Back in 1978, I was admitted to Northwestern Polytechnical University.

Chapter 468 Principal Qin, please support our Optics Department's laser weapon!
Chang'an, Huaxin Company.

"Qin, you've come at the right time! Our Huaxin No. 3 has been successfully developed! This is the world's first true 3D graphics card, containing a large number of 3D computing instructions..."

Inside the office, Yu Youcheng saw Qin Liang enter and immediately began to introduce him with great interest.

Qin Liang nodded: "Good, not bad. Our Northwestern Polytechnical University's Computer Science Department is perfect for setting up a software company to develop a large number of 3D game software programs. With the combination of software and hardware, we can make more money..."

Hardware alone is not enough; software needs are the biggest driving force behind hardware upgrades.

So many interesting 3D software programs have emerged since then. If you just tell the computer science department the ideas, they can create them. Nintendo's game consoles will soon become obsolete.

"Great! I'll call the computer science department right away!" Yu Youcheng was a man of action, and upon hearing that Qin Liang needed to find someone, he immediately picked up the phone.

Soon, several computer science students arrived in a hurry.

"Hello, Senior Brother Qin Liang. My name is Chen Zhongjian. I graduated from the Department of Mathematics at Wuhan University and am currently pursuing my master's degree in the Department of Computer Science at Northwestern Polytechnical University... You are my idol, and I'm so glad to finally meet you!"

Looking at the shy young man in front of him, Qin Liang patted him on the shoulder: "Well, China Construction, what is your major in graduate studies?"

"Computer operating systems, currently, I am writing a Chinese operating system..." When talking about his professional field, Chen Zhongjian speaks fluently and eloquently.

"Currently, our computers need an external Chinese character card to display Chinese characters. You could say that the underlying language is still English; it's just translated when it's displayed. This certainly can't meet our users' needs. Moreover, with the advancement of computer hardware technology, computers will be able to display Chinese characters without a Chinese character card. In that case, a Chinese operating system will become very necessary."

Qin Liang nodded: "That's right, your idea is correct, but... it would be great if you could expand on it a bit more."

"What do you mean?"

"For computers to transition from research institutions to ordinary users, it's not enough to just have a Chinese version; other language versions are also needed. Your operating system should allow users to choose their language during installation, and then install the corresponding version based on that language. This way, users worldwide can use it."

Chen Zhongjian immediately became excited: "That's right, it seems my vision was too narrow."

"Northwestern Polytechnical University is geared towards the whole world! Having operating systems in other languages ​​requires developing corresponding office software, which you can't do alone; you need a team. Alternatively, it can be directly integrated into our existing operating system..."

There are already graphical operating systems available, so it's a bit of a waste for this guy to develop one separately. It would be better to integrate it with the existing operating system; he's essentially designing a plug-in.

"Okay, okay, okay, Senior Brother Qin Liang, we'll listen to you. By the way, what mission did you call us here for? Please give us the task."

"We need to make a few games, 3D display, to usher in a new era! The first one... let's call it Half-Life."

Half-Life? What does that mean?
When Qin Liang finished speaking, everyone's eyes widened.

Games these days are all scrolling, and players complete the game by playing from left to right.

What will games look like with 3D technology? Nobody knows! Qin Liang's introduction was like opening a new door for everyone!
Half-Life, a shooting game that almost simulates real combat, has allowed 3D technology to quickly gain popularity!
Yu Youcheng seems to have already foreseen the phenomenal success of his Huaxin No. 3 chip!

"The second one is called...The Legend of Sword and Fairy, right? It's a game that promotes our Eastern culture, and it also has a profound theme, revolving around a central idea called destiny..."

Actually, The Legend of Sword and Fairy 1 isn't a classic 3D game; it could be called a 2.5D game. But Qin Liang just couldn't resist bringing up this classic game.

"It works perfectly with our Chinese operating system, which contains a vast collection of Chinese poems..."

Qin Liang could recite many of the poems in this book by heart, especially the one about sleeping with someone.

