Chapter 57: The Siege of Pennsylvania City

Ye Yuan shared his thoughts with Sun Ting and Cong Gui.

Upon hearing this, Cong Gui nodded immediately.

He understood at once that this was clearly a protective measure taken by Zhang Qun for Ye Yuan.

Judging by the current situation, Zhao Ming would inevitably find a way to target Ye Yuan. Ye Yuan was currently just an ordinary citizen, and even though the rank-conferring ceremony was under preparation, the official rank could not be bestowed upon him immediately.

Once Ye Yuan went to stay with Zhang Qun, under the protection of Zhang Qun's Southern Theater Command, it would not be an easy task for Zhao Ming to harm Ye Yuan.

Therefore, he nodded without hesitation. "That sounds like a good plan. The veteran hero has spent half his life in Kaoshantun; it is time for him to go out and witness the changes in the Dragon Kingdom today."

Sun Ting frowned slightly. "But if we do that... what about the show?"

Nowadays, *Retracing the Red Road* was on the right track, and countless people across the country were waiting for the live broadcast every Thursday.

If Ye Yuan were to leave just like that, wouldn't the show enter a long period of suspension?

"You can come with me."

Ye Yuan said slowly.

Sun Ting was startled, looking at Ye Yuan in surprise.

Ye Yuan explained, "Little Zhang also has a television station over there. If we discuss it with them, they might not refuse to let us borrow their equipment and venue."

Sun Ting thought about it for a moment and felt that Ye Yuan's words made sense.

The show was currently a sensation, practically a guarantee of high ratings.

Presumably, the television station under the Southern Military Command would not refuse this cooperation either.

"I'll go talk to the station about this."

Sun Ting nodded and said, "I'll have the station director communicate with them over there first."

"Alright, thank you for your hard work."

Ye Yuan smiled softly.

Sun Ting turned and left.

Cong Gui looked at Ye Yuan with a smile. "When does the veteran hero plan to go?"

"Tomorrow," Ye Yuan replied.

"Alright, I'll come to your house to pick you up tomorrow."

Cong Gui spoke without hesitation.

Early the next morning, Cong Gui drove personally to the outside of Ye Yuan's house.

Sun Ting was also sitting in the car.

As soon as she saw Ye Yuan walk out, Sun Ting said happily, "Grandpa Ye, the station has approved my application and already communicated with the television station over there. They are also very welcoming to us going there for our live broadcast."

"That's good."

Ye Yuan nodded with a smile.

He got into the car, and Cong Gui drove Ye Yuan and Sun Ting directly toward the railway station.

The distance between the two places was more than nine hundred kilometers.

Coupled with the school enrollment season, the train was packed with passengers, and Cong Gui had to make a great effort to buy two soft sleeper tickets.

Before long, Ye Yuan was recognized by the passengers on the train.

"It's the veteran hero Ye!"

"That's right! It's him! Exactly the same as on TV!"

"Hello, Grandpa Ye!"

Everyone greeted Ye Yuan with great excitement.

Sun Ting, standing aside, couldn't help covering her mouth and giggling. "Grandpa Ye, see? You can be considered a celebrity now."

Ye Yuan gave Sun Ting a helpless look, then smiled and greeted the growing crowd around him.

"Grandpa Ye, where are you going?"

Someone asked aloud.

"To the south," Ye Yuan replied. "Going over there to experience the world."

Everyone looked at Ye Yuan with deep reverence, never expecting such a pleasant surprise on this trip.

Someone asked expectantly, "Old hero, can you tell us about some things you haven't mentioned on the show?"

Hearing this, Ye Yuan immediately showed a thoughtful expression, considering what to tell everyone.

Coincidentally, the train was just passing through a fairly large town.

Ye Yuan's eyes lit up, and he said softly, "Then let me tell you all about a time when I was just a rookie recruit."

Everyone became full of anticipation, watching Ye Yuan without a single person speaking; the entire carriage fell into absolute silence.

"Do you all know what place that is over there?"

Ye Yuan raised his finger and pointed at the town outside the window as he asked.

People looked at each other in bewilderment, and then Sun Ting blurted out, "Binzhou Town."

"This was originally not a town, but the county seat of Bin County."

Ye Yuan said softly, "At the end of April in 1932, I joined the anti-Japanese guerrilla unit to fight guerrillas. Later, our chief of staff proposed that we should capture the county seat of Bin County."

Anti-Japanese guerrilla unit?

Everyone was baffled, as this was the first time they had ever heard this term.

As if sensing everyone's confusion, Ye Yuan smiled and explained, "Back then, it wasn't called the United Anti-Japanese Army yet; instead, it was divided into designations such as anti-Japanese guerrilla units, volunteers, mountain forest brigades, and so on. It was only later that they merged together and were called the United Anti-Japanese Army."

Everyone nodded in sudden realization.

So this anti-Japanese guerrilla unit was the predecessor of the United Anti-Japanese Army.

"Why attack the county seat of Bin County?"

Someone asked aloud.

"Because it was very close to Harbin. In order to suppress the Japanese devils and provide supplies for our growing forces, the county seat of Bin County was the best choice."

Ye Yuan spoke slowly and continued, "The Kwantung Army was the most elite force of the Japanese devils. They invaded our Northeast, cutting down trees and digging coal, all of which were shipped back to their own country. At that time, the county seat of Bin County held a lot of supplies that the Japanese devils had not yet shipped away."

"However, the county seat of Bin County was protected by city walls on all four sides. If we launched a frontal assault, I'm afraid all of us would have died without necessarily managing to break into the city."

Everyone nodded instinctively, looking forward to Ye Yuan's continuation.

"At this time, our chief of staff came up with a brilliant idea."

Ye Yuan couldn't help laughing. "The chief of staff told us to manufacture wooden cannons to attack the city!"

Wooden cannons?

The more people listened, the more confused they became.

Wooden cannons?

How could such a thing possibly withstand the impact and destructive force at the instant a cannonball was fired from the barrel?

"I won't go into the manufacturing method with you all."

Ye Yuan grinned and continued, "Anyway, with a single blast, that cannon of ours directly blew away a corner of the city gate tower and leveled the battlements on the city wall. At that time, the Japanese devils and puppet soldiers on the wall were scared out of their wits."

Hearing this, everyone burst into laughter as well.

"Those Japanese devils shouted 'Baka, baka,' and the puppet soldiers all squatted on the ground holding their heads."

Ye Yuan's gaze drifted past the window, landing on the rapidly retreating Binzhou Town. "They never dreamed in a million years that we, a ragtag band of guerrilla soldiers, could actually carry a big cannon with us!"

"In reality, the power of that wooden cannon was not very large, far inferior to that of a regular cannon. Yet it was precisely that single shot that deterred all the Japanese devils and puppet soldiers."

"Taking advantage of the moment when the Japanese devils and puppet soldiers scattered in all directions to find cover, fearing that another cannonball would fly over, our men rushed forward immediately. Scaling ladders were erected, and everyone charged upward as if their lives depended on it, quickly making their way into the city."