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

Zhao Pingan picked up a pen and paper and started drawing simple pictures.

"The curriculum is streamlined to the extreme: firstly, intensive Chinese language training, focusing on recognizing simplified Chinese characters—for reasons you've seen, such as the artillery firing tables and equipment manuals, which all use simplified characters. This is easy to solve; I can ask our 'channels' to get a batch of dictionaries as soon as possible. We can teach the soldiers how to use a dictionary in a day, and then they can use it to translate."

"Secondly, mathematics and basic geometry. We don't delve into profound theories, but only teach the most practical things: distance, angle, and elevation calculations, the application of trigonometric functions in firing tables, and basic concepts of ballistics. The goal is singular: to enable gunners and calculation soldiers to understand firing tables and quickly determine firing parameters based on data reported by the observation post."

Zhu Rui nodded repeatedly: "That's it! This is the one! Short-term and practical! So, what's the second step?"

Zhao Pingan put down his pen, his gaze becoming more profound:

"The second step, which is also what I want to emphasize in reporting to the commander, is that we can try to directly improve the artillery's ability to 'see' and 'hear'. We might even... change some of the combat tactics."

"Oh?" Zhu Rui and Lao Xu both perked up.

"Commander, besides artillery, my 'channels' can also provide some... auxiliary equipment." Zhao Ping'an carefully chose his words.

"For example, artillery firing calculators can calculate parameters faster and more accurately; high-precision military telescopes have rangefinding and coordinate calibration functions; "

Individual walkie-talkies ensure uninterrupted communication, even real-time communication, between observation posts and artillery positions.

Zhu Rui's eyes grew brighter and brighter; these things were enough to move him.

But Zhao Ping'an's next words made him catch his breath slightly:

"There are also infantry reconnaissance radars, which can detect the movement of personnel and vehicles at a certain distance; and thermal imagers, which can detect targets at night or in bad weather."

"Even..." Zhao Ping'an paused, then threw out an even more astonishing idea.

"I have a preliminary idea. These elite reconnaissance and guidance teams, equipped with this equipment, will advance to key locations."

After they located and marked the target, they transmitted back the real-time coordinates and image descriptions via walkie-talkie.

Based on this processed information, the artillery positions can launch rapid and precise strikes.

This could potentially shorten the time from "detection" to "firing," thus increasing the first-round hit rate.

"Detect and strike?" Zhu Rui took a deep breath. As an experienced artillery commander, he instantly grasped the core issue.

"This means that the artillery's reaction speed and strike accuracy can be improved to a new level! Advisor Zhao, are you sure you can get your hands on these devices? Could you demonstrate them?"

"Commander, we have samples of the equipment; we can demonstrate it," Zhao Ping'an said after glancing at Lao Xu and receiving his confirmation.

"We can find a completely safe place, set a target, and use the new equipment to guide the artillery test firing to verify the process."

"Okay! Can we arrange it today?" Zhu Rui said decisively.

"Can."

The matter was quickly settled. Zhu Rui brought in a reliable 122mm howitzer company and designated a safe demonstration area.

Zhao Ping'an then took out equipment from the "inventory": several individual walkie-talkies, an artillery observation scope with laser rangefinding and simple coordinate display functions, several advanced military binoculars, an individual radar, and a thermal imager.

In the morning, the group arrived at the pre-designated artillery position.

Zhu Rui personally determined the coordinates of the artillery position on the map and set the target area on a barren slope about seven kilometers away.

"We need to broaden our horizons," Zhu Rui said, pointing to a high point on the map about three kilometers from the target area with a good view.

"Set up an observation post there. Advisor Zhao, you set up and explain the equipment, and you handle the observation, calculations, and artillery deployment. Let me and my staff handle that."

Zhao Ping'an immediately nodded: "No problem, Commander. Operating the equipment is not difficult; I've translated the instruction manual. The key is how to convert the information the equipment sees into commands that the artillery can use."

After the observation post was set up, Zhao Ping'an first instructed the communications soldiers to set up walkie-talkies to ensure smooth communication with the artillery positions.