Since there's no turning back, why not forget? Since we're not meant to be, why make vows? Today's events are like water without a trace. Tomorrow, we'll be strangers. What a typical scumbag!
As Qin Liang spoke, spittle flew everywhere, and the others present quickly took notes.

Senior Brother Qin Liang, what a talent!
"Let's call the third game 'Doom'..."

This is a classic game from the early days of the transition from 2D to 3D, so it's worth bringing it out.

As he spoke, Qin Liang felt his stomach rumbling.

Before we knew it, we'd been talking for the entire morning!
"Let's go to our cafeteria, grab something to eat, and continue our conversation this afternoon," Yu Youcheng said.

"Ok."

A cold wind blew, and Qin Liang suddenly remembered that he had come here to ask Yu Youcheng and his team to develop FPGA chips.

Internally, it contains numerous basic logic units that use lookup tables and flip-flops to achieve combinational logic functions. The internal workings of this chip are actually quite similar to those of a graphics card, so finding those units is the most appropriate approach. And then…

Before anything was said, it was already noon.

Okay, let's eat first, then we'll talk about it when we get back.

"There are a lot of foreigners in the sixth canteen lately, should we... go somewhere else?"

"No need, let's take a look at their condition," Qin Liang said.

So, everyone went into the sixth canteen. As soon as they entered, they smelled a strong odor of alcohol. They saw several Russians holding bottles of liquor in their left hands and chopsticks in their right, taking a sip of liquor and a bite of food. Their movements were very practiced, indicating that they had been doing this for quite some time.

They just glanced at the doorway out of habit, and when they saw Qin Liang come in, they immediately became excited.

"Qin, Qin, it's so good to see you!"

Qin Liang thought for a moment and recognized it.

Nikolai Nikitin, head of the Mikoyan Design Bureau in the East!
“Nikolai, my friend, it seems you’ve gotten used to life in the East!” Qin Liang walked up and plopped down in the empty seat next to him. “You’re quite skilled with chopsticks.”

"That's right, there are abundant resources here, and I feel very good here!"

"Yes, thinking about going back after the cooperation ends, I'm really going to miss it."

This is not their modesty; it is the truth.

In Russia, daily necessities were scarce, but heavy industry was extremely developed. However, tanks, airplanes, and artillery could not fill people's stomachs.

They had to queue to buy anything, and they had to have it. In contrast, the East had abundant resources, which they envied. At least they could have a bottle of wine with every meal, and their lives were definitely comfortable.

"Qin, I heard that you are cooperating with Boeing on a spaceplane. The shape of this plane is quite similar to our MiG-105?"

Qin Liang was startled and subconsciously thought that a leak had occurred at Northwestern Polytechnical University. However... after thinking about it, he ruled it out. It was most likely that the secrets were leaked by the Americans. After all, the KGB was omnipresent.

"what happened?"

"If...we provide all the data on the MiG-105, could that offset the costs of our upcoming cooperation?"

Qin Liang was stunned.

Russians, do you know what you're doing? You're aiding the enemy, you're selling out your country!
Currently, Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) is assisting the Mikoyan Design Bureau in studying the shape of the MiG-1.44. The engineers at the Mikoyan Design Bureau have already witnessed NPU's strong R&D capabilities, and it is highly likely that the detailed design of the aircraft will also be carried out here.

This means that more research and development funding will be needed!

But the Russians... the Russians have no money!
Indeed, in recent years, the Afghan war has tied up a lot of Russian funds. Their domestic grain harvest has been poor for years, and they need to buy large quantities of grain from Europe. Their main source of foreign exchange earnings is oil, and in recent years, oil prices have fallen.

Due to various factors, the Russians are short of money!
In the past, it was fine for the Mikoyan Design Bureau to develop it themselves, but now that they're asking the East for help, they have to pay for it!
They tried all sorts of methods to apply for funding, and now... they finally see new hope.

Technology for technology!
"Qin, Qin?"

