordinates Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, Cao Xing, and Cheng Lian, along with Zhao Yun and Gao Lan, who had come to help.
There was no other choice. Gongsun Zan had stayed in his own vassal state with his subordinates.
Taishi Ci had been left behind to guard Liaodong and intimidate the Buyeo people to the north, the Goguryeo people to the east, and the Three Han regions to the south.
Guan Yu was stationed in Qingzhou, overseeing all military affairs. Wei Yan was stationed on the front line in Donghai Commandery, while Guan Hai and Zang Ba were stationed at Mount Tai to defend against Cao Cao.
Xu Huang and Hua Xiong were stationed at Baima and Ganling respectively. Huang Zhong was stationed in Zhongmou, Henan Commandery, near Guandu, forming a standoff with the Cao Army along the Yellow River.
Zhang Xiu was stationed in Wancheng, Nanyang. Zhang He was stationed in Ye County, confronting the Cao Army around Yingchuan while also guarding against Jingzhou. Although Liu Biao had shown Liu Bei sufficient goodwill, he did not have strong control over Jingzhou and could hardly represent the Jingzhou great clans—especially after Liu Bei had become King of Han and begun moving against the great clans under his rule.
There was also the navy. It had been divided into three parts. As the navy's supreme commander, Gan Ning was specifically responsible for directing the Yellow Sea Fleet. The young Huang Xu did not want to serve under his father, so he too had thrown himself into the endless sea, studying under Gan Ning. He carried the title of future commander