A Journey Through the Flames of War in the Republican Era

Song Hongfei's fruitful research achievements in light weapons and ballistics played a significant role in promoting the development of China's military industry at that time.

The ballistics research institute, whose director was Yu Dawei, the head of the Ordnance Department, had departments such as a firing data measurement room and a process room. It also established a special artillery range in the Baguazhou area of ​​Nanjing, China.

The Ballistics Research Institute devoted itself to a comprehensive study of the firearms designed by Song Hongfei, as well as various types of artillery imported from Europe, America, Japan, Russia and other countries. It conducted research and testing on the internal and external ballistics of guns and cannons, the compilation of firing tables, and the firing propellants, and began to plan for imitation.

其中一项最为机密的工作，就是对宋鸿飞设计的“中间威力弹药”进行设计和计算。按照宋鸿飞的设想，包括了当时最常用的两种口径，设计了7.92x42mm、7.62x39mm中间威力弹，以及6.8x39mm、6.5x39mm等另几种口径进行对比测试。

The research and design of weapons and ballistics require a lot of mathematical calculations, which are obviously not feasible by human calculation. Yu Dawei made full use of Song Hongfei's achievements in computer research at MIT and established a computer research and development team.

In this way, China closely follows the international advanced level in computer technology research.

During that period, China and European and American countries also had increasingly close exchanges and cooperation in science and technology, industry, and military industry, which continued to develop well.

The Nationalist Government of China selected and funded a large number of technical personnel and young students from various industries, factories and research units to conduct exchanges and studies in industrial enterprises, research institutions and universities in Europe and America.

Yu Dawei spared no effort in innovating technologies, recruiting specialists, and greatly improving the conditions and treatment of scientific and engineering personnel. In just a few years, the Ordnance Bureau quickly became one of the most knowledgeable and technically proficient departments among all units under the Nationalist Government of China, cultivating a large number of outstanding scientific and technological talents.

Because relays at the time were not only expensive but also quite bulky, on Song Hongfei's suggestion, the Ordnance Department developed computers following the "small steps, quick progress" approach, first solving the problem of having them, and then gradually improving and upgrading them.

The Ordnance Department's computer retained the mechanical storage portion, while implementing the calculation and control portions using relays. It was a semi-mechanical, semi-relay electromechanical special-purpose computer, originally designed for ballistic calculations. It was only designed for numerical calculations and solving linear equations, and was neither programmable nor Turing complete.

"The country is poor, every penny must be spent wisely," Yu Dawei and Song Hongfei sighed helplessly.

Yu Dawei also faced great pressure. Developing a computer required a huge investment of funds, which was questioned by some high-ranking officials of the Nationalist government: What can a computing machine do? We've spent so much money and we can't see any visible results. We might as well buy more cannons!

Based on Song Hongfei's research at MIT, this computer was designed with a great deal of room for improvement. Various problems can be solved by changing the wiring method inside the control board. After improvement, it can be "programmed" by external insertion.

The programming approach is somewhat similar to operating an old-fashioned telephone exchange, where hundreds of wires are plugged into a switchboard to perform different calculations as needed. Each time a new calculation is performed, the lines must be reconnected. Although "programmable," the configuration is cumbersome and time-consuming.

This computer can perform 2-3 addition operations per second, which is hundreds of times faster than manual calculation. Although the speed is not very fast, its highlight is its high calculation accuracy.

Upon its release, it immediately demonstrated its immense power in ballistic calculations, silencing those who had questioned the role of computers and criticized the high cost of its development.

Yu Dawei then secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Yu Dawei took this opportunity to train and cultivate many talents in electronic technology, and increased investment in the Ordnance Department's radio equipment factory, planning to vigorously develop and produce various electronic components and radio communication devices such as resistors, capacitors, relays, and vacuum tubes.

Song Hongfei couldn't help but secretly admire, "He truly deserves to be called the father of military industry; he has such foresight and vision!"

As he gained more experience, his youthful arrogance gradually faded, and he became more composed and calm. He increasingly realized that the world is vast and full of talented people, and that creating great historical achievements requires the joint efforts and expeditions of countless individuals.

Song Hongfei was well aware that early electromechanical computers had a fatal flaw: a lack of versatility, variability, and a "stored program" mechanism.

In the early stages of 20th-century electronic circuit development, electromagnetic relays were widely used in the manufacture of electromechanical devices with complex circuits. However, there was no unified theoretical support for how to design and analyze these circuits.

For a long time, after designing and building complex circuits, electronic engineers had to perform extremely complicated troubleshooting work. It wasn't until Boolean algebra was applied to electronic technology that things began to improve.

Boolean algebra, also known as logical algebra, uses algebraic methods to judge and operate on binary {true, false} logical relationships. It is the most basic mathematical theoretical foundation of modern circuit design, which simplifies circuit design, saves circuit components, and greatly reduces circuit testing work.

With the application and development of electronic technology, in the early 20th century, some electronic engineers realized that Boolean algebra was very compatible with certain characteristics of electronic circuits.

Song Hongfei knew that it was Shannon who first proposed using Boolean algebra to analyze and describe switching circuits in his paper "Symbolic Analysis of Relay and Switching Circuits" in 1938, and explained the application of Boolean logic in electronics, thus laying the theoretical foundation for electronic circuits.

As is well known, Boolean algebra and switching circuits were not invented by Shannon; Shannon used these two concepts to invent new theories.

Other electrical engineers only sensed the similarities based on experience, but did not elevate them to a theoretical level. It wasn't until Shannon conducted rigorous theoretical logical deductions that a perfect derivation proved a theoretical system with universal significance.

It's somewhat similar to the difference between the Pythagorean theorem and the ancient Chinese "3-4-5" right triangle.

Song Hongfei went through a fierce internal struggle, tossing and turning in bed, thinking hard for a long time.

He held Shannon, the founder of information theory, in the highest esteem and would never dare to show the slightest disrespect to him, who was later hailed as the "founding father" by programmers.

On the other hand, he felt that he had personally participated in the development of computer technology in this era, and if the opportunity arose, he could create a theory that combined the two with his knowledge and abilities. He was confident of this.

In the midst of his wanderings, Song Hongfei suddenly realized that those involved are often blinded by their own involvement. He had participated in the early development of computers, and perhaps the butterfly effect had already begun, subtly altering the course of history.

In a flash of thought, he suddenly realized: wasn't all of this the very "opportunity"?

The development of computer technology has accelerated much faster than in history, and the introduction of Boolean logic and electronic circuit theory was almost inevitable and imminent.

Even if he hadn't been the first to propose it, someone else would probably have. Judging from the current momentum of computer technology development, it's unlikely that Shannon would have been the first to propose it more than two years later. This is the inevitability of the development of things.

Song Hongfei then thought that the situation was urgent and time was of the essence; a large-scale, all-out war would break out in less than two years.

Once a full-scale war breaks out, there will inevitably be no more stable and secure research environment and conditions, and time is running out for China.

China needs to take the lead in the emerging trend of modern electronic technology development, break free from the situation of scientific and technological backwardness and being bullied by Western powers, and firmly occupy a key commanding position in the process of world scientific development!

If we miss this golden opportunity to keep up with technological development, we will fall further and further behind in the rapidly developing international community, and China will have no voice in a world where science and technology are the primary productive forces!

This is a battle that will determine the fate of the nation!

In the name of the nation!

Amidst his racing thoughts, Song Hongfei quietly said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Shannon."