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

Old Xu counted rapidly on his fingers:

"Look how long it's been! The framework of two steel mills with an annual output of 50,000 tons has been established! A steel rolling mill, a steel pipe mill, a machinery plant, a stamping plant..."

There are also supporting military workshops! The coal mines have increased their efficiency dozens of times with the equipment you provided! And once that thermal power plant is built, according to you, it will not only supply electricity to all the factories, but also light up the entire city of Harbin!

You're building a solid industrial foundation for us! Our leaders have repeatedly emphasized that your safety must be absolutely guaranteed!

You're going to Shanghai to take a risk? No way! Absolutely not! I don't agree to this, and the leaders certainly won't agree!

After Zhao Ping'an and Lao Xu finished speaking, a look of helplessness, determination, and a hint of exhaustion appeared on his face.

"Old Xu," he said calmly, yet with an undeniable authority.

"Do you think I want to go? The rear is much safer. Once the factory is built, at least the country will remember my contribution. We've been together for months. Besides liking good food, what other faults do I have? After all I've done, do you think the organization would treat me badly?"

Then Zhao Ping'an changed the subject, his tone becoming heavy and urgent:

"But the problem is, Lao Xu, these days, I owe 'over there' gold for these factories and for the weapons and medicines at the front, and the hole is getting bigger and bigger!"

They need capital too! Without real money flowing in, their production lines will have to stop, and their supply will be cut off!

This intelligence from Shanghai was their final, ultimatum-like opportunity.

—Let's either pull off a big heist together, recoup our funds, and maintain the supply;

Otherwise... subsequent cooperation may be significantly reduced, or even become unsustainable.

Zhao Ping'an stepped forward, stared into Old Xu's eyes, and said, word by word:

"Old Xu, if I, Zhao Ping'an, were to lose the continuous support of the 'channels,' I'm afraid my role would be no more significant than that of a soldier who can charge into battle."

These factories and equipment are like water without a source.

Therefore, I must go to Shanghai this time!

"I'm taking those two million taels of gold! Don't think you can stop me, not even Jesus could stop me, that's my word!"

These words, half true and half false, struck at the very point that Lao Xu was most worried about.

—The sustainability of Zhao Ping'an's mysterious "channels".

If the supply were to be cut off due to funding issues, the current construction boom could come to an abrupt halt, and support for the front lines would also be affected.

Gold, especially in such a massive quantity, is irresistibly tempting to both the "channels" and the current extremely difficult fiscal situation.

Old Xu opened his mouth, but seeing the resolute determination in Zhao Ping'an's eyes, he knew that further persuasion would be futile.

He knew this young man well; he was usually easygoing, but once he made up his mind, nothing could sway him, especially since his reasons were fundamental.

"You...you've really given me a huge problem!" Old Xu sighed heavily, scratching his hair in frustration.

"This is a huge matter! I can't make the decision! You wait here, I'll go report to the commander right away!"

You're not going anywhere until I get back! Do you hear me?!

"I'll wait for your news, Lao Xu, but I'll only wait three days, otherwise it'll be too late." Zhao Ping'an nodded, watching Lao Xu practically jog out of the room, his back view filled with anxiety.

The room fell silent.

Zhao Ping'an walked to the window and looked at the gradually darkening sky and the scattered lights of the factory area in the distance.

Shanghai... gold... 10 tons of blueprints...

The process of Lao Xu consulting with the leader was more difficult than expected, but the serious consequences of the "channel" potentially cutting off the supply, coupled with the strategic value of two million taels of gold, made it all worthwhile.

Ultimately, after repeated deliberations, the highest level issued the directive: "It can be tried, but safety must be guaranteed."

A highly capable special operations team was immediately established: team leader Zhao Ping'an, and political commissar Xu Yuanshan responsible for coordination and supervision.

The team members included five of the most resourceful and courageous men from the original Sixth Brigade, such as Wang Dashan and Liu Dazhu.

And Lao Jin, the liaison officer of the Shanghai underground party's "Dawn" group—

An ordinary-looking man in his forties who had been active in the underground world of Shanghai for twenty years.

Two weeks later, in the basement of the backyard of an inconspicuous herbal medicine shop on Zhapu Road in Shanghai.

Under the dim light, several maps of Shanghai and yellowed architectural drawings were laid out on the square table.

Zhao Ping'an, Xu Yuanshan, Lao Jin, and "Teacher Zhong," the leader of the "Dawn" group who had just infiltrated Shanghai—

A middle-aged man with round-framed glasses and an academic appearance is holding the first joint meeting.

"Comrade Zhao, Comrade Xu, these are what you asked for." Old Jin's voice was hoarse and low as he pushed a thick stack of documents in front of Zhao Ping'an.

"The Central Bank Building, formerly the Shanghai branch of HSBC, is a reinforced concrete structure with five floors above ground and two floors below ground."

The vault is located in the most central area on the second basement level, with walls and floors reportedly 1.5 meters thick, constructed using a mixture of reinforced steel and special cement.

The door is a giant steel security door custom-made by the German company Krupp, combining a mechanical combination lock with a clock lock; it is said that there are three keys.

It was to be kept separately by the bank president, deputy bank president, and the resident military police captain.

"The security situation," Teacher Zhong adjusted his glasses and took over the conversation, his tone calm yet packed with information.

"A reinforced platoon of military police, about forty men, is stationed there, divided into three shifts. The bank itself also has a guard of about twenty men."

There are fixed sentry posts and patrol teams around the building, and there are mobile sentry posts on each floor inside. There are double guards at the entrance of the vault 24 hours a day.

"Shift change times, patrol routes—this is a summary of our observations and records over the past three months." He handed over another notebook filled with dense yet clearly organized notes.

"What about the underground structure?" Zhao Ping'an was more concerned about this, tapping his fingers on the table. "Are there any pipes or old passageways that can be used? What's the underground situation of the surrounding buildings?"

Teacher Zhong nodded, then pulled out a slightly blurry, hand-drawn sketch:

"This is based on the recollections of veteran workers who participated in municipal engineering projects in the concession in the early years, combined with our limited exploration and drawing of the surrounding underground pipeline sketches."

The bank itself has a deep foundation, but beneath the adjacent "Dexing Lane" to the west lies a main drainage channel left over from the Public Concession era. This channel has a large diameter and is approximately 80 meters in a straight line from the bank's basement. However, this 80-meter stretch consists entirely of solid soil and the building's foundation.

Eighty meters of solid soil. Zhao Ping'an calculated silently in his mind.

Looking at Lao Jin, he asked, "Can we find a suitable starting point in the 'Dexingli' alley? For example, a house with a basement, preferably close to the bank, but inconspicuous."

Old Jin pondered for a moment:

"No. 32, Dexing Lane, is an abandoned secondhand warehouse. The owner went to Taiwan last year, and the house has been empty ever since. It has a fairly large basement."

It's located in the middle of the alley, about 150 meters from the west wall of the bank. The key point is, it's quite secluded; hardly anyone goes there.