A nation's industrial development begins with junior engineers.

"Jiang, we've finished copying. Could you spare a little more of your time?"

The researcher from the radar institute, after copying the book and quickly going through it, looked at Jiang Xia with anticipation.

Jiang Xia was staring blankly at the manuscript paper, seemingly lost in thought, when Secretary Liu gently nudged him.

"Hey? What, have you guys finished writing?"

Jiang Xia's slightly vacant eyes slowly regained their usual liveliness.

"Yes, we've learned a lot. We'd like to learn more about the digital switches and time-division switches you mentioned earlier."

"Yes! From your explanation, digital switches are clearly more advanced. Why don't we just go for digital ones?"

"Yes, Engineer Jiang, especially that time-division switch you mentioned earlier. I went back and did a lot of research, and it seems that the time-division switch is the front end of digitization. In that case, why don't we do it all at once!"

A researcher with bloodshot eyes stood up as he spoke, waving one hand excitedly.

"Jiang, since you mentioned this type of switch, you must know something about it. As far as I know, your concept of a digital switch is currently unique to Scorpion Factory! This is a golden opportunity for us to catch up with and surpass Britain and the United States!"

Tsk, it is indeed unique. Even the French, who later created a practical digital air separation machine, only managed to figure out the digital one ten years later.

Right now, everyone's playing with cross-sectional and horizontal switches, and even France's current air division switch is still in the laboratory stage.

However, these researchers are clearly overconfident. Are they already focusing on numbers? Have they forgotten the decisions made by the higher-ups?

Oh, I don't recognize him. I guess he wasn't there that day.

We underestimated how much our comrades desired and were eager for the title of "first" at that time.

But even a calm person like Lao Wang feels a little lost about the future, so it's no wonder that the old man who plays with kitchen knives is so interested in that "ping-pong match".

"The title of world's number one, huh?" Jiang Xia thought for a moment, then stood up and walked to the small blackboard in front of the conference room.

"Comrade, you're right. In my view, time-division multiplexing is indeed a front-end technology for digital switches!"

"Let me talk about the biggest obstacle we currently face in implementing the time-division function..."

While Jiang Xia started drawing on the blackboard, Secretary Liu quietly tidied up the drafts on the table, held them upside down in her arms, and quietly left the meeting room.

"To achieve time-division multiplexing, I won't go into the rest. Just look at the signaling signals: dial tone, ring signal, answer signal, etc. You should all be familiar with these signals."

"So, according to Shannon's theorem, Rmax = Wlog2(1 + s/n), what conclusions can you draw?"

"Uh, the maximum transmission rate of a channel is related to the channel bandwidth and signal-to-noise ratio?"

Jiang Xia gave a thumbs-up to the person who answered.

"If I may ask, have you been staying at the post office the whole time?"

"Yes! I was working at the post office when the People's Republic of China was founded."

"Then may I ask, do you think our current lines can handle such a large channel bandwidth? I saw in the documents that there are a few lines that were built during the Republic of China era, right? I must say, the fact that those lines are still usable shows that your post and telecommunications bureau has really put in a lot of effort!"

"Hey, don't even mention it. Those wires have been getting chewed up by mice lately, and they keep short-circuiting. Eventually, we just replaced all the landlines with magneto units, instead of the common-current type. Even so, our comrades still have to get up in the middle of the night to check for anomalies..."

Jiang Xia tossed a few cigarettes over: "Then why not upgrade the cable? Didn't the wire and cable factory say their performance wasn't good? Why doesn't the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications lend a hand?"

The researcher lowered his head and stammered for a long time: "We don't have the money. The higher-ups require us to expand the postal service to... to ensure that every piece of mail... Our budget has basically all gone into setting up the network."

"That settles it then. Putting aside the fact that the control memory inside a digital switch uses integrated circuits, the current cables can't even meet the signal bandwidth requirement. What's the point of adding one?"

"Time division multiplexing, like digital conversion, is a product of the development of integrated circuits to a certain stage. Without integrated circuits, both ends of a call still need to perform A/D and D/A conversions..."

As Jiang Xia got into the conversation, he started writing and drawing on the blackboard. Before long, the blackboard was covered with several formulas for analog-to-digital conversion and some circuit diagrams.

