A Journey Through the Flames of War in the Republican Era

In June 1932, Wang Zhi graduated from West Point Military Academy with the 12th highest rank in the infantry course, receiving his diploma from U.S. Secretary of War Patrick Hurley.

According to the plan, Wang will spend the next three months studying and inspecting US military industrial facilities before returning to China.

Song Hongfei also decided to take advantage of this holiday to visit the family gun factory of the famous American gun designer Val Browning in Ogden, Utah. He is the son of the renowned legendary weapons design master John Browning.

They had originally invited Yu Dawei to come along, but Yu Dawei was already itching to get back to China. After carefully studying Song Hongfei’s research findings and ideas, he had developed a plan for the construction of supporting industrial facilities in China and was eager to return to China as soon as possible to implement it.

Yu Dawei said emotionally, "If you, Song Hongfei, want to become a culinary master, how can you do it without ingredients, seasonings, pots and pans at home? The Japanese invaders are causing harm, and the situation is urgent. Time waits for no one, so we must seize every minute! I can't wait to go back and prepare all of these for you!"

Yu Dawei laughed heartily again, "Hongfei, your research results and design plans are enough to keep me digesting for a long time! The country is facing difficulties and everything needs to be rebuilt. We young people must keep our mission in mind and forge ahead! Of course, you young people should also pay attention to the balance between work and rest. I wish you a pleasant journey!"

A sense of respect and gratitude welled up within Song Hongfei and his two companions, and they felt a heavy responsibility on their shoulders.

Yu Dawei then encouraged the three of them not to be complacent, to continue their efforts, and to achieve even greater success. After saying this, he left happily.

[Note: Historically, after Yu Dawei returned to China from his second stint in Germany in 1932, he was appointed as the Director of the Ordnance Department of the Ministry of Military Affairs, responsible for the research, development, production and construction of ordnance nationwide.]

Yu Dawei attached great importance to military research, established numerous national defense research institutions, and sponsored students to study abroad, cultivating a large number of talents in national defense science and technology, ordnance and ballistics. Many of them later became meritorious scientists in China's "Two Bombs, One Satellite" project.

He made tremendous contributions to China's defense science and technology and ordnance industry, and is known as the "Father of China's Ordnance Industry."

Threesome.

The train sped along the bustling East Coast of the United States, skimming across the wide, flat Central Plains, and climbing up to Utah, a state in the west that is part of the Rocky Mountains and the Colorado Plateau.

Along the way, there are skyscrapers soaring into the sky, colorful neon lights filling the bustling metropolises, as well as exquisite and unique small towns, quiet and peaceful villages, and fertile farmlands, with golden or orange-red fruits mixed among the green leaves.

The train sped through the vast plains, mountains, grasslands, rivers, and lakes, across the expansive world of blue skies and white clouds.

Everywhere you look, you see crisscrossing railways, highways, and bridges, with trains, cars, tractors, and all kinds of motor vehicles moving in a constant stream. Neat rows of utility poles and power lines stretch from one settlement to another, out of sight in the distance.

The three were overwhelmed with emotion and deep feelings. This was the stark contrast between the prosperous and advanced modern civilization of the great powers, with their complete and well-developed infrastructure, and their impoverished and backward motherland across the ocean, which suffered constant humiliation.

Soldiers, born for war, often understand better how precious peace is and yearn for it more.

传奇武器设计大师约翰·勃朗宁，在他一生中成功设计的手枪、步枪、轻重机枪和大口径机枪等武器多达数十种，包括有M1911手枪、9mm口径大威力手枪、M1918自动步枪、M1917重机枪、M2“老干妈”重机枪等经典之作。

In fact, Browning was the first person in the world to adopt the gas-operated automatic principle, which he applied to two machine guns he designed. He obtained 128 design patents in his lifetime and was hailed as the "Edison of the weapon world".

John Browning established close cooperative relationships with renowned weapons manufacturers such as Winchester, Colt, Remington, and the Belgian company FN.

John Browning died in 1926, and his son, Val Browning, inherited his father's mantle and continued his innovative spirit. Val Browning assisted his father in managing the business for many years and served as the liaison between Browning and FN Corporation.

