Scholars in the courtyard.

Chapter 1981: A Vast Land with Rich Resources

Seventh Ministry of Machine Building, Computer Research Base.

After Yang Xiaotao contacted Han Sanfeng, he was brought in.

Along the way, Yang Xiaotao looked at the situation on both sides and compared it with the scene he saw last time he came here.

It can be seen that there are many more machines and many more people than before.

Moreover, many of the people here have young faces.

They must be newly recruited college students.

Yang Xiaotao was also thinking about whether he should ask Mr. Chen to give the machinery factory more places for college students. If that is not possible, high school students will also do.

Following the staff to the underground, the same place as last time, Yang Xiaotao saw Han Sanfeng.

"Uncle Han, long time no see."

Han Sanfeng in front of him had a scruffy beard and looked like he hadn't taken care of his personal hygiene for a long time.

It's not just him, it's the same for everyone else working here.

Female workers are better, they know how to take care of their hair. As for men, they probably just wash their faces and that’s it.

Of course, in this environment, Yang Xiaotao’s first thought was a very promising job in his previous life.

Programmer!
Well, speaking of which, these people can be considered the first generation of programmers.

"Long time no see, are you here this time?"

When Han Sanfeng saw Yang Xiaotao's head, he felt a little uneasy.

There was no way. Part of the things that the Machinery Factory sent to the Seventh Ministry of Machine Building were intercepted by Mr. Wang. He knew what he did with them, but he couldn't say anything.

He used the remaining part to subsidize computer research. After all, we are all family.

We can't create gaps and confrontation.

So, there is nothing we can do about it.

But now that I see his 'employer', I can't help but feel a little uneasy.

"Uncle Han, I went to Jinling and came back to see the progress of the calculator research."

Yang Xiaotao stated the purpose and Han Sanfeng nodded.

"Wang Kun and the other two are downstairs. I'll have someone find them for you."

"Okay, that's troublesome!"

Han Sanfeng shook his head and asked the staff at the door to go find someone.

Yang Xiaotao started chatting with Han Sanfeng on the side.

Of course, what the two talked about most was computers.

Han Sanfeng and his team have already begun researching integrated circuits, but this technology requires investment and support from many aspects. Speaking of this, he couldn't help but look at Yang Xiaotao.

He is confident that he can achieve a breakthrough within three years if the machinery factory gives its full support.

Unfortunately, this is just a thought.

"By the way, Uncle Han, how far have computers developed overseas?"

Yang Xiaotao suddenly became curious.

It seems that the development abroad is very rapid.

It seems that Little Apple hasn't appeared yet.

The United States has only just begun research on integrated circuits, and it will probably take another ten years before they can be used on a large scale.

While Yang Xiaotao was thinking about something, Han Sanfeng found a document from the pile of documents nearby and handed it to Yang Xiaotao.

"This thing is top secret abroad, and we don't know much about it."

“These data were obtained from newspapers.”

Yang Xiaotao took a look and found that they were indeed cut out newspapers, and they were all English versions.

Fortunately, Yang Xiaotao's English had been systematically improved, so he was able to understand it.

“It seems like they are developing very fast.”

"The integrated circuit has been announced, so the actual research may be faster than reported."

Han Sanfeng nodded. Judging from the Chinese people's thinking, the good things must be hidden, and what is announced is outdated.

That's why Han Sanfeng had an inexplicable sense of urgency.

"And this one."

Han Sanfeng took out another piece of information, and after Yang Xiaotao took it, he found that this piece of information was much thicker than the previous one.

After opening it, I found that it was not in English, but in Alliance language.

"This is the research situation of the alliance."

As he spoke, Yang Xiaotao opened it.

I saw that the information here was quite complete, and it also introduced a computer called "Arrow".

The entire computer is made up of more than 6,000 vacuum tubes and more than 60,000 semiconductor diodes, and can perform 3,000 calculations per second.

Looking at the data in front of him, Yang Xiaotao raised his head and asked in surprise, "Three thousand times per second, can we do it?"

Han Sanfeng shook his head.

"At first, we only had 30 times per second, but now, after years of development, we have reached 8,000 times per second."

"However, this computer was produced by the Alliance ten years ago."

"Ten years ago, the gap was a hundred times. Now, I don't know how much bigger the gap is."

Han Sanfeng said this in a somewhat decadent tone, but Yang Xiaotao started laughing.

"It's hard to say. What if they are lazy?"

"It's just like a little cat fishing, fishing for a while and playing for a while, isn't it just the right opportunity for us to overtake."

Han Sanfeng laughed out loud and said, "Then I'll borrow your good words."

Yang Xiaotao smiled and said, "What I say is usually very accurate."

"As long as we develop integrated circuits and succeed, we might be able to overtake others."

Han Sanfeng nodded, "This is what I want to do, too."

The two chatted for a while, and then there was a knock on the door, and then Wang Kun and Liu Yongqiang walked in.

"director."

"Mr. Yang!"

The two greeted each other and then came forward to meet.

"Okay, you guys chat by yourselves, I'm going to get busy now."

Han Sanfeng stood up and left the office to the three of them.

After Han Sanfeng left, Yang Xiaotao started chatting with the two of them.

"Did you receive the Mid-Autumn Festival mooncakes?"

Leaning on the table, Yang Xiaotao asked the two to sit down, then took out a cigarette and placed it on the table.

Although smoking is not allowed here, it does not prevent two people from carrying it. Moreover, in this environment, the pressure is not small.

Going back to the residence and smoking with colleagues can relieve tension and bring both parties closer together.

