Chapter 119: China’s First Flagship Product
“If we can really produce a world-class transistor radio, we shouldn’t worry about buyers through the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance,” Dean Qian thought after hearing their idea.
Unlike other scientists who only do research work, Dean Qian’s identity, status, and nature of work meant that he could access a great deal of information from other areas.
Many pieces of information in internal publications showed the tension in China’s current economic situation.
This tension was not only about insufficient materials, but even more so in terms of foreign exchange.
Even though they exchanged a sum of US dollar foreign exchange from the Soviet Union last year through missile technology, it was still stretched thin compared to the current situation.
First, trade relations with the Soviet Union, where the other side accounted for China’s total foreign trade, dropped from 48% in 1959 to less than 10% this year.
Trade relations with Eastern European countries also dropped by about half from 20% to 30% in the 1950s.
This was mainly because China lacked hard currency and had no flagship product, which was essential for them.
Dean Qian keenly captured that the transistor radio might be a good breakthrough to break through China’s current predicament.
“Can you produce a prototype in two months?” Dean Qian asked.
He continued: “If you can produce a prototype, the Leipzig Spring Trade Fair will be held in Germany at the beginning of March.
What I think is that we take it to the Leipzig Trade Fair for exhibition to see if we can get some foreign trade orders with it.”
The Leipzig Trade Fair is held twice a year, once in spring and once in autumn, and is one of the most important international trade exhibitions in all of East Germany.
This exhibition is not only participated in by member countries of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, but also Western countries.
Dean Qian realized this would be a good opportunity.
“But the premise is that it cannot exceed the world’s understanding, cannot show technology that does not belong to the present, but must embody sufficient technical content, comparable to the world’s best batch of transistor radios,” Dean Qian added.
Wu Xijiu pushed up his glasses and said seriously: “I think it’s entirely possible.
We don’t have to be the best; we just need to match the best batch, and it won’t worry about sales channels.
We just need to make it better than the ones made by East Germany and the Soviet Union.
I’ve used the Spidola made by the Soviet Union; its sensitivity and reliability are both very poor, even worse than America’s products from the 1950s.
Germany’s Stern-Radio or RFT are a bit better, but only slightly.
The quality is equally unstable.
In two months, we can definitely produce a transistor radio that surpasses theirs.”
Spidola was launched by Latvia’s VEF factory in 1960, and from sound quality to sensitivity to reliability, it was all very worrying.
Moreover, whether the Soviet Union or East Germany, their transistor radios, compared to those produced by America and Japan, were not only inferior in performance but also ugly in design itself.
The kind that is obviously inferior at first glance.
(1957 Sony TR-63 transistor radio)
(1960 Spidola radio)
(Spidola radio internal structure)
(Spidola radio circuitry)
Despite all these shortcomings of the Spidola radio, it was still a rare consumer electronics product that the Soviet Union could export globally at present.
At this time, the short-term goal of the scientists present was to complete the design of a product superior to the Spidola radio within two months.
“Well, Xijiu, you’re right. We can’t keep exporting textiles and agricultural products to our comrades in Eastern Europe; we also need to export some technologically advanced goods to them.”
Among the many scientists, Wu Xijiu, Huang Kun, and Wang Shouwu had a good relationship; they had similar backgrounds, all having returned from studying abroad.
Among them, Huang Kun and Wang Shouwu were about the same age, while Wu Xijiu was about ten years younger.
Among the three, Huang Kun had a bit of a big brother vibe; he had a top resume, and while in England, he co-authored “Theory of Lattice Dynamics” with Max Born.
That is, the Born who is a founder of quantum mechanics.
After the morning work ended, during lunch in the canteen, the three sat together, and Huang Kun said: “The transistor radio is indeed a good direction.
We have too many lessons to catch up on.
Starting from the transistor radio, on one hand, the radio has a wide audience, low technical difficulty, and is suitable as practice equipment.
But practice doesn’t mean it lacks technical content; making a good transistor radio is not easy either.
