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

[System Prompt]

[Character Wish Quest Triggered: Mei Yan and He Xiuping hope to obtain more meaningful jobs and contribute to national development.]

[Task Status: Completed.]

[Reward Disbursement: Specific materials science data (high-temperature alloy materials for aero-engines) has been stored in the system space.]

[Note: This type of wish-granting quest can be triggered once a year. The completion condition is to help the main story characters realize their personal development wishes.]

On the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, Zhao Ping'an hurriedly boarded the train back to Shenyang.

On New Year's Eve, when the guard read a telegram sent by Liu Dazhu, Mei Yan, who overheard it, "recognized" his identity as the "armored brigade commander."

Zhao Pingan had no choice but to help Mei Yan and He Xiuping switch "jobs".

She was transferred from her previous work in women's affairs in the neighborhood to the propaganda department of Shijingshan Steel Plant to carry out propaganda work.

Then Zhao Pingan simply completed a new system task.

To be precise, Zhao Ping'an received the mission at midnight on New Year's Eve, and signed the appointment agreement on the first day of the Lunar New Year, changing the jobs of the two of them. The mission was completed at that time.

By signing a transfer order himself, he obtained some important technical data, which Zhao Ping'an felt was well worth it.

He even considered bowing to the system to wish it a Happy New Year, but after several attempts, there was no response, so Zhao Ping'an gave up on his greed.

He rushed back to Shenyang without obtaining the information.

Inside the carriage, the guards sat in twos and threes, talking quietly in various parts of the carriage.

Zhao Ping'an leaned against the window, but his mind was wandering to other things.

He hadn't had time to look closely at the aircraft engine material data in the system yet.

But just looking at the table of contents made his heart race.

High-temperature alloys, powder metallurgy, single-crystal blades, thermal barrier coatings...

He had seen these words before, in later records.

Every single material is a core component of an aircraft engine—worth hundreds of millions of system coins.

With these, plus the blueprints for the An-12 and An-22, not only can large aircraft be built,

It's not even a dream to design, develop, and manufacture advanced aero engines for a new generation of fighter jets within five years.

It was already afternoon when the train came to a stop at Shenyang Station.

As soon as Zhao Ping'an got out of the car, he saw the factory director of the aircraft assembly plant come to greet him.

"Minister Zhao, you've finally arrived. We suddenly received three very large planes at the port, and they're all settled in now. Would you like to take a look?"

Zhao Ping'an nodded.

"Walk."

The warehouse is located on the outskirts of Shenyang, hidden behind a grove of trees.

There are sentries standing guard at the entrance, and you have to go through three checks to get in.

When Zhao Ping'an entered the warehouse, the first thing he saw was the three silver-white airplanes.

An-12.

Four turboprop engines, a robust fuselage, and wide wings.

It was much larger than the Type 2 fighter jet and looked more robust than any other aircraft.

He walked around the plane and reached out to touch the landing gear hub.

Zhao Ping'an told the factory director, "These three aircraft will not be made public for the time being. We will organize a group of reliable technical personnel to form a task force to study them specifically."

The factory manager asked, "What are you researching?"

Zhao Pingan said, "Reverse engineering, take it apart, and put it back together. Once you've put it back together, you'll have learned how to build it."

The factory manager was taken aback.

"It's been demolished?"

Zhao Ping'an nodded.

"Yes, disassemble it, figure out each part, and then reverse engineer it."

That evening, Zhao Ping'an gathered a group of people in the conference room of the arsenal.

There were people from aircraft design institutes, materials research institutes, engine factories, and several professors seconded from Northeast Institute of Technology.

Zhao Ping'an got straight to the point.

"I've called you here today for two things."

He took out two documents and placed them on the table.

"The first task is the reverse engineering of the An-12 transport aircraft. We currently have three prototypes, as well as a complete set of blueprints and technical data. I need to see the project progress plan within three months."

This includes verifying the accuracy of the blueprints, outlining our reverse engineering plan, defining the necessary supporting factories, identifying key technologies, and determining how to overcome these challenges.

He pointed to the people at the Type 2 fighter jet manufacturing plant.

"You're in charge."

He then pointed to the second document.

"The second task is the research on aero-engine materials."

This document is top secret. Only a select few of you are allowed to see it.

He looked at the people at the materials research institute.

"You're in charge. Tell us what equipment you need. Tell us what support you need."

But there's one condition—I need to see the plan within three months, and samples within a year.

The meeting room was silent for a few seconds.

An elderly professor raised his hand and asked, "Minister Zhao, we've never seen these materials before. Can you guarantee they can be manufactured?"

Zhao Ping'an looked at him.

"The materials contain the recipe and the process. And I've given you plenty of time. If you can't make it by following the instructions, then it's a problem with the person doing it."

The old professor nodded and asked no more questions.

The meeting went on until late at night and then ended. Zhao Ping'an had thought he could continue his Spring Festival holiday in Shenyang.

Unexpectedly, Mr. Qian arrived two days later.

Upon hearing the news, Zhao Ping'an was stunned for a moment, then quickly went out to greet them.

Mr. Qian stood in the courtyard, wearing a thick cotton-padded coat, his face showing the fatigue of a long journey, but his eyes were bright.

"Comrade Ping An, I heard you've gotten your hands on something good?"

