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

Late January 1954, Yunnan Province border.

Under Prince Siha's repeated invitations (urging), the organization sent a brigade commander to communicate with the Annamite side. The Annamite side agreed to open the passage, allowing Liu Dazhu's independent regiment to pass through and directly advance into northern Cambodia.

Zhao Ping'an held the telegram and read it for a long time.

Liu Dazhu stood to the side, scratching his head: "Brigadier, why are the Annamese so easy to talk to?"

Zhao Pingan handed him the telegram.

"It's not that we're easy to talk to. It's that they also want to see if we can help them clear out the trouble behind them."

Moreover, this time, there might be a possibility that they are trying to take advantage of the situation, or, like the north, try to drag us into this mess.

Dazhu, so you have to be careful along the way...

Liu Dazhu grinned: "Understood, Brigade Commander. Political Commissar Xu analyzed it for me before we came."

"Since they want to see it, let's let them see it and give them a warning."

"Alright, brat, it seems you've really learned a lot from Old Xu. Remember to keep communication open and make sure you use the equipment I gave you well. If anything goes wrong, contact my big brother anytime..." Zhao Ping'an was quite confident in the fighting power of these three thousand men, but he still kept a backup plan.

Early the next morning, Liu Dazhu led the Independent Regiment southward along the border.

More than three thousand people, in jeeps, trucks, and artillery, disappeared into the morning mist in a grand procession.

Zhao Ping'an stood at the intersection, watching until the taillights of the last car disappeared from sight, before turning around and walking back.

Zhao Dongliang followed beside him.

"Peace of mind, are you relieved?"

Zhao Pingan said, "Dazhu has been with me for four years, what's there to worry about?"

He paused.

"On your side, there are a few things I need to make clear."

Back at headquarters, Zhao Ping'an called Zhao Dongliang to the map.

"Brother, after I leave, there are three things you need to do."

Zhao Dongliang nodded.

"First thing, training."

Zhao Ping'an pointed to the jungle warfare map on the wall.

"The troops need to continue training in jungle warfare and mountain warfare."

The training manual I gave you should be thoroughly studied by the core members.

Then we reorganized it into our own teaching materials and submitted them for distribution throughout the entire army.

Zhao Dongliang said, "I understand that. It's not just about knowing how to fight, but also how to teach."

Zhao Ping'an nodded.

"Secondly, take good care of your home."

He pointed out the direction of the factory buildings outside the window.

"Those factories, schools, and technicians are all treasures."

I won't go into details about penicillin labs, steel mills, power plants, and textile factories.

Take a cannery, for example. Don't underestimate it; it's a treasure here.

Whether it's mushrooms, fruits, or meat, the hot weather here makes them difficult to store.

However, canning them allows them to be preserved for one or two years. Furthermore, selling them can generate more capital for further development in this area.

For example, the cement plant has been a major contributor to you and the government in recent years, producing cement...

They'll build roads for free, one road for each village. It doesn't need to be wide, just enough for two oxcarts to pass.

With roads come communication.

With communication, we can put our various methods for improving people's living standards to good use.

The people would pray to the former chieftains and clan leaders morning and night, asking them to obey our commands.

Also, brother, although Li Mi has run away, there are still hundreds of thousands of landlords and chieftains over there. Although Wang Yaowu will clear them out, he might sneak over at any time.

Border vigilance cannot be relaxed for a moment.

Moreover, the enemy may not only be outside the border; there are also some clan chiefs and bandits in our own country, which also need your help, brother.

Zhao Dongliang replied solemnly, "I've already instructed the General Staff to make plans, and I guarantee everything will go perfectly."

The third point is independent production.

Zhao Pingan took out a thick document and pushed it in front of him.

"I've applied for 100,000 agricultural reclamation positions for the army. You can recruit some workers and let some soldiers work alongside them."

Zhao Dongliang was stunned for a moment.

"What are you doing?"

Zhao Pingan pointed to the mountainous area on the map.

Yunnan Province has little arable land but plenty of mountains. However, the mountains can be used to grow potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn.

These things have high yields and aren't picky about soil. After they're grown, they're used to feed pigs, cattle, and chickens.

He paused.

"Once the livestock industry is developed, we'll have meat. We can sell the meat to neighboring regions in China, or we can trade it for grain with Shan State. It's also essential for ensuring the combat effectiveness of our troops. With such heavy training every day and such hot weather, people can't keep up without meat."

Zhao Dongliang's eyes lit up.

"In exchange for grain?"

Zhao Ping'an nodded.

"We didn't ask Wang Yaowu to promote high-yield rice over there."

They have more rice over there, we have more meat. If we trade meat for rice, we can both have enough to eat.

Zhao Pingan then laughed and joked.

"Brother, this is the advanced version of following us to eat—following us to eat meat."

Zhao Dongliang smiled.

"Ping An, you're really quick-witted."

Zhao Pingan smiled as well.

"It's not that I'm quick-witted, it's that I was forced to. So many people need to eat, I had no choice but to find a way."

After explaining the three things, Zhao Ping'an boarded a train heading north that same day.

The original plan was to go back and report to 02 first.

As a result, Zhao Ping'an was intercepted as soon as he got off the train.

"Comrade Ping An, you're finally back!"

Zhao Ping'an looked and saw it was Fu Shuai.

He was taken aback: "Fu Shuai? What are you doing here?"

Fu Shuai pulled him outside.

"Don't ask any more questions, just come with me. The special train is waiting."

Zhao Ping'an was bewildered: "Where are we going? I still need to see Chief No. 02..."

"I've already spoken to the commander. You'll need to come with me somewhere first."

Without saying a word, Fu Shuai pulled Zhao Ping'an onto the special train.

"Fu Shuai, what's the matter? Why are you in such a hurry?" Zhao Ping'an asked curiously.