Whether it’s the manufacturing and purification of transistor raw materials or the manufacturing process of the transistors themselves, we all need to explore.
Sigh, it’s very likely that, as Dean Qian said, time is running out.
On the other hand, for the country, it also provides an additional channel for foreign exchange earnings.
As far as I know, we have never exported electronics industry products abroad in the past.
If we can really produce it, not only can it alleviate the pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves, but it is also a historic breakthrough.”
Wu Xijiu added: “Exactly, we don’t have any.
The televisions and radios we make, the Russians look down on them.
But things are different now; producing a prototype in two months and taking it to Leipzig to open the foreigners’ eyes.
Just right, the Russians also made Spidola; with comparison, we can prove how excellent our transistor radio is.”
Wang Shouwu smiled and said: “I think the direction we chose is very suitable.
Surrounding the transistor computer itself should also be miniaturization and integration; the transistor computer fits this characteristic very well.
The Spidola that Xijiu mentioned earlier, if you haven’t seen it, I have; when I was providing technical guidance to the Yanjing Radio Factory, we disassembled a Spidola.
It had only ten transistors inside, eight P-15 and two P-423, like a lunchbox.
Compared to that thing, it is neither exquisite nor beautiful.”
Wang Shouwu worked at the Applied Physics Research institute; in 1958, he was responsible for the development of the first batch of transistors. Starting from 1957, under the support of the Yanjing Radio Factory’s First Five-Year Plan, they began developing transistor radios, and he was responsible for technical guidance.
If Panzhihua’s work was in full swing, then the Yanjing Radio Factory was a dead stagnant pool.
Because you wouldn’t believe it, overnight, all the countable engineers in the factory vanished.
From the chief engineer to the senior engineers below, to the engineers who had just graduated and worked for less than two years, all were transferred away.
“No, Old Wu, what exactly does your First Ministry mean? Without any notice, you directly took away all our people.” Chen Yunhui was the factory director of the Yanjing Radio Factory.
If he weren’t the factory director, he would have been transferred too.
Upon returning from New Year’s Day, Chen Yunhui heard the bad news; secretary Xiao Li ran over and told him there was no one left.
He thought “no one” meant the workers hadn’t returned to work, thinking it was normal for everyone to be late.
After all, after the two-day holiday, thinking of coming to work a bit later, he would have similar thoughts.
At that time, China didn’t implement double rest days or make-up holidays; according to the 1949 holiday system, New Year’s Day was just one day, and Sundays were normally rest days. January 1, 1962, happened to be a Monday, equivalent to resting together with Sunday.
In the end, what Xiao Li told him was that all the engineers had been transferred away.
Only then did he rush to the First Ministry to make a fuss.
What does it mean no one left; how can I carry out work without people?
The radio factory bore heavy production tasks and research and development tasks, not just vacuum tube radio production and transistor radio research and development, but also including the production of military and civilian communication equipment, and even at present, the research and development of a few radar equipment components.
“Comrade Yunhui, you came just right; I was just thinking of notifying you, and here you are.” Old Wu, Wu Yunduo, was known as China’s Paul Korchagin, a top tough guy.
If it weren’t for the fact that everyone was gone, Chen Yunhui would never dare to challenge Wu Yunduo.
This was also unavoidable.
“Get ready; soon the entire Yanjing Radio Factory will move inland one after another; research and development and production will be separated. In terms of factory duties, the Yanjing Radio Factory will only be responsible for production, and research and development will be handled by other comrades.”
Chen Yunhui stood at attention and said: “Understood, will follow the arrangement.
But Old Wu, I can understand that something must have happened, but leaving me not a single engineer in the factory, isn’t that a bit excessive?
I don’t need to manage research and development anymore, but for production, don’t I still need engineers? For my process optimization, adjustments to manufacturing processes, don’t I still need engineers to be responsible?
For some equipment maintenance, don’t I still need engineers to do it?
You just casually took away all my engineers, which will also affect our production.”
Wu Yunduo said loudly: “I don’t have time for your nonsense; just one sentence: later we will gradually assign you a batch of science and engineering students from universities.
