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

The factory's framework rose day by day in the outskirts of Harbin, and correspondingly, the numbers in Zhao Ping'an's system account rapidly dwindled.

Equipment, raw materials, technical data... each item is extremely valuable.

Although he felt a sense of accomplishment watching factories rise from the ground, Zhao Ping'an still felt a pang of pain when he occasionally glanced at his ever-shrinking system currency balance. This was his livelihood and the capital he used to support the revolution.

That evening, as he was checking the list of precision bearings that needed coordination from "channels" under the kerosene lamp in the temporary command post, the mechanical voice that had been dormant in his mind for some time suddenly rang out again, but the content was completely different from before:

[The system detected that the host's cumulative consumption of system currency has exceeded 5 million points.]

[Unlock special survival aid skill: Danger Perception (Passive).]

[Skill Description: When the host is about to encounter fatal or major danger (including but not limited to ambush, assassination, explosion, large-scale covering fire, etc.), they will receive a strong warning of palpitations or unease. The warning lead time depends on the type of danger and the complexity of the host's environment, usually ranging from several seconds to several minutes.]

[Warning: This skill is only supplementary and cannot avoid all dangers. The host must remain highly vigilant.]

Zhao Ping'an was taken aback. Before he could figure out what this skill, which sounded like a weakened version of "Spider-Sense," was for, an even more important hint followed:

[Side quests for major historical events are now available.]

[Current Event: The Shanghai Gold Crisis (Phase One)]

[Background: In order to prepare for his escape route, the Chiang Kai-shek Group is secretly plundering gold from the private sector and the national treasury, and concentrating it in the Central Bank vault in Shanghai.]

It is expected that the shipments will be secretly transported to Taiwan in batches by sea, starting in mid-to-late August 1948.

[Mission Objective: Intercept this batch of gold.]

[First phase intelligence: The total amount of gold to be shipped in the first batch is approximately 277 million taels (approximately 86.5 tons).]

Currently, the focus is on the underground vault of the Central Bank of Shanghai and surrounding secret warehouses.

[Task Rewards (Calculated in tiers based on the amount of data collected):]

[Interception volume ≥ 100 million taels (31.25 tons): Basic reward - System storage space increased to 500 cubic meters (5 times).]

[Acquired amount ≥ 200 million taels (62.50 tons): Advanced reward - System storage space increased to 1000 cubic meters (10 times), and additional "Key Technology Drawings and Process Packages (10 tons)" are obtained.]

[Task Note: 1. The amount of gold acquired is based on the actual amount stored in the system space or under the complete control of the host.]

2. The "Drawings and Technology Package" will be distributed in the form of physical paper drawings, covering some key industrial and military technologies from the 1940s to the 1960s.

[3. Please note, host, that this mission area is the core of enemy-occupied territory and is extremely risky.]

[Does the host accept this historical event mission?]

Zhao Ping'an was a little stunned by this series of messages.

Danger perception? It's somewhat useful, but we'll see how effective it is in practice.

A major historical event mission? The Shanghai Gold Heist? Gold? That's... hitting the nail on the head!

The reward... a 5x or even 10x increase in system space? This is crucial! It allows for the transport of far more supplies at once, and could even accommodate some medium-sized equipment!

But what on earth is that "key technology drawings and process package (10 tons)"? Drawings measured in "tons"?

After a moment's thought and a quick search of the mall, a picture flashed through Zhao Ping'an's mind:

A mountain of A4 paper was piled up in one office...

The way this system distributes rewards is really simple, straightforward, and practical.

If the 10 tons of technical data truly represent key technologies from the 1940s-60s, their value would likely exceed that of an equivalent weight of gold.

That is a treasure that can truly lay the foundation for a country's industry and technology!

粗略心算一下：100万两黄金，按系统10两一根大黄鱼价值30万兑换比例，就是300亿系统币！200万两就是600亿！这还不算黄金本身在现实中的巨大价值和政治意义。

With this money... let alone doubling the total resource consumption for the founding war two years later, a 1 vs. 17 battle on the northern front.

It would be more than enough to bring over the key equipment and technical data needed for the famous "156" industrialization foundation projects that the Red Empire sold to us after the War of Founding!

It can even accumulate immeasurable resources and technological foundations for future long-term development.

Do it! We have to do it!

Risks? Of course there are; it's Shanghai, a den of dragons and tigers.

But the returns were so astonishing, so astonishing, that even Zhao Ping'an, who was used to taking steady and methodical approaches, felt a surge of adventurous spirit.

"Accept the mission!" Zhao Ping'an silently recited in his mind.

Upon receiving the task, the specific action plan, personnel, and logistics immediately became urgent issues to be addressed.

This matter cannot be kept secret from the organization, and we must rely on the organization's strength, or at least a portion of it.

So Zhao Ping'an found Lao Xu, who was frowning and worried about the shortage of skilled workers in several factories.

"Old Xu, there's something I need to tell you, and I also need to report to the higher-ups." Zhao Ping'an closed the door, his voice very low.

"What's wrong? Is there a problem with the equipment?" Old Xu looked up.

"It's not equipment." Zhao Ping'an took a deep breath. "I received a top-secret intelligence from the 'channels.' The risk is extremely high, but the rewards... are also beyond imagination."

Zhao Pingan then cleverly packaged the information provided by the system task as "precise intelligence obtained through special channels":

"The Chiang Kai-shek Group is secretly scavenging gold all over the country. I heard that it is now concentrated at the Central Bank in Shanghai, and is preparing to transport it to Taiwan in mid-to-late August."

The first batch alone exceeded two million taels! The specific storage location and defense arrangements are all detailed "through the channels."

Old Xu gasped, his eyes widening: "Two million taels... of gold? 20 large yellow croakers in Shanghai?! Is this information reliable?"

"Absolutely reliable." Zhao Ping'an said with absolute certainty, "The 'channel' has paid a huge price for this."

They suggested that if they wanted to take action, they should get a share, or even...

"To intercept this batch of gold, I must personally lead a team to Shanghai to participate; this is a prerequisite for them to provide further details and support. They only trust me."

"You're going to Shanghai?!" Old Xu's voice suddenly rose, then abruptly fell, his face filled with shock and opposition.

"Comrade Ping An! Are you crazy?! That's the heart of enemy-occupied territory! Spies are everywhere!"

What is your current status? Do you know how important you are to our rear-area development?!