Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

June in Beijing was already quite hot. The bright sunlight poured down, illuminating the newly allocated, hundred-hectare plot of wasteland east of the Red Star United Industrial Corporation. This area, formerly suburban farmland and scattered cemeteries, was flat, with an open view, and a convenient yet relatively independent location from the main factory area. Now, the land was enclosed by a newly erected three-meter-high barbed wire fence, with prominent wooden signs reading "Military Restricted Area, Entry Strictly Prohibited" posted at intervals. Guards stood at the entrance, armed soldiers standing at attention, creating a starkly different atmosphere.

Inside the walls, however, a vibrant and unprecedented scene unfolded.

A dozen bulldozers and excavators (mostly Soviet-supplied Stalin 80s, with a few domestically produced imitations) roared like giant steel beetles, spewing black smoke as they raced back and forth across the vast land. Their massive buckets plunged deep into the soil, mercilessly leveling and pushing away weeds, shrubs, field ridges, and even scattered grave mounds. Long lines of Liberation and GAZ trucks, fully loaded with bricks, cement, timber, and steel bars, kicked up clouds of yellow dust on the hastily leveled dirt roads, dumping various building materials into designated areas.

The air was thick with the pungent smell of diesel, soil, and lime. The deafening roar of machines, the sharp whistles, and the workers' high-pitched shouts intertwined to create a huge and primal sense of power, as if an invisible hand was forcibly awakening this land from its agricultural slumber to mold it into a brand new, modern industrial totem pulsating with steel and electronics.

"Faster! Faster! Comrades, give it your all! Time waits for no one, the mission waits for no one!" A loud voice echoed across the construction site; it was Li Huaide. He wore a willow-twig safety helmet, a soaked towel draped around his neck, his face sunburned and his lips chapped, but his eyes burned like two flames, and although his voice was hoarse, it was full of undeniable strength. He practically lived and ate in the makeshift command tent on the construction site, always clutching the construction progress chart and a walkie-talkie (one of the few military communication devices specially approved for the Longteng project), his leather shoes covered in mud.

"The foundation excavation for precast component plant No. 3 must be completed today! Concrete pouring must be done tonight!"

"Have you checked the steel reinforcement binding of the water tower's foundation? Not a single one can be missing!"

"Make sure you carefully review the blueprints for the substation's power line corridor! Don't dig off-center!"

"The canteen and dormitory areas need to be completed on time! The workers can't be without a place to eat and sleep!"

He personally oversaw every detail, directing this large, mixed force comprised of engineering troops, elite personnel from the Beijing Municipal Construction Bureau, and key personnel from the Hongxing Factory's infrastructure department. He knew that this base, codenamed "Dragon Soaring," was more than just building a few houses and installing a few production lines. It would be the cradle of the Republic's electronic computers and cutting-edge military technology, a top-secret facility. Its construction standards, secrecy requirements, and time constraints were unprecedented. The order from above was: the main construction must be completed within three months, ready for research and production!

This is a race against time, a battle fought with steel and concrete to demonstrate loyalty and mission.

In the northeast corner of the construction site, in an area separated by a simple fence, several rows of temporary buildings has been quickly erected using prefabricated houses and military tents and are already in use. This is the technical preparation center and core laboratory for the early stages of the "Dragon Soaring" project. The conditions are extremely rudimentary, but access control is several times stricter than at the main construction site gate. Without a special pass with a photo and an insider to guide you, not even a fly can get in.

The largest prefabricated house was sweltering. There was no air conditioning, only a few humming Watson brand electric fans futilely stirring the hot air. Long tables lined the walls, piled high with oscilloscopes, signal generators, multimeters of various models, soldering irons, coils of wires, and circuit boards. The air was thick with the smells of rosin, solder, and the distinctive odor of electronic components. Dozens of people, men and women, elderly men with gray hair and young men with glasses and scholarly airs, all dressed in identical blue overalls (without any markings), were either hunched over calculations, arguing over blueprints, or carefully soldering tiny transistors, resistors, and capacitors with tweezers.

This place brought together top talents in electronics, mathematics, logic, and materials from across the country, drawn from the Department of Radio Engineering at Tsinghua University, the Department of Physics at Peking University, the Institute of Computing Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, research institutes under the Ministry of Electronics Industry, and the technical department of the Hongxing Factory itself. Many of them were renowned experts and professors in their respective fields before coming here, but here they all became ordinary technicians on the "Dragon Soaring" project, obeying the command of an incredibly young chief designer.

Initially, some people harbored doubts and even harbored resentment. Could an engineer with a background in mechanical tractors really handle cutting-edge electronic computers? Were the legends about "Chinese operating systems," "graphical interfaces," and "mouse and keyboard" exaggerated?