Qin Liang snapped out of his daze: "Isn't your MiG-105 project top secret? Giving this project to us, won't... won't it affect you?" "Of course not. It was a failed project to begin with," Nikolai Nikitin said. "You should know that the Buran space shuttle project was chosen, and our Spiral project... is dead."

"Alright. Then just give us all the materials, and you won't need to pay any more design fees! Of course, it would be even better if you could send us the prototype as well!"

"can."

Does this work?
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it's September again.

Northwestern Polytechnical University has once again ushered in a new semester, with elites selected from all over the country through the National College Entrance Examination arriving in Chang'an.

On this day, firecrackers crackled and popped incessantly at the main gate of the new campus of Northwestern Polytechnical University.

"Today, our new campus of Northwestern Polytechnical University officially begins operation! This marks a new journey for Northwestern Polytechnical University. The campus here is four times the size of the old campus, and Northwestern Polytechnical University will usher in a period of great development!"

Principal Luo spoke at the top of the class, and everyone applauded below.

"Now, I announce that Comrade Qin Liang will temporarily take charge of this new campus!"

What do you mean?
Qin Liang was stunned. Principal Luo, why didn't you tell me beforehand?
"Come, let's invite Comrade Qin Liang to come up and speak!"

Seeing that Qin Liang was still hesitating, someone next to him said, "Comrade Qin Liang, you should go up. Principal Luo also said that you are only acting."

Okay, this new campus can be handed over to my father-in-law in the future; I'm really just an agent.

"In recent years, Northwestern Polytechnical University has developed rapidly, and the problem of insufficient campus buildings has become increasingly prominent. With the new campus, Northwestern Polytechnical University will develop even faster! Since I am acting as your agent here, I can guarantee that there will be no shortage of funds. We will provide as much funding as you need! What I want is your research and development results! Northwestern Polytechnical University is a research-oriented university!"

The applause was enthusiastic.

"Look how popular Comrade Qin Liang is!"

"Yes, he will definitely be able to manage this campus well!"

"Since the new campus is still under construction, there aren't many departments moving here in the first batch. They mainly include..." Qin Liang took the documents and began to read aloud: "Department of Optical Engineering... Next, everyone, please go to the conference room in the main building for a short meeting."

Since I've taken on this job, I have to do it well!
Of course, what Qin Liang meant was... From now on, just give me the money directly, and don't bother me with anything else!

As for whether everyone will find him annoying, that's for sure!

In the conference room.

"President Qin, our Optics Department..."

"Director Liu, please don't call me that. Just call me Qin Liang, or Liangzi. I'm not some school principal."

“You’re in charge of our branch campus, so aren’t you the principal?” said Liu Weiguo, the head of the Optics Department.

Everyone else nodded.

"No, I haven't accepted this appointment. If you keep calling me Principal Qin, the project won't be approved, and the money won't be allocated!"

"Alright, Liangzi, the most important project for our Optical Engineering Department right now is the vehicle-mounted laser weapon!"

While other departments are developing rapidly, some departments are sitting on the sidelines, and the Optics Department is one of them!

In recent years, the Department of Optical Engineering has been relatively unknown and has achieved almost nothing. Even the lasers needed for lithography machines were developed by Tsinghua University and Capital University.

They are in the optical engineering department, and they need to find a suitable career path!
Qin Liang's eyes instantly lit up: "Alright, continue!"

"Currently, the main weapon for air defense interception is the air defense missile. With the development of our technology, the range has gradually increased and the hit rate has also improved a lot. However, air defense missiles also have many drawbacks. For example, they are expensive, with one missile costing hundreds of thousands of yuan. In contrast, if we use laser weapons, we only need to spend a few yuan on electricity!"

Liu Weiguo and his team have set their sights on a new track!
"We've calculated that a 10-kilowatt laser can blind the opponent's optical devices, a 30-kilowatt laser beam can disable a missile's guidance system, and anything over 50 kilowatts can directly detonate the missile's fuel and warhead. Our target is a 100-kilowatt ground-based laser weapon!"

Lasers were once considered a very promising weapon, and for a long time in China, they were called death rays.