Fu Shuai sat opposite him, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"Comrade Ping An, guess."

Zhao Ping'an thought for a moment, watching the train head west.

"We're going west? That must be over there next door? Something's happened with Mushroom Egg?"

Fu Shuai smiled and shook his head.

"No, but it's pretty much the same. You'll see when you get there."

The special train traveled westward, crossing the North China Plain, the Yellow River, and into the Gobi Desert.

Two days later, the special train stopped at a small station. Several jeeps were parked on the platform, and Qian Lao stood there, with several people in white coats beside him.

Zhao Pingan jumped out of the car and shook hands with Mr. Qian.

"Mr. Qian, this is...?"

For once, Mr. Qian smiled.

"Comrade Ping An, I'd like to ask you to come and look at something today."

The jeep bumped along the Gobi Desert for more than an hour before finally arriving at an open area.

In the distance, a huge launch pad stands on the wasteland, its metallic sheen gleaming in the sunlight.

Next to it were various antennas, radars, control rooms, and a group of people in military uniforms and white coats working busily.

Zhao Ping'an's heart skipped a beat.

missile.

Mr. Qian said from the side, "After the mushroom egg exploded, we didn't stop for a single day."

The equipment and materials you provided were a huge help. It took one year and three months to go from blueprints to the actual product.

He pointed to the launch pad.

"The first surface-to-surface missile. Range of 600 kilometers, accuracy of 500 meters."

Fu Shuai chimed in from the side, "It's better than the older brother's."

Zhao Ping'an stood there, looking at the silver-white projectile, and suddenly didn't know what to say.

He recalled that in 1949, when Qian Xuesen had just returned to China, the two of them squeezed into a simple office, looking at those blueprints page by page.

Now, that drawing on paper has actually stood on the Gobi Desert.

The launch took place at 3 p.m.

Everyone evacuated to a safe distance.

Zhao Ping'an, Fu Shuai, and Qian Lao stood in the observation post, looking at the white dot in the distance through the thick glass window.

The countdown sounded from the loudspeaker.

"...Five, four, three, two, one, ignition!"

A burst of orange-red flame suddenly erupted from the base of the white dot. Smoke billowed up, the missile slowly rose, then accelerated, trailing a long plume of flame as it pierced the blue sky.

After a few dozen seconds, it became a tiny dot and eventually disappeared into the clouds.

The observation post was completely silent.

Everyone was staring at the radar screen.

"Ignition is normal."

"Ballistics normal."

A few minutes later, a flash of light suddenly appeared on the distant horizon.

Immediately afterwards, a muffled thunderclap was heard, the sound of the warhead hitting the target area.

A deafening cheer erupted in the observation post.

Fu Shuai hugged Qian Lao tightly, and Qian Lao's eyes reddened.

The technicians and soldiers hugged each other, laughing and crying.

Zhao Ping'an stood there, muttering to himself.

Now, we have missiles too.

After the cheers subsided, Fu Shuai pulled Zhao Ping'an aside.

"Ping An, do you know what this means?"

Zhao Ping'an nodded.

"Six hundred kilometers. That's enough to encompass Tokyo, Seoul, and even Big Brother's Far East region."

Fu Shuai looked at him.

"More than that. This is just the first step. Six hundred kilometers, then eight hundred, then one thousand five, then three thousand."

One day, we will be able to reach any corner of the world.

Zhao Ping'an remained silent for a few seconds.

"Coach Fu, this matter must be kept secret."

Fu Shuai nodded.

"Of course. Not a single word of what I saw today can be uttered."

He paused.

"But you can know this, and you can be happy. Because you helped build this missile."

Zhao Ping'an didn't speak, but just looked at the launch pad in the distance.

The sun is setting in the west, turning the Gobi Desert into a golden hue.

That evening, Zhao Ping'an and Mr. Qian chatted for a long time in their temporary dormitory.

Mr. Qian said that the next goal is to go from 800 to 1,500 kilometers.

Materials, engines, and guidance systems all need to be redesigned.

Zhao Ping'an promised that if anyone needed anything, they should just ask. He would definitely do his best to solve it.

Before leaving, Mr. Qian suddenly said something.

"Peace, I have a feeling."

Zhao Ping'an looked at him.

"With this, from now on, when we speak, others will have to listen carefully."

Zhao Pingan smiled.

"Mr. Qian, you're being too conservative with your words."

He paused.

"From now on, it won't be others listening attentively; it will be us who have to listen to whatever we say."

Mr. Qian was taken aback for a moment, then he smiled.

"You little rascal."

On the special train back to Beijing, Zhao Ping'an leaned against the window, watching the Gobi Desert rushing past outside.

Fu Shuai was sitting opposite me, looking at a document. Suddenly he looked up.

"Comrade Ping An, how's the matter in Yunnan Province going?"

Zhao Pingan gave a brief report on the situation.

After listening, Fu Shuai nodded.

"Okay. Your older brother is over there, Wang Yaowu is over there, and Liu Dazhu has gone over there too. A three-pronged approach, very good."

He paused.

"But remember, things over there can't be rushed. Take it slow, one step at a time. If you don't understand something, ask me and the brigade commander. At least in terms of experience, we two are quite qualified to speak on this."

Zhao Ping'an said, "Thank you, Commander Fu, I understand."

Fu Shuai looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"At twenty-four, managing so many things, aren't you tired?"

Zhao Ping'an thought for a moment, then scratched his head.

"I'm tired. But there's nothing I can do."

Fu Shuai asked, "What do you mean there's no way?"

Zhao Pingan said, "There are some things that if I don't do them, no one else can."

Fu Shuai paused for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Good lad, the way you talk sounds just like me when I was young."

Zhao Pingan smiled too.