However, when Wang Huanbo conducted an internal demonstration and explanation of the principles of the "Dragon Soaring No. 1" prototype, which had been moved from the West Wing and was under strict protection, in the temporarily set up "secret classroom," all doubts and dissatisfaction were shattered by the cold, colorful, yet infinitely possible light of the screen.

They witnessed Chinese characters being generated, edited, and stored smoothly on the screen.

They witnessed complex mathematical equations being solved instantly, generating intuitive curves.

They saw that with that little thing called a "mouse," they could easily click and drag graphic elements on the screen.

They also saw the system architecture diagram, CPU logic design diagram, and operating system kernel flowchart, which were several feet thick, logically rigorous, and ingeniously designed. They also saw the "Modern Chinese Pinyin Scheme," which was scientifically structured and easy to read.

A genius! No, a prodigy! A master who transcended time!

Many veteran experts were so excited they trembled, writing to their former institutions overnight, requesting that their most outstanding students and the best equipment be transferred to them. The young researchers, on the other hand, were as if they had discovered a new continent, their eyes burning with an almost fanatical thirst for knowledge and a passion for creation.

Wang Huanbo stood beside a makeshift podium at the front of the prefabricated building. Today, he was wearing an ordinary white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, and he held a piece of chalk in his hand. He didn't look at any notes; his gaze calmly swept over the faces below the stage, some excited, some focused, and some still processing the shock.

"Comrades, we are gathered here not to witness miracles, but to create miracles." His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying a steady strength. "The 'Dragon Soaring One' prototype is just proof that this path is feasible. But it is bulky, expensive, and fragile, and it is still far from being practical, mass-produced, and used in the various fields that the country urgently needs."

He drew a simple box on the blackboard with chalk and wrote "miniaturization", "high reliability", "easy to manufacture" and "powerful computing power" inside.

"Our next goal is not to replicate 'Longteng-1,' but to design and manufacture a truly practical Longteng-Type A general-purpose electronic computer based on it. It needs to be able to fit in an ordinary office, withstand certain vibrations and temperature changes, be mass-produced using relatively mature technologies, and, most importantly, have computing power sufficient to meet the urgent needs of major national projects!"

He paused, his gaze sharpening: "I know that everyone here comes from different institutions, with different academic backgrounds and habits. But here, we have only one identity—warriors of the 'Dragon Soaring' project! Our battlefield is these circuit boards, this code, these blueprints! There are no sectarian biases, no distinctions of seniority, only reverence for technology and a commitment to completing the mission! I don't care if you're a professor or a student, a theorist or an engineer; here, results speak for themselves!"

"Now, I announce the first phase of the research and development tasks and the group assignments." Wang Huanbo picked up a list. "Group One, the CPU and Logic Circuits Group, is responsible for the process optimization and next-generation architecture pre-research of the 'Loongson' processor. The goal is to stably increase the clock speed to over 1MHz and improve the integration density by 30%. The group leader is Professor Zhou Ruchang from Tsinghua University."

An elderly professor with thick glasses and disheveled hair stood up excitedly and nodded vigorously.

"Group Two, the Memory and Peripherals Group, is responsible for miniaturizing magnetic core memory, improving the stability of hard disk drives, and finalizing the design and trial production of standard keyboards and mice. The group leader is Researcher Fang Chen from the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology."

A female scholar in her forties, with a capable demeanor, stood up with a resolute expression.

"Group Three: System Software and Language Group, responsible for improving the 'HarmonyOS' operating system, developing debugging tools, exploring high-level languages ​​(the prototype of Chinese programming languages), optimizing and promoting the Chinese Pinyin input method, and compiling teaching materials. Group leader: Professor Zhao Shuli from Peking University."

A refined-looking old gentleman, whose eyes revealed wisdom, nodded slightly.

"Group Four, the Structure and Process Group, is responsible for the overall machine structure design, heat dissipation scheme, anti-interference design, as well as formulating the production process specifications and testing standards for all components. The group leader is Qian Weiguo, a senior engineer at Hongxing Factory."

An experienced craftsman with a dark complexion and rough hands stood up and declared in a booming voice, "I guarantee I'll complete the task!"

"Group Five, the Mathematical Theory and Algorithms Group, is responsible for providing algorithmic support for various engineering fields (especially aerodynamics, fluid mechanics, structural mechanics, and nuclear physics calculations), transforming practical problems into mathematical models that can be solved by computers. The group leader is Professor Guo Yonghuai, recommended by Comrade Qian Xuesen."

A refined-looking, middle-aged scholar with profound eyes quietly stood up and nodded to the crowd. His arrival itself signified an inseparable connection between "Dragon Soaring" and the most mysterious and urgent Northwest Project.

"Finally," Wang Huanbo looked at the audience, "Group Six, the Special Projects Group. I will be directly in charge of it, handling some cross-disciplinary, forward-looking technological explorations, as well as... collaborative research with other units." He didn't say it explicitly, but some people had already vaguely guessed that it might be related to another top-secret report.

