A Journey Through the Flames of War in the Republican Era

When Wang Zhi and Zhang Yi heard Song Hongfei say that he was developing a semi-automatic rifle, they were both shocked and extremely excited. Seeing Song Hongfei engrossed in drawing, they enthusiastically came over to discuss, offer suggestions, and help out.

Zhang Yi stared wide-eyed at the design drawings made by Song Hongfei, seemingly dumbfounded: "My God, you actually designed it!"

Their admiration and respect for Song Hongfei had become an unstoppable flood, like the Yellow River overflowing its banks.

As elite cadets at West Point, they naturally understood what an advanced semi-automatic rifle meant: it was like adding wings to a tiger for improving the combat effectiveness of an infantry unit, and a complete annihilation of bolt-action rifles.

Wang Zhi and Zhang Yi studied Song Hongfei's design drawings in great detail and found them feasible. The next step was to manufacture prototypes and sample guns.

Working together, the three men, with Song Hongfei's precise quantitative analysis, calculations, and design guidance theories and methods, greatly improved efficiency and success rates. They conducted extensive calculations using draft paper, a blackboard, and a hand-cranked calculator.

Song Hongfei also contacted MIT through the school to use their equipment—the Differential Analyzer invented by Professor Vannevar Bush, which can be called the world's first mechanical analog computer and can solve various differential equations.

They utilized the various instruments, equipment, and lathes in the ordnance workshop at West Point to perform turning, milling, cutting, planing, grinding, and drilling to manufacture various parts and conduct various experiments. The process was orderly and progressed smoothly.

As summer approached, Yu Dawei, who was studying weaponry, ballistics, and military staff in Germany for the second time, was dispatched by President Chiang Kai-shek to West Point in the United States. He brought not only encouragement and awards from the Chinese National Government and the Military Commission, but also a substantial sum of money.

Yu Dawei is a ballistics and military expert, as well as a brilliant student. After studying Song Hongfei's research paper meticulously, day and night, he was amazed and full of praise.

At the West Point Hotel across from West Point, Yu Dawei and Song Hongfei discussed ballistics and gun mechanics with great interest, and discussed Song Hongfei's design drawings. He gave Song Hongfei a lot of guidance and also gave him his notes and materials from his years of study, encouraging the three of them to continue their efforts.

Song Hongfei talked to Yu Dawei, Wang Zhi, and Zhang Yi about his envisioned "gun family" series design.

While Wang Zhi and Zhang Yi were still relatively calm, Yu Dawei, the military expert, naturally understood the implications. As he listened, his eyes widened in astonishment, his mouth agape, and he was overjoyed.

The "gun-centric" design was truly a groundbreaking concept at the time, far ahead of its time, leaving Yu Dawei utterly astonished.

"Have the design drawings been completed?" Yu Dawei asked somewhat anxiously.

"I haven't drawn it yet, but all the structural diagrams are in my mind," Song Hongfei said.

Song Hongfei looked at everyone again and said seriously, "With the current industrial capabilities in China, we cannot manufacture it yet. For the sake of secrecy, it has not been shown to anyone yet. We will draw it out at the appropriate time."

Yu Dawei nodded, patted Song Hongfei on the shoulder, and praised, "You've thought this through carefully. We can't easily show our most valuable secrets to others." Then, he turned to Wang Zhi and Zhang Yi and said, "Especially, we absolutely cannot let the enemy learn them!"

All three nodded solemnly.

This enemy naturally refers to the Eastern Kingdom.

The Japanese are preparing for war, their ambitions for aggression are already blatantly obvious, and their intelligence agencies have infiltrated every corner of China. We certainly can't let the enemy know our secrets!

Yu Dawei then said, "Hongfei, tell me your idea."

Song Hongfei thought carefully and said, "Actually, including the design of this first semi-automatic rifle, I secretly set up several traps to prevent copying. These are places that seem unreasonable in design or in the manufacturing process, places that are flawed and need to be corrected. But without my detailed information or without truly understanding its purpose, those who copy it will go astray, and they will be finished once someone makes changes."

Yu Dawei seemed to understand something and smiled with relief.

Wang Zhi and Zhang Yi chuckled.

"You're a good kid, you really have a way with things," Zhang Yi said.

Song Hongfei sketched a draft and said to the three, "Gun familyization means that the main components and ammunition of a series of guns can be interchanged. First, it allows for mass production, reducing production costs. Second, it facilitates maintenance and simplifies logistical support. Third, it makes them easier to master and use, simplifying training."

All three of them were very excited when they heard this.

Song Hongfei said, "The current design is considered the first generation, which includes a semi-automatic rifle, an air-cooled heavy machine gun, or a general-purpose machine gun that can be used for both light and heavy purposes, all using the same full-power ammunition. I have tried my best to make the design of the main components similar, but it cannot yet be considered a true family of guns."

"The first generation of rifles used short-stroke pistons, while machine guns used long-stroke pistons. There were several considerations for doing this. Now we have to rely on foreign countries to manufacture them, and both designs need to be tested with physical prototypes. The short-stroke piston design requires more precise quantitative analysis and calculation, and it is better kept secret, so others cannot easily imitate it. We can use foreigners to test and practice, and take the opportunity to improve ourselves."

Song Hongfei suddenly smiled slyly, "First, we throw them a bait, let them get hooked but unable to break free, while we secretly achieve our goal. The real trump card is the second generation!"

Yu Dawei smiled and nodded, saying, "Good lad, what a clever way to test the waters!"

Yu Dawei said earnestly, “The country has been poor and weak for a long time, beset by internal and external troubles. Steel, metallurgy, machinery, electricity, and materials are all extremely poor. It is truly heartbreaking that talented young people like you have no way to fully display your talents!”

"Fortunately, the Chinese government has already begun planning for industrial development and talent cultivation. Although everything is fraught with difficulties, Hongfei's achievements are like a guiding light. With specific goals and clear guidance, our path forward is much clearer!"

It's never too late to mend the fence after the sheep are lost, and all three of them were greatly encouraged.

Song Hongfei continued, "The second generation consists of a family of firearms that use intermediate-power ammunition, including squad automatic weapons, semi-automatic rifles, automatic rifles, and short assault rifles. They have the same structure and ammunition, and at least 60% of their main components are interchangeable."

"General purpose machine gun? Squad automatic weapon? Intermediate power bullet? Short assault rifle?" One new term after another left everyone feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Song Hongfei sketched out a series of guns from his envisioned "gun family" on the drawing paper.

Ordnance expert Yu Dawei stared at the blueprints, deep in thought, becoming more and more excited as he looked at them, his face showing an expression of complete absorption.

Zhang Yi scratched his head and said, "I'm a little confused. This seems to mean that for the same gun, with the same structure and parts, the one with the longest barrel and bipod is a light machine gun, the one with a shorter barrel is a semi-automatic rifle, the one with a shorter barrel is an automatic rifle, and the one with the shortest barrel is a short assault rifle? This last one looks like a submachine gun?"

Song Hongfei excitedly slapped Zhang Yi's thigh and said, "Hey! You're absolutely right! That's exactly it!"

He continued, "It's not a submachine gun; it uses the same rifle bullets, not pistol bullets! I call it a short automatic rifle or an assault rifle."

Zhang Yi rubbed his thigh, which had been slapped by Song Hongfei, and didn't bother to argue with him. He chuckled and said, "Hey kid, you're really something else!"

Zhang Yi added, "Leave the brain work to you, and leave the manual labor to me."

All three of them burst into laughter.