Chapter 1076

After Xu You left Gu Yi’s camp, he felt both excited and uneasy. He knew deeply that this step was extremely risky, but it could also become the most glorious chapter of his life. On the way back to Yuan Shao’s camp, he pondered repeatedly on how to report the results of this trip to Yuan Shao and how to lay out the next steps.

At the same time, the spies of Gongsun Zan and Sun Jian also set off one after another. Carrying the expectations of their respective commanders, they sneaked into Dong Zhuo’s camp. These spies not only had to inquire about the news of Yan Gang and Zu Mao but also had to secretly observe the movements of Dong Zhuo’s army to collect intelligence for possible actions.

After Xu You left, Yuan Shao was also restless. On one hand, he looked forward to Xu You bringing back good news, and on the other hand, he worried about Xu You’s safety. After all, Dong Zhuo was not an easy person to deal with, and his subordinates were all masters. Yuan Shao paced back and forth in the camp, occasionally asking the advisors around him: “Has Ziyuan not returned yet?”

The advisors looked at each other, none daring to speak rashly. At this time, Guo Tu stood up and said: “My lord, Xu You will surely act with caution on this trip; perhaps it will take some time. We might as well prepare for other matters first, such as strengthening the camp’s defense to prevent Dong Zhuo from attacking suddenly.”

Yuan Shao nodded, but the anxiety in his heart did not dissipate because of this. He knew deeply that in this chaotic world, every step was like walking on thin ice, and a slight carelessness could lead to total destruction.

A few days later, Xu You finally returned to Yuan Shao’s camp. He looked exhausted, but his eyes were shining. Seeing this, Yuan Shao was overjoyed and quickly welcomed him: “Ziyuan, how was the trip?”

Xu You took a deep breath and informed Yuan Shao in detail about the meeting with Gu Yi. After listening, Yuan Shao frowned and pondered for a moment before saying: “Is Gu Yi really willing to betray Dong Zhuo?”

“My lord, although Gu Yi is not a person who can be easily moved, I have analyzed the pros and cons for him, and he has been shaken. As long as we add fuel to the fire, he will surely be used by us,” Xu You said confidently.

Yuan Shao nodded, but then showed a worried expression: “However, how can we ensure he can escape safely? And how can we rescue Yan Gang and Zu Mao?”

Xu You smiled slightly and said: “My lord, rest assured, I already have a plan. We can send an elite force, disguised as Dong Zhuo’s reinforcements, to mix into his camp. Then, working from the inside and outside, we can help Gu Yi escape and rescue Yan Gang and Zu Mao.”

After listening, a flash of light crossed Yuan Shao’s eyes. He knew the risk of this plan was great, but if it succeeded, it would surely deal a heavy blow to Dong Zhuo. Therefore, he made the decision: “Good! Let it be done according to Ziyuan’s plan. But this matter must be strictly deployed to ensure it is foolproof.”

In the days that followed, Yuan Shao and Xu You and others prepared for the plan intensively. They selected elite soldiers, formulated routes, and arranged for reinforcements. At the same time, Guo Tu and Feng Ji also followed the previous arrangements and began to spread rumors between the coalition and Dong Zhuo’s army, attempting to further sow discord between Dong Zhuo and his generals.

And Gu Yi, after Xu You left, was also restless. He knew deeply that once he took this step, he would never be able to turn back. But he also understood that if he continued to stay by Dong Zhuo’s side, he would sooner or later become a victim of Dong Zhuo’s suspicion. Therefore, he began to prepare secretly, waiting for Xu You’s next instructions.

Time flew by like a white horse passing a crevice, and in the blink of an eye, it was the day of the action. Yuan Shao’s army was ready to go, and Gu Yi was also prepared in Dong Zhuo’s camp to act as an inside agent. However, just as the action was about to begin, a sudden piece of news broke all the plans—Dong Zhuo seemed to have noticed the coalition’s movements and began to strengthen the camp’s defense, and sent scouts to investigate everywhere.

Upon receiving the news, Yuan Shao was greatly alarmed. He knew well that if he were to act rashly now, he would inevitably fall into Dong Zhuo’s ambush. Thus, he urgently summoned his strategists to discuss countermeasures. Xu You also furrowed his brows, silently pondering how to deal with this sudden turn of events.

"My lord, it is not advisable to launch a frontal assault at this time. We should remain still for now and wait for an opportunity," suggested Guo Tu.

Yuan Shao nodded, but immediately looked toward Xu You: "Ziyuan, how stands your agreement with Gu Yi? Has he made the necessary preparations?"

After a moment of contemplation, Xu You replied: "Rest assured, my lord, Gu Yi is prepared to act as an inside agent. However, given the current shift in the situation, we must deliberate carefully."

Hearing this, Yuan Shao felt anxious, yet he knew he could not afford to be hasty. He ordered the main army to hold its position for the time being and secretly commanded his scouts to continue gathering intelligence on the movements of Dong Zhuo’s forces.

In the days that followed, the coalition and Dong Zhuo’s army fell into a delicate standoff. Both sides were testing each other in the shadows, searching for flaws. Gu Yi, meanwhile, was walking on thin ice within Dong Zhuo’s camp; he had to manage Dong Zhuo’s suspicions while simultaneously preparing for the coalition's move.

Finally, on a night of wind and rain, the coalition found an excellent opportunity. Due to the weather, Dong Zhuo’s army had relaxed its vigilance, and Gu Yi seized the moment to create chaos within the camp. The coalition launched a surprise attack, breaking into Dong Zhuo’s camp in one fell swoop.

In the heat of the battle, Gu Yi relied on his familiarity with the camp's layout to successfully rescue Yan Gang and Zu Mao. Guided by Gu Yi, the coalition inflicted heavy losses on Dong Zhuo’s forces. Seeing that the situation had turned against him, Dong Zhuo fled in a panic.

After this battle, the coalition’s morale soared. Yuan Shao highly praised the contributions of Xu You and Gu Yi, fulfilling his previous promises. Gu Yi thus established a firm footing within the coalition, becoming a highly respected general.

Yet, in these chaotic times, the winds of fortune are unpredictable. While this victory brought the coalition a brief moment of respite, greater challenges still awaited them. This experience became the most unforgettable chapter in the lives of Xu You and Gu Yi.