The tasks were clear, and the groups were well-defined. Wang Huanbo demonstrated exceptional technical leadership and organizational skills. He not only provided direction but also offered each group a detailed technical roadmap, analysis of key challenges, and potential breakthroughs—all thanks to the prior planning and optimization by Pangu's super think tank. Experts viewed this as a testament to the chief architect's genius foresight and profound expertise.

As soon as the meeting ended, each group immediately sprang into action, like gears wound up tight. Inside the prefabricated houses, the sounds of debate, calculations, welding, and the clatter of keyboards (made from modified typewriters) filled the air. Even late at night, many tents and prefabricated houses remained lit. The mess hall provided simple meals 24 hours a day, and when tired, people slept fully clothed on cots. There were no Sundays, no eight-hour workdays, only the ever-decreasing numbers on the countdown clock and the burning flame of "building a machine that brings glory to the nation" in their hearts.

Wang Huanbo worked non-stop. He shuttled between different groups, solving difficult problems, arbitrating disputes, and unifying standards. At night, he would also conduct more advanced simulations and designs in a separate, confidential workroom, using the "Dragon Soaring No. 1" prototype and Pangu, while also dealing with feedback from the "August 1" gun family project.

Just as the construction of the "Dragon Soaring" base was in full swing and technological breakthroughs were being carried out in full swing, the original firearms pre-research workshop of the Red Star Factory (now upgraded to a classified workshop) also welcomed several special guests.

Several senior officers and experienced firearms experts from the General Staff Equipment Department and the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, accompanied by Li Huaide (who held multiple positions and traveled between the two places) and comrades from the factory's security department, entered the heavily guarded test range.

At the firing range, several new rifles were displayed, resembling AK-47s in appearance but with distinct differences in details. The rifles were longer, with more ergonomic lines in the handguard and stock, and a metal rail with regular grooves running from front to back was prominently displayed on the top of the receiver! This was the latest achievement of the "August 1st" project—a prototype rifle based on Wang Huanbo's improved design.

"Distinguished leaders and experts, this is the prototype of the new automatic rifle that we developed based on the improvement directions proposed by Chief Engineer Wang Huanbo," said Sun Zhenhua, a senior engineer at the Hongxing Factory in charge of the "August 1st" project. He picked up one of them and said, "We call it the 'Type 81 Prototype Rifle.' It retains the automatic principle and high reliability of the original, but has undergone several improvements."

As he spoke, he demonstrated: "First, the gas system has been optimized, significantly reducing recoil in burst fire and improving accuracy in single shots. A bolt hold-open function has also been added." He removed the magazine, pulled the bolt back, and after changing to a new magazine, pressed a button on the left side of the receiver. The bolt clicked to reset, and a new round was chambered. "The fire selector has been moved to the left side, making it operable with one hand. The magazine release button is also more convenient."

Several military experts picked up the guns, felt them, weighed them, pulled the bolts, and showed satisfied expressions. These improvements were very practical.

"The biggest highlight is here." Engineer Sun pointed to the rail on top of the receiver. "This is a universal tactical rail designed by Engineer Wang. We'll call it the 'Red Star Rail' for now. It has a standardized interface and can accommodate various auxiliary aiming devices."

He picked up a makeshift, shorter, cylindrical object resembling a telescope, with simple crosshairs on it. "This is a prototype, simple white-light sight." He clicked it into place on the rail, locking it firmly with a knob. "And this," he said, picking up a contraption made from a tin flashlight with a filter added to the front, "a simple tactical light." He also attached it to the rail.

Next, he removed the original 30-round curved magazine and replaced it with a heavy, disc-shaped drum magazine. "This is the matching 75-round drum magazine, which provides a more continuous feed." Then, he removed the standard barrel and replaced it with a thicker, longer heavy barrel, and installed a folding bipod on the rail below the handguard.

In just a few minutes, a standard automatic rifle was transformed in front of everyone into a "light machine gun" equipped with a scope, tactical light, bipod, and drum magazine!

"This...this is the same gun?" An elderly gun expert with gray hair adjusted his glasses, incredulous.

"The core receiver, automatic mechanism, and firing mechanism are the same. By changing the barrel, feeding mechanism, adding a bipod and accessories, it can be quickly converted between an automatic rifle and a squad automatic weapon. Most parts are interchangeable, greatly simplifying logistics!" Engineer Sun explained, his tone full of pride. "Engineer Wang proposed the concept of 'weapon family,' and this is the initial realization. Moreover," he pointed to the short rails on both sides and below the handguard, "these places can also be used to install accessories, such as foregrips, laser sights (in the concept), and even..." He took out a sketch, "In the future, we can develop under-barrel grenade launchers, which can also be mounted via rail interfaces."