Zhao Pingan smiled.

"Mr. Qian, you are really well-informed."

Mr. Qian waved his hand.

"It's not that I'm well-informed, it's just that someone from your materials research institute happens to be one of my students."

He called me that night and said, "You gave me information on aircraft engine materials, top secret."

He looked at Zhao Ping'an.

"Let me see it."

Zhao Pingan led him into the house, took the document from the safe, and handed it to him.

Mr. Qian took it, turned to the first page, and then stopped moving.

He stared at it for a long time.

So long that Zhao Ping'an thought he had fallen asleep.

Then he looked up at Zhao Ping'an.

"Comrade Ping An, where did this come from?"

Zhao Ping'an remained silent.

Mr. Qian nodded.

"Okay, I won't ask."

He folded the documents and put them in his pocket.

"I'll take this one with me. There happens to be a materials lab in the Northwest with better facilities than here."

I'll send you samples in three months.

Zhao Pingan was stunned for a moment.

"Mr. Qian, what's wrong...?"

Mr. Qian stood up and patted him on the shoulder.

"Comrade Ping An, the things you get never disappoint."

If this material can actually be manufactured, our aviation industry will take a significant leap forward.

He walked to the door, then suddenly turned back.

"By the way, I heard you acquired three more large transport planes, called An-12s. I heard you're going to dismantle them for research?"

Zhao Ping'an nodded.

Old Qian smiled.

"Okay. Once it's dismantled, give me one. The Northwest region also needs transport planes."

After Mr. Qian left, Zhao Ping'an stood in the courtyard and couldn't help but chuckle.

Ever since he learned he could procure valuable items, Mr. Qian has become increasingly open and approachable in recent years.

From precision machine tools and advanced aerospace materials to highly skilled technicians and dormitory air conditioners, whatever you want, you can have it.

Even the earliest vegetable greenhouses were built because a researcher wanted to eat cucumbers in winter.

Only after Qian Lao sent a telegram did Zhao Ping'an remember to arrange for planting in plastic greenhouses.

Initially, the leaders and Fu Shuai paid attention to this, but later they found that the two were like Zhou Yu beating Huang Gai, one willing to hit and the other willing to be hit, so they simply stopped caring.

Zhao Ping'an felt at ease about this, after all, it was Old Qian, so he could spoil him within his means!

I just hope they won't make me study calculus or expel me from the "human race"!

However, the timely task rewards given by the system made Zhao Ping'an feel that sometimes, things can turn out unexpectedly and bring great benefits. Perhaps this is the destiny of the nation.

Meanwhile, at the Khmer border.

Liu Dazhu led his troops and finally met up with Prince Siha's advance team.

Prince Siha personally came to greet him. He grasped Liu Dazhu's hand, so excited that he could barely speak.

"Brigade Commander Liu, I've heard about that battle you fought."

Three thousand against ten thousand, routed in half a day, with fewer than forty casualties.

More than three thousand French soldiers died; the rest fled.

Liu Dazhu grinned.

"Your Highness, they've chosen the wrong opponent. Our men have been training in the jungle for three months, waiting for this day."

Prince Siha nodded repeatedly.

"Good, good. After this battle, the French have completely backed down."

This morning, they informed me that all the French troops remaining in Phnom Penh had withdrawn to Annam. Khmer has gained independence.

Liu Dazhu was stunned for a moment.

"So fast?"

Prince Siha smiled.

"It's not good anymore. They should have left long ago."

He held Liu Dazhu's hand.

"Brigadier Liu, we'll take you to your base now. Once we're there, if you need anything, I'll send someone to deliver it. We'll need your help with the Khmer affairs in the future."

Similarly, when news of Duval's defeat reached Paris, the French military was in an uproar.

In a single day, they lost more than 3,000 people and were driven out of Cambodia.

This is France's most devastating defeat overseas in the past year.

The intelligence department held a meeting overnight to study the suddenly appearing unit.

"A citizen of the Republic. Definitely a citizen of the Republic."

"Where's the equipment?"

"I don't know. But it's definitely not one of those old-fashioned weapons. It should be advanced weapons from the northern battlefield."

Intelligence indicates they used rocket launchers, rocket-propelled grenades, and heavy machine guns.

"So what do we do now? Are we just going to give up on Cambodia like this? Give up without any dignity?"

"If we don't give up, then who will lead the team to face the Republic people?"

Didn't you see the intelligence from the northern battlefield?

That unit has 3000 men; if they are well-supplied, they could easily crush an entire division of ours.

"We only have less than one division in Southeast Asia right now. Are you going?"

After these words were spoken, the meeting room fell silent for a long time.

Finally, someone suggested, "How about... we find someone to ask? Let's see what the Republic is really thinking?"

"Ask whom?"

"In Hong Kong, a businessman named Lou Bancheng has recently taken over our store with his canned luncheon meat."

It is said that they have close ties with the Republic.

The quantity of goods he exports to us is something an ordinary businessman could never achieve.

A few days later, Lou Bancheng received an invitation in his office in Hong Kong.

The document was signed by the counselor of the French Consulate in Annam.

He looked at the invitation, smiled, and put it in the drawer.

Then someone was arranged to send a telegram to Zhao Ping'an: "The fish has taken the bait!"