Then, he set up the artillery observation scope securely and began to explain to Zhu Rui and an artillery staff officer, referring to the simple instruction manual: "Commander, look, this is the eyepiece, the focus is here. The rangefinder button is here, after pressing it, the display screen will show the target distance."

The window next to it, after we input our own coordinates, can combine distance and angle data to help calculate the approximate coordinates of the target, but manual verification of the map is required for final confirmation and correction.

These military binoculars are similar...

Zhu Rui leaned closer to observe and tried it out himself, quickly mastering the basic usage.

"This thing is great! It measures distance quickly and can even help with calculations. It's much more intuitive than the old-fashioned steering wheel and optical rangefinder we use!"

Next, Zhao Ping'an demonstrated the basic operating interface of the individual soldier radar and thermal imager, explaining what information they could provide and their limitations.

The demonstration began. Zhu Rui personally operated the observation scope, locked onto a conspicuous boulder in the distant target area, measured the distance, and, together with the staff officer, quickly calculated the target's coordinates using the map.

He picked up the walkie-talkie and issued the test-firing order in standard artillery commands: "Taishan, Taishan, Eagle Eye calling. Test-firing point coordinates: X××××, Y××××. Grenade, first charge, one round, fire!"

A minute later, the sound of artillery fire rang out, and Zhu Rui pressed his eyepiece against the bullet's impact point.

"About 250 meters north! Correction, add ××× to the coordinates..." Based on the trajectory deviation, he quickly calculated the correction amount in his head and issued the correction command.

The second shot, the third shot... the shells were getting closer and closer to the target.

Zhu Rui and his staff were fully engaged in combat, making rapid calculations and issuing decisive orders.

Zhao Ping'an stood by, mainly ensuring that the equipment was working properly and explaining the meaning of the data displayed by the equipment when necessary.

When the fourth shell hit the boulder directly and shattered it into pieces, a low cheer rang out in the observation post.

"Great!" Zhu Rui straightened up, a cheerful smile on his face.

"The equipment is good, but the key is having people who know how to use it to command it! Consultant Zhao, this system, especially the observation scope and walkie-talkie, can greatly shorten reconnaissance and fire response time! Our veteran artillerymen's experience, combined with the support of the new equipment, is like adding wings to a tiger!"

Zhu Rui then enthusiastically tested the radar's ability to detect a simulated "moving convoy" at a greater distance, as well as the thermal imager's recognition performance against a forest background.

Throughout the afternoon, Zhu Rui's questions focused on practical application:

"Will the communication range of this phone be reduced in complex terrain?"

"How good is the night vision capability of this observation scope? Can it be used with flares or searchlights?"

"Can we train ordinary observation soldiers to quickly understand the information displayed on the radar screen?"

"If each artillery battalion were to be assigned such a reconnaissance and guidance team, how should its organization and training be adjusted?"

Based on the equipment parameters and instruction manual provided by the system, and combined with his own understanding, Zhao Ping'an gave an objective answer and technical possibilities as much as possible. At the same time, he repeatedly emphasized: "Commander, these are ultimately tools. How to use them well and integrate them into our tactics still depends on you and the vast number of commanders and soldiers to explore in practice."

Zhu Rui wholeheartedly agreed, and the more they talked, the more open-minded he became.

He only ended the discussion reluctantly, as the sun was setting and the staff reminded him to return.

On the way back, Zhu Rui said to Zhao Ping'an and Lao Xu:

"Advisor Zhao, you have gained a great deal today! These devices, especially those for reconnaissance and communications, are crucial for the modernization of artillery."

I'll go back and write down the plan to form an experimental unit and explore new tactics! We need to focus on teaching materials and training, and we also need to get our "eyes" and "ears" ready as soon as possible!

Zhao Ping'an responded sincerely: "Commander, please list and specify the equipment support you need, and I will do my best to coordinate the 'channels'."

Our goals are the same: to make our artillery fire more accurately, faster, and more powerfully.