Chapter Twenty: What Is the Name of This 'Cannon'?

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Ye Yuan and Ye Yanan moved into the apartment that Cong Gui had found for the two of them. It was spacious and tidy, with excellent lighting, and there was even a small garden outside—perfect for enjoying their twilight years.

“Wow!” Ye Yanan exclaimed as soon as she stepped inside. She had never imagined she would one day live in such a fine home.

“Old hero, what do you think? Are you satisfied?” Cong Gui asked, smiling warmly at Ye Yuan.

“This is too much,” Ye Yuan said solemnly. “Just find us any old place. There’s no need to be so extravagant.”

“This is only right,” Cong Gui replied earnestly. “If we weren’t in such a hurry, and if it weren’t outside the city, I could have found you an even better place. You sacrificed so much for the country back then; it’s high time you enjoyed some comfort.”

“You said it yourself—that was back then,” Ye Yuan waved his hand. “Now, I’m just an old man. Such a big house should be given to those who truly need it.”

“You’re already renting it, Old Commander. Just settle in and enjoy,” Sun Weiguo teased with a smile. “If you’re not qualified to live here, maybe I should pack up my things and leave. My place is far better than this.”

Sun Ting, standing nearby, looked a little embarrassed. A house that Ye Yuan called “good” was, in her eyes, hardly worth noticing—far beyond what she’d consider renting.

At Ye Yuan’s words, he finally relented. He looked up, meeting Cong Gui’s eyes seriously. “How much is the rent for this house?”

Cong Gui, feeling uneasy under Ye Yuan’s gaze, lowered his head. “Five hundred…”

Ye Yuan nodded, then turned to Ye Yanan. “Yanan, write this down: five hundred a month. When you start earning, return this money to the country. The country has given us peace and happiness; we must never take advantage of it.”

“Got it!” Ye Yanan nodded earnestly.

“No need… really no need…” Cong Gui hastily waved his hands, looking to Sun Weiguo for help.

“Just listen to the Old Commander,” Sun Weiguo chuckled bitterly. “He’s the kind of man who, after fighting the Japanese as a kid, was the sharpest when it came to dividing their weapons and supplies—never once taking advantage of anyone.”

“For example?” Sun Ting clung to Sun Weiguo’s arm, coaxing.

“For example, back when we wiped out a Japanese artillery company, right after the battle, the Old Commander came over, drank all my liquor, and took my entire artillery company away—leaving me with just two old cannons!” Sun Weiguo’s anger grew; he was nearly cursing.

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A rare embarrassed expression crossed Ye Yuan’s face. He hadn’t expected Sun Weiguo to still remember such a trivial matter.

“We were poor back then!” Ye Yuan said seriously. “Those two old cannons I left you were family heirlooms.”

When Ye Yuan spoke, Sun Weiguo’s anger only intensified.

“Yes, your two old cannons were heirlooms, but they could only shoot about two hundred meters at most, and their power was less than the crater made by a fart,” Sun Weiguo said, his face flushed with emotion. “But you took six Type 92 cannons from me—and didn’t leave me a single shell!”

“Huh?” Sun Ting, unfamiliar with these details, asked instinctively, “Dad, how far can the Type 92 shoot?”

Sun Weiguo paused, unable to give a clear answer. Liu Ping, standing nearby, explained, “Nearly three thousand meters, with a lethal radius of about twenty meters on flat ground.”

“That much difference?!” Ye Yanan exclaimed.

She’d always known the Chinese people endured great hardship during the war, but she never imagined the enemy’s equipment was so vastly superior.

Now she understood why Sun Weiguo held this memory so dearly. Anyone would find it hard to accept such a disparity.

“It’s better now,” Xiao Bo said proudly. “Our country’s homegrown weapons are about to be showcased to the world.”

At this, even Ye Yuan’s interest was piqued. “How far can our current artillery shoot?”

“Artillery is already outdated,” Xiao Bo couldn’t resist showing off. “As for range, take a guess.”

“Xiao Bo, that’s classified!” Liu Ping frowned and warned.

Sun Weiguo chuckled lightly. “Don’t worry, guess away. You don’t think the Old Commander’s a spy, do you?”

He clearly knew what Xiao Bo was trying to boast about.

Ye Yuan considered for a moment. “Five thousand meters? Eight thousand?”

“No way it’s that short,” Xiao Bo smiled smugly, thinking to give Ye Yuan a little shock. “Eight thousand… kilometers.”

Ye Yuan’s reaction pleased Xiao Bo immensely.

“How far?!” Ye Yuan was stunned for the first time.

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Seventy years ago, he had envied artillery capable of firing shells three thousand meters, dreaming of commanding an artillery battalion.

But now the country had developed “artillery” capable of firing eight thousand kilometers?

“Does that mean it can reach Japan?” Ye Yanan blurted out without thinking.

“Reach Japan?” Xiao Bo snorted. “Reaching America wouldn’t be a problem!”

Tears welled in Ye Yuan’s eyes.

If the country had possessed such a formidable weapon back then, would the Japanese have been able to bully them so easily? Would so many compatriots have died under enemy fire, bullets, and bayonets?

He didn’t know.

He wondered if he would live long enough to witness this national treasure.

Seeing Ye Yuan fall silent, the others also watched him quietly.

Only Sun Weiguo truly understood. They had all lived through that era, felt its helplessness and despair.

But now—

Everything was different.

Comrades, the tide has turned! Now it is the enemy who fears us!

After a while, Ye Yuan finally raised his head. He did not wipe away his tears but asked in a choked voice, “What is this ‘artillery’ called?”

“Old hero, calling it artillery is no longer accurate. It’s called an… intercontinental missile!” Xiao Bo said with immense pride. “Only five countries in the world have it, and ours is one of them. As for its name…”

Xiao Bo turned to Sun Weiguo. Seeing Sun Weiguo nod, Xiao Bo solemnly announced—

“Dongfeng-31.”

“Dongfeng-31… Dongfeng-31…” Ye Yuan murmured the name, his eyes shining brighter and brighter. “It’s either the East Wind prevailing over the West Wind, or the West Wind prevailing over the East Wind…”

“But now… the East Wind will surely prevail over the West Wind!”