Courtyard House: I Rely on Time-Space Trade to Build a Nation

Zhao Pingan opened the third document.

"The third point concerns cash crops."

He pointed to several areas on the map.

"Cotton is mainly produced in North and East China. This year's yield is good, but still not enough. The textile industry still has to import some of the cotton it needs from the Soviet Union."

He paused.

"But my idea is not just to grow cotton. We can also grow tea, oilseeds, tobacco, and silkworms."

Tea exports have always been a major business. Oilseeds can be pressed for oil, which can earn foreign exchange. Tobacco leaves are needed both domestically and in Eastern Europe.

Comrade Chen asked, "Won't these crops compete with grain crops for land?"

"Yes. That's why we need to do it in mountainous areas, hills, and dry land. Places where we can't grow crops are perfect for growing these. It doesn't take up good farmland."

02 nodded.

"That's the right approach. We should adapt to local conditions and leverage our strengths."

Zhao Ping'an continued, "Once these crops are developed, processing must follow. Oil pressing plants, cigarette factories, and tea processing plants all need to be built to support them."

Some of the products are sold domestically, and some are exported. The profits are then reinvested in agriculture.

03 began, "Ping An, these things you've done all sound good. But what about manpower? Technology? Management?"

Zhao Ping'an looked at him.

"Boss, that's what I'm going to talk about next."

Zhao Pingan opened the fourth document.

"The fourth issue concerns the construction of the State Farms Corps."

He stood up, walked to the large map on the wall, and pointed to the location of the new province.

"This place is sparsely populated and rich in resources. Cotton, fruit, and livestock all have potential. But it lacks people, technology, and infrastructure."

He turned around.

"My idea is to establish agricultural reclamation corps. They would be managed semi-militarily, with organized units undertaking reclamation. We would use mechanized operations and modern technology for large-scale development. This would also stabilize the border region, which is difficult to access and is mostly inhabited by ethnic minorities; we need to maintain stability there."

Comrade Chen frowned: "The Corps? Isn't that a fighting force?"

"Yes. But for now, we can let them do other things," Zhao Ping'an said.

"The war is over, and the army needs to transform. The soldiers' skills in tanks, cars, and machinery can all be applied to agricultural production."

He looked at 03.

"General, I propose that the commander of the Northwest Military Region concurrently serve as the commander of the Agricultural Reclamation Corps. I will provide technical support and specific planning, just as I did in the Northeast."

03 remained silent for a while.

"Is Commander Peng managing his workload?"

"He can be the figurehead, I'll handle the actual work," Zhao Ping'an said. "The Corps needs someone with prestige to oversee things. Commander Peng is the most suitable."

02. Look at other people.

What are everyone's opinions?

Comrade Chen said, "The Production and Construction Corps model is worth trying. But where will the people come from?"

Zhao Ping'an said, "We'll select from demobilized military personnel. Those who are willing to go will be given priority."

I think it's enough to select workers and students from Northeast China, transfer them from nearby provinces, and include their families.

"How many people do you need exactly?" 03 asked.

"In the first year, 20 workers were transferred from the Northeast, and with their families, there were about 50 people. The army dispatched 10 people, and with their families, there were about 40 people. Finally, several nearby populous provinces dispatched 30 households, totaling 100 million people. This was barely enough."

"That makes about 200 million people?" Number 02 frowned.

"Yes, I plan to plant cotton on a large scale in the Northwest. The first phase will involve cultivating 5 million mu (approximately 333,333 hectares). At the same time, livestock breeding and orchard construction can be carried out nearby."

Of course, I have another plan that requires a large workforce, which I will report to you leaders later.

Minister Li asked, "Where's the money?"

"The profits come from the industry in Northeast China. The initial investment is large, but you can recoup your investment in three years."

02 nodded and then asked, "You just said there was something else going on in the new province?"

Zhao Pingan walked back to the table and took out the last document.

"Yes, sir, about electricity."

He looked at the people present.

"In that province of New Zealand, there is a big problem—power shortage."

Industry can't operate, and agriculture is affected too. But it also has a major advantage—the sun.

Zhao Ping'an paused for a moment. After the system issued the task yesterday, Zhao Ping'an went to check what technologies would be included in the upgrade.

