Cannon Fire Arc

Wang Zhong: "Wait a minute, I don't quite understand. If you're going to reprint my entire speech, why do you need an exclusive interview? The important stuff has all been said in the speech."

"Yes, it's all been said in the speech. That's why the interview will mainly cover some less important matters," Reporter Mike laughed.

Just then, a broadcast came from outside the train: "Next, we will play a song composed by General Rokossovsky: 'The Holy War.' Please listen."

Then, a version performed by the Ye Fort Philharmonic Orchestra began to resonate throughout the entire station; even the carriage where Wang Zhong was situated filled with the majestic music.

Mike chuckled, "Let's start from this song. During the preliminary research, I found out that you didn't receive any formal education in music. But you composed this song that's destined to make history in music?"

Wang Zhong: "About that, actually, the situation is like this: I just hummed a tune spontaneously on the battlefield, sort of like this."

Wang Zhong immediately hummed a snippet on the spot for the reporter, but it was hard to hear clearly due to the music playing outside.

Mike: "It sounds..."

Wang Zhong: "Pretty bad, right? That's how it is. In fact, I hummed this song during a dinner that night, and the bandmaster fiercely mocked me for it."

"Mocked you?"

"Yes, mocked. The song you're now hearing was written by one of my soldiers, named Vasily Vladimirovich Bradsky. His father is a music professor at the University of Ye Fort, and he himself has received the finest musical education. He composed this song based on the tune I hummed and the emotions I felt while humming it."

Mike frowned, "Then why doesn't he take credit for it?"

"Because he detests the thought of becoming a composer, due to a conflict with his father. I think he'll claim the credit one day when he comes to terms with it," Wang Zhong explained.

At that moment, a whistle sounded outside the window, indicating that the train was about to depart.

Wang Zhong stared at Mike, wondering if he would trigger the "passive skill" of "journalism."

However, the reporter from the Federation promptly shifted the subject: "I heard that in addition to music, you also like writing poetry. Could you share some with us?"

Wang Zhong: "What? Poetry?"

At that, Ludmila standing beside him said, "He's probably referring to those twisted poems you recited at the salons; now that your fame has risen, many ladies have dug out the poems you sent them."

Wang Zhong suddenly had a bad feeling and asked, "I can't quite remember what I wrote. What are those poems about?"

Ludmila laughed, "Don't worry, at least they rhyme."

Wang Zhong began to sweat profusely. What does 'at least they rhyme' mean? Could they be on the same level as the poetry of Zhang Zongchang? The kind that goes, "Lake Daming, big and clear; lotus flowers are growing right here. On the lotus sits a frog, with a poke it jumps into the bog"?

Mike continued to ask, "Have you given poems to many ladies?"

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Wang Zhong: "Uh... yes, that's right."

"Just poems?"

"Uh... let's talk about the Prosen offensive instead."

Mike laughed, "The offensive will always be the top headline, and readers who want to know will read about it. Our interview won't be on the front page. So, just poems?"

Ludmila: "Of course not, he also danced with them at balls, right, Alyosha?"

"Yes!" Wang Zhong nodded, "I like dancing, it's good exercise."

Mike: "I see. Do you often dance with the current Crown Princess as well?"

Wang Zhong: "Of course, I've danced with most of the young ladies in Ye Fort—it's socializing. And I also like to accompany the Crown Prince, being a good buddy of His Royal Highness. That's why many girls come close to me in an effort to get close to the Crown Prince."

Just then, the train jostled slightly, and the platform outside began to recede.

Mike kept questioning: "Your relationship with the Crown Prince is quite close, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"At the national funeral, you publicly accused the Tsar of not understanding his own children, which is a very serious allegation. Does this mean that you think the Tsar is a derelict father?"

There it was, the smoke bomb.

Wang Zhong calmly replied: "What I meant is that His Majesty the Tsar is so busy with state affairs that he spends too little time on his children."

Mike: "But you have also repeatedly pointed out His Majesty the Tsar's mistakes in decision-making and army building on various occasions."

Wang Zhong: "That's my duty as his Majesty's loyal officer. Doesn't your country have loyal officers like me who will unhesitatingly point out the mistakes of the president or the Joint Chiefs of Staff?"

Mike: "Of course we do. But some think that you feel the Tsar, as a leader, is failing in this current situation."

Wang Zhong: "Who thinks that? Can you reveal that? I have a friend at the Tribunal who's very interested in this subject."

Mike smiled and then asked, "Do you believe that the Tsar should bear the primary responsibility for the disastrous defeat at Argesukov?"

Wang Zhong: "The primary responsibility should be borne by General Skorobo, a spy for the Prosen Empire, who deliberately lost our army of a million. He deceived both His Majesty and the High Command."

This was the official line, and of course, Wang Zhong would adhere to it.

Mike: "Are you saying that no one else in the High Command should be held accountable? Aren't you worried about more troops being sacrificed?"

Wang Zhong: "I think the High Command will learn from this lesson."

Mike looked at Wang Zhong intently for a few seconds, during which the entire carriage fell silent.

