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

In Zhao Ping'an's mud house, which also served as his office, the butler respectfully handed over an unsigned confidential letter, along with a verbal message:

"My husband said that the buyer was 'very satisfied' with the last shipment, and the quality far exceeded expectations."

The buyer also asked the gentleman to inquire whether Mr. Zhao could procure any other urgently needed items.

Zhao Ping'an unfolded the secret letter. It contained only a few words, mostly greetings, and nothing particularly important. Zhao Ping'an couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

As expected of Lou Bancheng, he is indeed cautious. This letter is just a prelude; the real purpose is a message sent by the steward.

Even if someone arrested the housekeeper and asked him this question, Lou Bancheng would have plenty of explanations to give.

Her thoughts returned to the present, and she looked at the butler who was still waiting for her reply.

"Please sit down, butler, let me think about it." Zhao Ping'an first invited the other party to sit down, and then began to search in the system store.

Zhao Pingan quickly finalized several products.

"Civilian Concert-Grade Telescope", priced at 2000 yuan.

Commercial knock-off single-person radio, priced at 5,000 yuan, weighing 30 kg, with a transmission and reception range of 5-15 km, and a spare battery costing 500 yuan.

Note: This is a radio for individual soldier communication, supporting 12 hours of high-intensity communication.

(Note: Remember to bring extra spare batteries)

Commercial knock-off radio repeater, unit price 100,000 yuan, weight 300 kg, transmission and reception distance 12-30 km, spare battery price 20,000 yuan.

Description: The core of the call system can be networked to connect multiple individual devices and supports 72 hours of high-intensity calls.

(Note: Please install it at a high position to ensure a clear signal. It is recommended to use a diesel generator set for power.)

And another complementary product

"Civilian diesel generator", price: 100,000 yuan, weight: 1000 kg, power generation: 30 kilowatts, fuel consumption: 5 L/hour.

(Note: Please ensure you have sufficient fuel.)

Zhao Ping'an hesitated, not because he was reluctant to exchange it, or because of the points, but because of the weight!

Zhao Ping'an clearly understood the strategic value of such unlimited communication devices in this era.

However, that diesel generator was too heavy, weighing a full 1000 kilograms (2000 pounds). Although it was small in size, less than 2 cubic meters, the problem was how the other party would transport it away.

The butler sat to one side with his hands at his sides, carefully observing Zhao Ping'an's expression.

After a long while, Zhao Ping'an suddenly slapped his forehead.

"I was overthinking it," Zhao Ping'an suddenly realized he was in a dead end. Why was he so concerned about whether the other party could transport it? The cannon wasn't light either, but couldn't the other party have transported it? Besides, it was just a small thing weighing a ton; a car would have sufficed. Why was he worrying about it?

So, he raised his head and said to the Lou family's butler, "Butler, to be honest, my friend has some really good stuff."

"Have you ever heard of a telephone that can be carried by one person without a telephone line?" Zhao Ping'an tried to explain in a way that the other party could understand.

"And the corresponding relay station to handle the connection? My friend has one, and a diesel generator to power the relay station. Could you please go back and confirm if the other party needs it? Oh, by the way, the communication range is 10 to 30 miles."

The steward carefully noted it down, then bowed and said, "Understood, I will certainly pass on the message."

After seeing the housekeeper off, Zhao Ping'an stood alone by the window.

This tentative step of his was aimed directly at the more core areas of technical support—communications and energy.

Now it all depends on whether the other party takes the bait.

"Communication equipment, observation instruments, generators..." Zhao Ping'an muttered to himself, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

"Perfect timing, I also need some 'samples' and 'reasons' to pave the way for my bigger 'gifts' in the future."

Thinking of this, Zhao Ping'an turned around and walked back to his desk, spread out paper and pen, and began to list the goods that might "appear" next time.

And how to rationally "introduce" them into this era.

He glanced again at the staggering 4496 million system coins, a number that left Zhao Ping'an speechless.

Zhao Ping'an decided to equip his troops with these items first, since they would greatly help improve the troops' combat effectiveness.

Over the next period of time, Zhao Ping'an purchased some more weapons to upgrade his equipment.

In addition to batches of Type 38 rifles, light and heavy machine guns, American-made Thompson submachine guns also began to flow into the troops.

Zhao Ping'an did not pursue uniformity, but instead established a more practical configuration: each infantry squad was guaranteed eight rifles, two to three submachine guns, and one light machine gun.

Each platoon is reinforced with two light machine guns, and each company with two heavy machine guns. They are directly under the command of the 60mm mortar battalion headquarters.

The process of changing clothes is also a practical training exercise.

Zhao Ping'an organized multiple combat drills to allow soldiers using different weapons to practice tactics together.

Then, Zhao Desheng's recruitment work proceeded smoothly.

Zhao Ping'an then brought out a "new gadget".

Deep within the camp, several newly erected large tents were under strict management.

A simple wooden sign that read "Sanitation Team" hangs at the entrance, but the inside is a completely different world.

Zhao Ping'an obtained a complete set of stainless steel surgical instruments through system exchanges and clandestine purchases.

Autoclave, ether anesthetic, more penicillin and sulfonamides, and even a few microscopes and centrifuges.

An old medical officer from a former Nationalist Army field hospital and two trained medics, "invited" from a nearby county, became the core of this nascent field hospital.

In the future, seriously wounded patients will no longer have to leave their fate to chance. Simple wound cleaning and suturing, removal of shrapnel, and even amputation can all be performed here.

The significantly improved survival rate was more effective in stabilizing morale than any inspiring slogan.

Clothing repair shops and ordnance maintenance shops were also established.

Skilled soldiers were selected and trained by Zhao Ping'an using the "Armament Maintenance Manual" and physical items obtained through the system.

Learn how to use a sewing machine, patch clothes, repair leather shoes, and more complex tasks such as disassembling, troubleshooting, and replacing parts of firearms.

Zhao Ping'an told them, "From now on, we can fix our guns ourselves if there are any minor problems, without having to ask anyone for help, and we won't have to worry about them breaking down at crucial moments."

The emergence of these technical branches of service gave the force a vague resemblance to a modern military logistics system.

However, Zhao Ping'an's most far-reaching plan began with the most inconspicuous pretext—"literacy education".

"For a soldier, just knowing how to fire a gun isn't enough. You need to know your own name, recognize official documents, and be able to do simple accounting."

"At least we'll know how much food and pay we're receiving and that we haven't had it withheld." Zhao Ping'an made this suggestion at the regimental meeting, which surprised both Zhao Dongliang and Zhao Desheng.