Photovoltaic power generation technology is Zhao Ping'an's biggest gain. He can unlock and upgrade the technology by staying in the courtyard house for half a month and then purchase the equipment.

Although it's a second-generation product, requiring a larger workforce for maintenance compared to the third generation, what the Republic lacks right now is jobs, not population.

As long as there are enough jobs, promoting mechanization in rural areas can directly free up 2 million laborers.

So Zhao Pingan continued explaining.

"My channel is researching a new technology that uses solar power. It is expected to be validated in three years."

The meeting room was silent for a few seconds.

Comrade Chen asked, "Solar power generation? Generating electricity using sunlight?"

"Yes. Once the technology matures, solar power plants can be built on a large scale in the new province."

The area has long hours of sunshine and plenty of wasteland, making it ideal for this kind of work.

Moreover, this technology can effectively prevent desertification and promote sheep farming, forming a circular economy similar to the agricultural and livestock integration model in Northeast China.

03 frowned: "Is this thing reliable?"

Zhao Pingan said, "It's still in the trial phase, but so far, the results are good."

He looked at the location of the new province on the map.

"If this is successful, the power problem in New Brunswick will be completely solved. It can even provide support to neighboring provinces."

At the same time, not only industrial electricity, but also agricultural irrigation and residents' daily lives are guaranteed.

Cotton processing, fruit cold storage, and livestock farming are all viable options.

02 remained silent for a while.

"Ping An, these things you've done are getting bigger and bigger."

Zhao Pingan said, "Yes, that's why we have to do it one step at a time. We should prioritize and do the most important things first."

The meeting room fell silent.

The leaders looked at each other, but no one spoke.

"Comrade Ping An, Comrade Chen, Minister Li, let's take a break and let everyone catch their breath." After thinking for a moment, 02 adjourned the meeting.

The meeting resumed half an hour later.

02 spoke first: "Ping An, we all think your plans are good. But there's one problem."

Zhao Ping'an waited.

"No one but you can do these things."

He paused.

"Grain from the Northeast, orchards and cash crops from the South, industrial development in North China, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in Xinjiang, and the solar energy you mentioned..."

Each of these requires your channels, your technology, and your planning. Can you manage it all by yourself?

Zhao Ping'an remained silent.

02 continued, "What we need to discuss now is not whether the plan is feasible, but which step you should take first."

He looked at the others.

"The work in Northeast China has already begun and can continue. As for industrial matters in North China, we can start with pilot projects."

The affairs of the new province require the most effort, but also offer the best prospects.

He looked at Zhao Ping'an.

"We've discussed it and decided to give you a position: Chief of Staff of the Agricultural Reclamation Corps. General Peng is the Commander, and you are the Chief of Staff."

You'll decide the specifics. But you'll be responsible for industrial development in Northeast, North, and Northwest China first. Take it one step at a time, no rush.

Zhao Pingan stood up.

"02, I..."

02. Wave your hand.

"No need to say anything. We know you're capable, but we also know you're not made of steel."

Take it slow, do it one step at a time. The country can wait.

Zhao Ping'an stood there, looking at the people present.

"Yes, mission accomplished!"

It was already afternoon when the meeting adjourned.

Zhao Pingan walked out of the meeting room and stood in the courtyard. Beijing's autumn was characterized by clear skies, gentle breezes, and warm sunshine.

Footsteps sounded behind me. It was Xiao Li, 02's secretary.

"Minister Zhao, 02 asked me to ask you, are you still living in that courtyard in Nanluoguxiang?"

Zhao Ping'an paused for a moment, then smiled.

"Yes. I'll go in the next few days."

Xiao Li nodded: "We'll take care of the security arrangements. Don't worry."

Zhao Pingan patted him on the shoulder.

"Thank you for your help."

Xiao Li smiled, turned around and left.

Zhao Ping'an stood there, looking at the distant sky.

He recalled the questions Zhao Baoguo and Liu Dazhu had asked him the previous night.

What will we do after the war is over?

Zhao Ping'an already had the answer; now he was simply working hard to make it happen.

However, Zhao Ping'an suddenly remembered something: it seemed that there would be three consecutive years of agricultural disasters in five years.

It seems I need to speed up some of my tasks.