Outside the adjacent window, the city had disappeared, with the continuous countryside scenery swiftly passing by.

The reporter switched to another question: "You said that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince entrusted his sister to you. Did anyone else hear this?"

Wang Zhong: "Does it matter?"

"No, it doesn't matter. How do you understand that statement?"

Wang Zhong: "Olga is our sister in common, and I believe His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would like me to fulfill the responsibilities of a brother on his behalf."

"Is there a possibility that he wants you to marry her?" asked Mike as he glanced at Ludmila.

Wang Zhong: "I understand my brother. He's a smart man and knows that a princess's marriage basically has nothing to do with love and is not something we can decide."

The princess is an important resource, whether it's used for declaring allegiance or bargaining for crown inheritance rights, or even forming alliances by riding on big legs—it's extremely useful. That's what Wang Zhong, a player of P society, thought.

Mike: "But what if... I mean if, the Ante Empire is no longer an empire but becomes a federal state like the Federation, then wouldn't marrying Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess be the best way to protect her?"

Wang Zhong: "Lord Reporter, let's talk about the war situation instead."

"Alright, we have received information that you believe the Prosen Empire will start another offensive against the capital in mid-September. May I ask..."

Wang Zhong: "Where did you get this information? I have a friend at the Tribunal who would be very interested in this..."

...

————

On August 25th at 2100 hours, Wang Zhong entered the headquarters of the First Guards "Red Banner" Mechanized Division in Shostka.

Pavlov, who hadn't gone to the station to welcome him, saw him and said, "You look so haggard. What happened in the capital?"

Popov, who had gone to the station to pick up Wang Zhong, answered, "This is because he took a reporter from the Federation on the car and then got bombarded by him for eight hours."

Wang Zhong: "Don't mention it. Report to me the situation of the troops."

Pavlov: "Currently, the progress of bunker construction is about 40%. Furthermore, we have relocated all the residents from the west bank of the Duva River to the east side, and we are currently using the mansions of the local nobles to accommodate these residents.

"The vacated residential buildings on the west bank have all been demolished and leveled. Now the entire west bank is bare, with a good field of fire."

As he spoke, Pavlov pointed to the window.

Wang Zhong came to the window and looked out, indeed seeing the open space on the west bank of the Duva River, with nothing obstructing the line of fire.

Pavlov: "Of course, we left some inconspicuous items as targets for shooting, like the remnants of that truck. It's actually burnt out from an obsolete truck. That's a target at 800 meters."

Wang Zhong raised his hand to get a clearer view but realized he didn't have binoculars on his chest and stretched his hand to the side: "Binoculars!"

A staff officer immediately passed a pair of binoculars to him.

Wang Zhong took a look and, although it was beginning to get dark, he could still clearly see a strip of white paint at the inconspicuous location of the wreckage.

"Very good, very good." He just finished speaking when he suddenly reacted, turned his head toward the staff officer who had handed him the binoculars, "Vasily?"

The young Warrant Officer smiled broadly, "It's me. I'm now a staff officer at the headquarters."

Wang Zhong punched him on the shoulder: "You really surprised me, you rascal!"

"Don't mention it." Vasily laughed.

Wang Zhong: "Has your father come to see you here?"

Vasily's smile froze and then vanished at lightning speed.

"What happened?" Wang Zhong asked with curiosity.

Vasily: "Don't even mention it. He came, bringing two bottles of liquor intending to 'have a chat like friends' with me!"

Wang Zhong: "Isn't that a good thing?"

That's a wish I can't fulfill anymore!

Vasily shook his head, "But that old man doesn't drink! After a few glasses, he started making a racket, ran out to the street, and began singing 'The Holy War'! That would have been fine, but after singing, he started using a liquor bottle as a saxophone and played it right there on the street!

"Playing it would also be fine, but he didn't stay in one place; when he saw me approaching, he ran. He ran ahead, and I chased after him!"

Wang Zhong immediately pictured the scene and burst into laughter.

Vasily grew impatient: "What's so funny? I was so embarrassed! Even the Naval Infantry came out to laugh at me! Now the whole city knows me!"

Wang Zhong: "Isn't that a good thing, though? Now no one will talk about you carrying dung."

"I'd rather be carrying dung!" Vasily stomped his foot.

Now everyone in the room burst into laughter, and the atmosphere inside and outside the headquarters was filled with mirth.

After the laughter, Wang Zhong sincerely sighed, "Compared to the capital, I still prefer the atmosphere here. Here I can feel at ease."

Everyone else was stunned, not understanding why Wang Zhong suddenly expressed such sentiment.

At that moment, a staff officer entered: "Colonel Harlamov of the 31st Destroyer Regiment has arrived."

Wang Zhong raised an eyebrow: "Harlamov? Isn't that the one who escorted me to Ye Fort previously?"

"He's been transferred to the airfield next to us, in charge of air defense," said Pavlov. "It's probably about the aerial reconnaissance photos that came out today."

Wang Zhong: "Please have the colonel come in."