Silence fell over the firing range. The soldiers and experts gazed at the rifle—completely transformed yet exuding a modular, integrated, futuristic feel—their eyes gleaming with increasing intensity. They were experts; they knew all too well what this meant! Greater sustained firepower, more accurate shooting, greater tactical scalability, and easier maintenance and resupply! This wasn't just an "improvement"; it was a leap forward in individual weapon design philosophy!

"Has it been tested? How is the performance?" a senior colonel asked in a deep voice, his tone filled with suppressed excitement.

"Preliminary testing complete." Engineer Sun handed over a stack of data. "Accuracy (especially burst firing accuracy) is more than 25% improved compared to the prototype, and recoil is reduced by 30%. The reliability of the empty magazine mounting and guide rail interface meets requirements. Versatility and expandability... are as you can see. Of course, more rigorous environmental adaptability testing, lifespan testing, and ergonomic evaluation are still needed."

"Excellent! Fantastic!" The colonel slapped his thigh. "Organize more comprehensive testing immediately! If the data is accurate and the performance is stable, this will be a revolution in our infantry equipment! Comrade Wang Huanbo... truly a national hero!" He exclaimed, "He was a master at tractors, a pioneer in computers, and I never imagined he'd have such a sharp eye and be so forward-thinking when it comes to guns! This guide rail... is brilliant!"

The news quickly reached Wang Huanbo through secure channels. He was in the secure workroom at the "Dragon Soaring" base, reviewing a patch for the underlying driver of the "HarmonyOS" system on the screen of "Dragon Soaring One." Seeing the positive progress of Project August 1st, he nodded slightly. Guide rail systems, modularization, and weapon family design—these concepts from the future indeed had a devastating effect in this era. However, he knew that the real difficulties lay in materials, processes, and cost control. With the current level of domestic industry, mass-producing guide rails and accessories with such high precision requirements was not easy. This required breakthroughs in precision machining, automatic control, and new materials from the "Dragon Soaring" project before it could benefit the past.

He closed the briefing window for the "August 1st" project and brought up another document. The title was: "Preliminary Technical Scheme of 'Longteng-Type A' General-Purpose Electronic Computer and Analysis Report on Matching Computing Requirements of 'Project 596'".

"Project 596" was the top-secret code name for that "spirit-building bomb".

The report provides a detailed analysis of the urgent need for high-speed computing capabilities in theoretical calculations, numerical simulations, engineering design, and parameter optimization within the "596 Project." It lists the specific areas currently covered by the computing power of the "Longteng-1" prototype and those that can be improved through optimization and parallelization in the short term. The conclusion is that if three to five "Longteng-Type A" prototypes can be produced within four months as planned, equipped with initially trained operators and basic algorithm software, the computational efficiency of certain key aspects of the "596 Project" could be increased by tens to hundreds of times. This would be crucial for accelerating the process, reducing the number of experiments, and optimizing the design scheme.

The report concludes with a brief list of the technical specifications for the "Dragon-Type A" processor: a target computing speed of 5 floating-point operations per second, 128KB of RAM, 10MB of external magnetic drum storage, a standard keyboard, mouse, Chinese character display, and integrated "HarmonyOS 1.1" operating system and basic scientific computing software. The goal is to keep the size to within two standard server racks.

Wang Huanbo encrypted and saved the report. He knew that this report, along with the good news from the "August 1st" project, would soon be presented to a higher decision-making level. They would become the direct basis for the "Dragon Soaring" base to receive stronger resource allocation, while also bearing greater pressure and expectations.

He stood up and walked to the window of the workshop. Outside, the construction site was brightly lit, huge searchlights tinged the sky with a dark red hue, and the roar of machinery carried far into the night. Further away, the sleeping city of Beijing lay.

On one side is the grand physical construction of laying a solid foundation and pouring concrete; on the other side is the microscopic information revolution of etching circuits on silicon wafers and weaving logic between lines of code. On one side is the forging of steel arms to safeguard peace; on the other side is the earth-shattering thunder that ignites the dignity of a great power.

And he stood at this wondrous and crucial intersection.

A night breeze blew in, carrying dust from the construction site and a chill from afar. Wang Huanbo took a deep breath, feeling the unique, rugged, and surging pulse of this era. He knew that the real battle was just beginning.

"Pangu," he murmured to himself, "Based on the current progress of each group and the availability of resources, re-optimize the 'Dragon Soaring-Type A' development node network diagram, identify the shortest critical path and potential risk points. At the same time, simulate the process route for mass production of the 'August 1' gun family guide rail system, and propose a list of recommendations for modifying existing machine tools and adding new special equipment."

"Command confirmed. Analyzing... Optimization plan being generated..."

The cold electronic sounds intertwine with the bustling construction noise outside the window, creating a march full of hope and challenges that belongs unique to this era of striving.