Chapter 1077: A Legend of Chaotic Times

At the victory banquet celebrating the coalition’s triumph, Xu You and Gu Yi sat side by side, their faces beaming with unconcealable joy. After three rounds of wine, Xu You lightly patted Gu Yi’s shoulder and laughed: "Ziyi, your contribution to this success is immeasurable. Without your coordination from within, we could never have defeated Dong Zhuo so smoothly."

Gu Yi shook his head and said modestly: "Ziyuan, had it not been for your silver tongue persuading me, I would likely still be muddled under Dong Zhuo’s command. You gave me a clear path, and I shall keep this debt of gratitude in my heart."

Yuan Shao sat at the head of the table, his gaze sweeping over every general present, his heart filled with emotion. He stood up, raised his cup, and shouted: "Today’s victory is the result of everyone’s collective effort! Especially Ziyuan and Ziyi—your wisdom and courage have shown me the hope of the future!"

The generals rose one after another, raising their cups in response, and the camp was filled with jubilation. Yet, amidst this celebratory atmosphere, a flicker of worry crossed Yuan Shao’s eyes. He knew well that although this battle was won, Dong Zhuo had not been completely eradicated; his influence remained vast, and the road ahead was still long.

After the banquet, Yuan Shao kept Xu You and Gu Yi behind. The three sat around a table, and Yuan Shao spoke first: "Though today’s victory is joyous, we must not let our guard down. Dong Zhuo is defeated, but his foundations remain intact. What are our plans moving forward?"

Xu You pondered for a moment and said: "My lord, I believe we should take this opportunity to expand the alliance, unite with more warlords, and confront Dong Zhuo together. At the same time, we must strengthen our own power and train elite troops to prepare for any eventualities."

Gu Yi nodded in agreement: "Ziyuan’s words are correct. Furthermore, we should closely monitor Dong Zhuo’s movements to prevent him from making a comeback. Additionally, we must pay close attention to the stability within the alliance to prevent anyone from harboring ulterior motives."

Hearing this, Yuan Shao felt a sense of silent approval. He knew these two were not only wise and brave but also possessed profound strategic vision. He said solemnly: "I have taken your words to heart. What we must do next is consolidate the fruits of our victory while continuing to seek opportunities to strike a fatal blow against Dong Zhuo."

The three discussed until late into the night before dispersing. Gu Yi returned to his tent, but his heart could not find peace. He knew that although he had left Dong Zhuo, the real battle had only just begun. He had to work even harder to establish himself in these chaotic times.

Meanwhile, good news arrived from the camps of Gongsun Zan and Sun Jian. Their scouts had successfully brought back word of Yan Gang and Zu Mao, along with the latest movements of Dong Zhuo’s army. Gongsun Zan and Sun Jian were overjoyed and expressed their willingness to join forces with Yuan Shao to confront Dong Zhuo.

A few days later, Yuan Shao summoned the various warlords to hold a grand alliance meeting. At the meeting, Yuan Shao proposed the initiative to unite against Dong, which received an enthusiastic response from all the warlords. Everyone expressed their willingness to follow Yuan Shao’s command and fight Dong Zhuo together.

However, just as the alliance’s morale was at its peak, a discordant voice suddenly rang out. Yuan Shu stood up, questioning Yuan Shao’s leadership and stating that he, too, had the ability to lead everyone against Dong Zhuo. This move instantly made the atmosphere of the alliance tense.

Yuan Shao’s face darkened. He looked at Yuan Shu and said in a firm tone: "Gonglu, you and I are brothers; we should be working in unison to resist the foreign enemy. By acting this way, are you not causing pain to our kin and joy to our enemies?"

Yuan Shu sneered: "Benchu, on what grounds do you think you are more suited to lead this alliance than I? I, Yuan Shu, am no mediocre figure!"

Seeing the two brothers on the verge of turning against each other, Xu You and Gu Yi quickly stepped in to mediate. Xu You said: "My lord and General Yuan Shu are both sons of the Yuan family, each with their own merits. But this is not the time for infighting; we should unite as one to confront Dong Zhuo."

Gu Yi echoed: "Exactly. If we fall into chaos before Dong Zhuo is removed, will we not become the laughingstock of the world?"

Under the persuasion of Xu You and Gu Yi, Yuan Shu finally agreed, albeit reluctantly, to set aside the dispute for the time being and confront Dong Zhuo together. However, this incident made Yuan Shao realize the potential crisis within the alliance. He knew that to truly defeat Dong Zhuo, he had to first consolidate the internal unity of the alliance.

Thus, Yuan Shao began to strengthen the internal management of the alliance. He appointed Xu You as the alliance strategist, responsible for overall coordination, and Gu Yi as the grand general of the coalition, responsible for commanding operations. At the same time, he sent envoys to the camps of the various warlords to strengthen communication and ensure the stability of the alliance.

Through Yuan Shao’s efforts, the alliance gradually emerged from the shadow of infighting, and morale soared once again. As for Dong Zhuo, having suffered consecutive defeats, his army’s morale was low and far from what it once was. Seeing this, Yuan Shao decided to seize the opportunity to launch a total offensive and eliminate Dong Zhuo in one stroke.

Under the fierce onslaught of the coalition, Dong Zhuo’s army retreated step by step. Finally, in a decisive battle, the coalition successfully defeated Dong Zhuo’s main force, and Dong Zhuo himself was killed in the chaos. Thus, this protracted war against Dong finally came to an end.

After the war, Yuan Shao became the leader of the alliance, and his prestige reached an unprecedented height. Xu You and Gu Yi, due to their outstanding performance in the war, became the elite of the coalition. The three of them stood side by side, writing this legendary chapter in the chaotic times together.