However, after decades of research and development, it was discovered that this weapon had many flaws, such as difficulty in increasing power, large size, and inconvenient operation. Therefore, many countries abandoned it.

It wasn't until the 21st century that laser weapons were brought back to the forefront, and at that time, our Eastern laser weapons displayed their formidable power!

When those drones fly in in droves, it is very inappropriate to intercept them with traditional air defense weapons. Even the cheapest air defense missile costs 300,000 yuan, while a drone only costs about 10,000 yuan.

Not to mention, the number of anti-aircraft missiles is limited and they simply cannot withstand the swarm tactics of drones.

Laser weapons can truly shine in this regard!
Of course, this also depends on the power.

In 2012, Boeing unveiled a ground-based laser weapon system with a power output of only 10 kilowatts. It boasted that it could intercept rockets, missiles, drones, etc. In reality, it couldn't burn through anything!

Our Eastern laser weapons, with a power of 30 kilowatts, can instantly vaporize the plastic fuselage of drones on the battlefield if they hit them, causing the lithium batteries to explode and the motors to melt and jam...

Thirty kilowatts is a hurdle!

The export model is 30 kilowatts, but for our own use? A hundred kilowatts is a given! They say that giant washing machine installed on the warship has a power of 300 kilowatts! It could even take out an anti-ship missile flying at Mach 3!

Now, the Department of Optics at Northwestern Polytechnical University is about to embark on a new path!
"Yes, we will fully support you. How far have you progressed in your research?" Qin Liang asked.

"We have overcome the design challenges of the laser. We believe that existing lasers, whether solid-state lasers like ruby ​​or gas lasers like carbon dioxide, cannot meet the requirements. Therefore, we have found a special way to increase the output power of pulsed fiber lasers..."

Laser, light emitted by stimulated emission of atoms, is the fastest knife, the most accurate ruler, and the brightest light.

The earliest lasers used ruby ​​lasers, which were solid-state lasers. Later, gas lasers and semiconductor lasers appeared.

However, achieving a certain power level for a laser is not easy. The Russians' Polar-class laser, a behemoth weighing over 80 tons, only achieved megawatt-level power output.

Various lasers were developed starting in the 1960s, and pulsed fiber lasers were one of them. They used fiber doped with rare earth ions as the gain medium. Until the late 1990s, with the improvement of semiconductor laser and doped fiber technology, the power of this type of laser was greatly increased.

Now, the Department of Optics at Northwestern Polytechnical University has found the right way!
"Through four-stage amplification, we achieved a single-pulse energy output of 82 megajoules. As long as enough clusters are arranged, sufficient power output can be formed. If we make a light source the size of a washing machine, a power of 100 kilowatts can be achieved."

Liu Weiguo continued, "However, we can't solve other problems, mainly the high-power power supply and the heat dissipation of the laser..."

To generate a 100-kilowatt laser beam, the electrical power required would be at least 300 kilowatts! That would require a huge generator! Even Steyr's engines wouldn't be enough!

If a laser beam of 100 kilowatts is output, the remaining 200 kilowatts of power will be dissipated as heat!
Heat dissipation is also a major problem!
"These are not problems. For electrical power, we can use a dedicated generator vehicle or install it on a tank. For heat dissipation, we can use a honeycomb heat dissipation structure..."

In later generations, our Eastern laser weapons used this heat dissipation structure, which is our patented design. Through micro-circulation of coolant, the output time of the laser beam was increased by 400%!
Upon hearing Qin Liang's words, everyone's eyes widened. This plan sounded really good!
"President Qin, let's talk about nuclear physics again, about our accelerator..." Professor Liu, who had just returned from overseas, began to introduce it.

Another busy workday!

We originally planned to have a short meeting, but by the time it ended, it was already dark!

"Principal Qin, we just received news that the Russians have sent us the design data and prototype of the MiG-105. Where should we put them?"

Qin Liang thought for a moment and said, "Let's put that prototype at the school gate as a sculpture!"

What?
(End of this chapter)