After discussing with his officials, King Yilou issued a conscription order, requiring all able-bodied men aged thirteen to forty to join the army and resist the Han invasion.
At the same time, the King of Yilou also sent envoys with a large amount of gold dust, red jade, sable fur, and mountain goods to the surrounding tribes and the Wuhuan and Xianbei in the west.
Five days later, all 50,000 able-bodied men in Yilou gathered in the capital city of Yilou.
After distributing weapons to these able-bodied men, King Yilou personally led this army of 50,000 southwestward to a riverbank (present-day east bank of the Songhua River) to set up defenses.
Meanwhile, the surrounding tribes, upon receiving the Yilou king's plea for help, also dispatched their warriors to assist in the battle.
After Cao Cao and his troops marched to the other side of the Songhua River, the army of the King of Yilou had reached 60,000 men.
Standing beside the turbulent river, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Yuan Shao, and Sun Jian couldn't help but frown.
"Mengde, it seems this battle will be difficult. Our army has searched far and wide but has only found a few dozen dilapidated fishing boats, which are far from enough to support the army's crossing of the river!"
Yuan Shao looked at the Yilou army, which was waiting in full battle array on the opposite bank of the river, and his expression was quite solemn.
Liu Bei also spoke up, saying, "The Yilou people have lived here for a long time and are skilled in swimming. Our army currently has no warships and has lost its advantage of a large force. If we force our way across the river, I fear we will suffer heavy losses!"
Cao Cao couldn't help but laugh and said, "There are many ways to defeat the Yilou people, why do you have to choose the most difficult one?"
"Hmm? What brilliant strategy does Mengde have to defeat the enemy?"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao and Liu Bei exchanged a glance, then looked at Cao Cao with curiosity.
"Warfare is based on deception; it should operate outside the conventional methods!"
As he spoke, Cao Cao stretched out his hand, pointing to the river in front of him and the camp on the opposite bank.
"The King of Yilou chose this place to garrison because he knew that the river here was difficult to cross and that it was easy to defend but difficult to attack."
But this river is so long, there are always other places for our army to cross, so why should we confront the enemy here?
Furthermore, our army has many skilled craftsmen, and the rear areas are densely forested, so building some warships will not be a problem.
Sun Jian, standing to the side, frowned: "Our army can certainly move, but the enemy army can also move..."
"Then tell them not to move!"
Before Sun Jian could finish speaking, Cao Cao interrupted him.
"Mengde's method is indeed feasible!"
Liu Bei, who was standing to the side, nodded thoughtfully.
"Alright, let's go back to camp and discuss the specifics of how to proceed!"
After saying this, Cao Cao turned and left. Liu Bei, Yuan Shao, and Sun Jian exchanged glances and followed behind.
The four returned to the camp and summoned the lieutenant general to the central command tent.
After taking their seats, Cao Cao spoke first, saying, "The Yilou army is stationed on the riverbank, and it is difficult to take them down with a frontal assault. I think we should send a detachment along the river to find a place to cross it, circle around to the enemy's rear, cut off their supplies, and then launch a pincer attack!"
As he spoke, Cao Cao looked at Sun Jian and asked, "How about letting Wen Tai lead this detachment?"
Sun Jian nodded: "No problem!"
Then Cao Cao looked at the generals and officers in the army and said in a deep voice: "Go back and immediately gather your troops and the transport team to build warships to cross the river. Also, send troops to patrol the riverbank. Make sure the enemy sees our movements!"
"promise!!"
The officers responded loudly and then turned and left.
Liu Bei thought for a moment and then said, "Mengde, I believe that in addition to making a big show of force to confuse the enemy, we should also follow the example of General Gongsun Zan when he quelled the rebellion and use the strategy of exhausting the enemy to distract them!"
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao smiled and nodded: "That's exactly what I was thinking. I once bought some slaves and released them back to Yilou, and now they come in handy!"
Yuan Shao also spoke up, saying, "As far as I know, in the northeastern part of Liaozhou, near the sea, there is a tribe called Beiwoju. This tribe has a population of about 50,000. They have often been plundered by the Yilou people and have a deep resentment towards them."
We might as well recruit them as our subordinate troops and, together with our army, launch a pincer attack on the Yilou army.”
Cao Cao nodded: "Alright, in that case, I'll send someone to deliver the message right away!"
Yuan Shao hurriedly said, "My messenger is probably not up to the task; it would be better if I went myself!"
"No, our army has never had any dealings with the Northern Woju. What if they have already defected to the Yilou? Wouldn't Yuan Shao be trapped in the tiger's den?"
Seeing that Yuan Shao actually intended to personally go and persuade him, Cao Cao refused without even thinking.
"It is precisely because we have never crossed paths that I must go there in person. Furthermore, seeing that our Han Dynasty has destroyed Goguryeo, the Northern Woju people would never dare to harm the Han envoy!"
Yuan Shao looked at Cao Cao with unwavering determination, hoping to gain his friend's support.
Cao Cao frowned: "Our army alone is enough to annihilate the Yilou army. Why does Yuan Shao insist on taking such a risk?"
Yuan Shao: "That is true, but with more help, our army can save some strength. The battlefields of the Han Dynasty will not be limited to this place in the future. If we rely on our army everywhere, we will eventually run out of strength."
Otherwise, why would His Majesty establish subordinate camps under the main camps?
"this......"
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao was speechless for a moment. Looking at his confident friend, he finally nodded.
Subsequently, Cao Cao personally selected one hundred elite soldiers to escort Yuan Shao toward Beiwoju.
"Benchu usually appears gentle and modest, but I never imagined he also had such a resolute and far-sighted side!"
Watching Yuan Shao's departing figure, Liu Bei couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
"He's always been like this, very wild at heart!"
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