Song Hongfei and his two companions visited the Browning family's gun factory. Song Hongfei was now quite well-known, and he and Walter Browning, who was then a small arms designer for the Belgian company FN, hit it off immediately.

The two hit it off immediately, discussing topics such as firearm design and the principles of automatic weapons with great enthusiasm. Song Hongfei's research findings and design concepts deeply impressed Walter Browning, who praised them highly, believing they had immense significance for the development of modern firearms.

Walter Browning was delighted and presented Song Hongfei with a beautifully crafted pistol—an early model of the Browning HP high-powered pistol, with the exquisite Browning family crest engraved on the frame. This pistol was John Browning's last work, featuring a novel double-stack, single-feed magazine with a capacity of 13 rounds, making it exceptional at the time.

Wang Zhi and Zhang Yi were filled with envy, their eyes immediately drawn to the exquisite and beautiful pistol.

At the Browning family's gun factory, Song Hongfei was quite surprised to learn that Browning used rather simple tools to design precision weapons: a compass, an imperial ruler, a caliper to measure the inner and outer diameters, and a small level.

Browning himself did not receive formal mechanical engineering education, but he could design, assemble, debug and improve any kind of firearm, making him a world-class weapons design master.

All three of them were completely convinced.

"Although the conditions of China's military industry are backward, they are not any more rudimentary than this. There is no reason why we cannot do it!" Song Hongfei became even more determined and confident.

Song Hongfei humbly sought advice from Val Browning, learning the design and manufacturing methods and techniques for various firearm parts.

As a representative of Browning GmbH and FN GmbH of Belgium, Wal Browning extended a warm invitation to Song Hongfei to collaborate with them. He sincerely said, "Song, many of your research results are of great significance and have immeasurable potential. We invite you with the utmost sincerity and extremely generous terms, and we can apply for patent protection. We hope you can cooperate with us."

Faced with this offer, Song Hongfei was overjoyed, but after some thought, he said, "Mr. Browning, I am very honored and happy. However, as you know, although these are my personal research results, they are very important to my motherland, and there are many things we still need to consider carefully."

Val Browning nodded in understanding and said, "Of course, we'll wait for your news."

Song Hongfei, Wang Zhi, and Zhang Yi discussed the matter seriously and felt that limited and reserved cooperation was possible. They all knew that the Chinese government was seeking military cooperation with European powers, purchasing and importing Western weapons and equipment, and this was an extremely rare and excellent opportunity to cooperate with the powers on an equal footing, which they had no reason to let slip.

This would not only enhance and strengthen themselves, but also serve as a smokescreen and bait, perfectly aligning with Song Hongfei's idea of ​​"learning from the barbarians to control them." Why not do it?

Song Hongfei also had his own ideas that he didn't want outsiders to know. The Song family's capital and industries abroad were basically all in the United States, and they had not been involved in the highly profitable field of weapons. Now was a perfect opportunity to enter the arms industry and make a foray into Europe.

Another key point is that when foreign aid is cut off during the full-scale war of resistance in the future, China will have an additional vital channel for blood transfusion, which is a win-win situation!

He doesn't need to worry about the related matters. Once the Military Commission and the family have finalized the arrangements, the Military Commission's Office for Supervising Students Studying in the United States and the Song family's representatives will handle everything properly.

Song Hongfei was overjoyed, as everything was progressing towards the expected goal.

Song Hongfei and his two companions humbly sought advice from Browning and worked together to create various prototypes and sample guns that had been designed. Then, they happily hunted and tested them in the countryside near Ogden.

Surrounded by mountains and with babbling brooks, this place is a great spot for hunting and fishing. The three of them smiled at each other and then excitedly started to "improve their meals."

There's a saying that goes, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach," and this saying is still very applicable in today's context.

Walter Browning and his family raved about the "Chinese feast" the three of them had prepared, and his youngest son, Little Browning, was so excited that he kept pestering the three of them to go hunting to "improve their meals."

It was a truly enjoyable and unforgettable holiday, and I gained so much from it.