"I got it. The one with five nuts and one with rock sugar. Each one is half a pound."

"It's really big. All the comrades here are envious."

Wang Kun smiled and Liu Yongqiang nodded, "We took them out and shared them with our comrades."

"It's time to divide it. If you eat alone, you'll get beaten."

Yang Xiaotao laughed, and the two of them laughed too.

Although he gave away most of it, he received envious looks in return.

Some people even asked if this calculator research institute still needed people, as they also wanted to get a part-time job.

Naturally, the two did not dare to agree, after all, they were just working for someone else.

After hearing the story, Yang Xiaotao considered it and shook his head to refuse. After all, this was someone else's territory and it would not be good to poach people.

"By the way, Mr. Yang, we have done a lot of research during this period."

Wang Kun began to report on his research work, and Yang Xiaotao listened attentively.

"I have classmates at the Shanghai Computer Research Institute. I heard from them that they have already made a display screen, but it is used on computers. I think we can contact them."

Wang Kun explained the situation, and Yang Xiaotao then realized that there were more than one such computer research centers in the country.

It is not just the Seventh Ministry of Machine Building that has it, some universities and research institutes also have it.

It seems that the first calculator in later generations was made in Shanghai.

"Write a report on this matter, and I'll have someone from the machinery factory contact them later."

"it is good."

Wang Kun looked excited. If the display screen problem was solved, circuit setting would not be a problem with their research capabilities.

If all goes well, a prototype will be ready for testing next year.

In this way, they have not let down the huge investment of the machinery factory and are worthy of Mr. Yang's attention.

Then the two of them talked about some ideas about the calculator and explained some operating principles to Yang Xiaotao.

In this regard, Yang Xiaotao could only cover his forehead and write it down stiffly.

God knows how difficult these math problems are.

He would rather make an eighth-level component than spend so many brain cells.

"I came here for another thing."

Just when Liu Yongqiang was about to take out paper and pen to demonstrate it to Yang Xiaotao, Yang Xiaotao quickly interrupted him and spoke.

Colleague, take out a piece of paper from your backpack.

When the two of them saw it, they immediately understood what they were going to do.

Then there was a burst of excitement.

Because this matter was too simple for both of them.

Isn't it just to calculate the possible composition of the metal?

A piece of cake.

And the rewards are great.

Because they helped last time, I heard that the alloy material was made, so I gave them a lot of rewards.

If they can do it this time, based on their understanding of Yang Xiaotao, the reward will definitely be huge.

"This is a set of data I got from the Aviation College when I was on a business trip to Jinling."

"It should be similar to the titanium alloy from last time, but there is an additional material called rhenium, which should be a main material."

Can you guys help me figure it out?

"no problem."

Wang Kun immediately assured, "I have learned about the metal rhenium. When I was studying in college, my teacher was studying metals, and the study of rhenium was a major topic."

Yang Xiaotao immediately became interested after hearing this, "Really? Tell me about it."

Liu Yongqiang, who was standing by, walked to the next room with a piece of paper and started calculating.

Wang Kun thought for a moment and said, "We all know that parts made of pure metal have many problems, such as rust, lack of toughness and easy brittleness, lack of strength and easy breakage. Problems like these are the reason why alloys are used."

"And rhenium is a very useful metal 'additive'. My teacher said that this metal has good plasticity and can be processed into various structural materials while maintaining high hardness, high strength and high temperature resistance."

"is it?"

Yang Xiaotao was a little excited. If this was true, then this alloy material really had to be made.

Thinking about the fact that this thing was taken down from a burnt helicopter and it came from the United States, it is certain that this rhenium alloy is definitely a good thing.

Wang Kun just scratched his head when he heard Yang Xiaotao's question, "Well, my teacher said so."

"Where's your teacher?"

Yang Xiaotao quickly inquired, such talents were most suitable for their machinery factory.

But after hearing this, Wang Kun looked a little depressed, "Teacher, because of some problems, I couldn't bear the pressure, so I chose..."

Yang Xiaotao let out a long breath after hearing this. There are so many such things.

"Pity!"

Wang Kun nodded, and then returned to the previous topic, "My teacher also said that this kind of metal rhenium has a very good future development prospect. It's just that the price is a bit expensive. When he was researching it, there were only about 20 grams in the whole school."

"At that time, if you used a little, you would have less."

“Is rhenium rare?”

Yang Xiaotao suddenly realized a difficult problem.

Although China is vast and rich in resources, there are also some things that are scarce.

"Little, very little."

Wang Kun said seriously, "My teacher said that most of these metal rhenium are now monopolized by the Alliance and the United States."

"If we want to get these, we have to import them."

"The 20 grams of rhenium in the academy was given to the teachers by their professors when they went abroad to study. After returning to China, the teachers asked around but they had not heard of any rhenium mines in our country."

"As for the metal smelting"

Wang Kun didn't say much. Yang Xiaotao also understood the domestic smelting situation. Let alone smelting rhenium, even producing metallic tungsten was a big challenge.

"It seems that we really need to think of a way to deal with this rhenium."

Yang Xiaotao did not give up the research on rhenium alloy.

Since it is useful, it means it is necessary to exist.

We can't wait until later for everything.

As for raw materials, Yang Xiaotao suddenly remembered a sentence from Das Kapital: 'Once there is a proper profit, capital becomes bold. If there is a 10% profit, it is guaranteed to be used everywhere. If there is a 300% profit, it dares to commit any crime, even at the risk of being hanged.'

With money paving the way, there will always be people who take risks even if it means controlling materials.