Although Cao Cao's army numbers are adequate, its combat effectiveness is probably about the same level as that led by Yan Yan and Zhang Ren, and perhaps even inferior. Though training hasn't been neglected, experience in warfare can't be trained; the same physical quality doesn't mean the same combat power!
Upon realizing this fact, Xiahou Dun's heart sank. He thought they were almost catching up with Liu Bei; even if they couldn't defeat him, they should be able to hold their ground. Now, thinking about it, the gap between them and Liu Bei's two hundred thousand elite troops is enormous.
However, Xiahou Dun had no idea that Liu Bei could field forty thousand elite troops, those who had truly been on the battlefield. This doesn't even count the legions involved in land reclamation; counting those and the militia, Liu Bei could muster an army of a million.