"Look, this is a basic model of digital conversion. Just imagine what it would look like to have these two big heads attached to a telephone?"

"Hey, it looks a lot like a dumbbell. Add to that flat relay you guys made, and you'll need two on each side, each weighing two pounds, wow, the whole microphone will weigh almost ten pounds..."

"Answering a phone call can be a form of exercise..."

The researchers ignored Jiang Xia's clumsy joke, their eyes shining as they stared at the blackboard: "Wow, a new circuit diagram! This circuit diagram can encode signaling signals into digital signals for transmission and processing!"

Wow, this will take the accuracy and reliability of signaling to a whole new level! Engineer Jiang is truly capable; he probably already has the configuration drawings for the digital switch ready! It's just that he hasn't revealed the modification plan due to limitations!

Just as rumored, they've thought it through thoroughly!

An old researcher at a radar institute thought of imitating the undetectable clutter processing on radar. If this converter were installed, wouldn't it be possible to use rhubarb to process digital signals?

Radar waves and sound waves are both waves!

This is incredible! I have to copy it first!

There were quite a few people who shared the same thoughts as this senior researcher. They were all elite talents from various units, and through Jiang Xia's explanation, they all gained some insights.

For a moment, it seemed as if everyone had entered a state of "enlightenment," and the meeting room fell silent again, with only the scratching sound of pens on paper.

Seeing that no one offered any laughter, the little ahoge scratched his head in exasperation:

"In conclusion, while the existing technology is good, we don't need it yet. But space division switches are different; they're all mechanical. The transition is smooth, and there's no need for large-scale modifications to the telephone line network, making them perfect for us!"

What kind of renovation is needed?

"Money!" The researcher finally chimed in.

"Hmm, not bad. You've learned to answer first!"

"Swish, swish, swish..." The sound of researchers diligently copying notes continued. The researcher who had just looked up to answer now felt as if he had wasted time by speaking, and quickened his copying speed again.

Ah! Indeed, the world needs people like Tie Jun~ My mind calms down again without a couple of silly poems.

Seeing the researchers' intense focus, Jiang Xia pouted helplessly, wanting to go back and ponder the printer problem. It was somewhat like university students scrambling for seats in the study room in later generations.

The atmosphere of everyone learning is like an invisible force pushing you forward, making you want to join in.

"Huh? Where's my manuscript? Did I put it in my spatial storage?"

Jiang Xia looked at the clean tabletop in confusion. Why was there not even a tissue to blow her nose?

"Boom~~"

A loud noise came from the main office building, breaking the silence in the conference room.

The researchers all unconsciously frowned. Jiang Xia curiously leaned out to look, but was pulled back by Secretary Liu who hurriedly walked in.

"What are you doing? I'm not going to jump off a building!"

"Pah! Kids say the darndest things, but are you done with your lesson? Something's happened in the workshop, and you need to step in and fix it!"

"Isn't Director Yang here? With him here, what can I do to solve any problems in the workshop?"

Secretary Liu looked constipated: "They've already disappeared, saying they went to the train station to recruit people. What factory manager recruits at the train station? I was thinking of getting that 'shrewd guy' to fill in, but he got stuck too..."

As she spoke, Secretary Liu pointed to Li Huaide's office in the main building.

"There's no other way, you'll have to step in!"

Oh, Yang Youning, you're really quick on the uptake. But you actually went to the train station to recruit people?

Oh well, I guess this Yang Erlengzi has had another stroke of kindness. Migrant workers and all that, sigh~

Jiang Xia shook his head helplessly and looked at Secretary Liu: "Pah! Do you think I'm stupid? I'm not going to take the blame! What's the workshop director doing here? Probably some people we can't afford to offend have come again!"

The rationality of the little ahoge was suppressed in a corner, shrinking into a tiny lump.

At this moment, interpersonal relationships and social skills hold a decisive advantage!

"Hey, I still need to talk to my uncles and elders a bit more. Go and ask my master for help..."

Secretary Liu glanced at him sideways. "Ha, you think I brought your master back from the foot of the Tianshan Mountains? Do you think I'm some kind of badge warrior? Someone who can ride around on a telephone line?"