What you need to do is retrain them into your factory’s engineers!”
Chen Yunhui nodded: “Good, I understand.
Let me say one more thing: can you assign me some from Tsinghua University or Yenching University?”
Wu Yunduo said: “I’ll try.”
After leaving the First Ministry with an uneasy mood, Chen Yunhui’s mind was full of how to tell the factory workers.
This was no small matter; the entire factory moving inland meant moving with families.
But when he returned to the factory, he learned that those engineers who were suddenly transferred had all moved with their families.
Because at present, people from the same unit generally lived together, all squeezed in the same building.
Therefore, if something happened in someone’s family, it was easy for everyone to know, originating from this.
Only then did Chen Yunhui realize that the engineers who had disappeared had all moved with their families on New Year’s Day.
This both gave him confidence for subsequent work—since comrades had already made prototypes, what complaints could we have?—and made him uneasy about this change of unknown reason.
Similar changes didn’t just happen at the radio factory; the impact of the Raspberry Pi was all-encompassing.
Yanjing, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
A long-unused office inside was suddenly cleared, and a Computing Center sign was hung at the door.
From research institutions like the Chinese Academy of Sciences to various universities, they all received notices saying that for any numerical calculation needs, they could submit slips to the Computing Center.
“Everyone, let me briefly mention something: we have newly established a Computing Center. If you have any numerical calculation needs, feel free to submit slips to the Computing Center; they will reply to you based on difficulty and corresponding urgency.”
Dean Guo said this at the internal meeting.
From the establishment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1949, he had been the dean of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, continuing until his death in 1978.
Although he wasn’t sure if the Computing Center would have any effect, since it was an important task arranged from above, he still diligently instructed it downward.
When the meeting ended and everyone left one after another, Dean Guo said: “Director Tu, please stay for a moment.”
Tu Changwang was a bit confused: why was I the only one left behind?
When only Dean Guo and Tu Changwang were left in the meeting room, Dean Guo said: “I don’t care if others take our new Computing Center seriously or not.
But you definitely have to take it seriously.
The public’s complaints about our weather forecasting, you must know.”
Mentioning this, Tu Changwang felt a bit embarrassed.
He was the director of the Meteorological Bureau, one of whose main tasks was weather forecasting.
He personally promoted the construction of China’s meteorological observation network, including introducing Soviet meteorological technology.
At present, China was still a country mainly based on agriculture, quite some distance from transforming into an industrial country.
Precisely because of this, weather forecasting was crucial in agricultural production.
And at this time, China’s weather forecasting accuracy fluctuated between 50% and 70%.
Never exceeding 70%.
Moreover, they could only do short-term forecasts, that is, predictions within 48 hours.
So the public’s recognition of their work was limited.
They had done a lot of work, but the results were that their prediction accuracy was not high, providing limited help to farmers.
“Didn’t you always want to transition to numerical weather forecasting?
The Computing Center is an opportunity.
The higher-ups told me that your priority is first; bring your numerical models to be calculated, and the Computing Center will calculate them for you first, then announce the future weather situation to the national public through local broadcasts,” Dean Guo said.
For China, a Raspberry Pi could play roles in many aspects.
Too much to catch up on.
The task assigned to Dean Qian was urgent and important, with the highest priority.
While the task Dean Guo was now assigning was important but not urgent, with very high priority as well.
Because the Raspberry Pi was of great importance and had an extremely high secrecy level, it couldn’t be publicized loudly, so work could only be arranged this way gradually.
Tu Changwang was overjoyed upon hearing this: “Has the Academic Committee finally agreed to allocate a computer to us?
That’s really great.”
China had successfully developed a computer, and as the director of the Meteorological Bureau, Tu Changwang naturally knew it best.
He had also submitted several reports applying for whether they could allocate a Model 107 computer for numerical calculations in weather.
Taking America as an example, they had already used computers for weather forecasting as early as the 1950s, mainly using ENIAC or IBM 701 at the time.
But unfortunately, the total number of computers funded for research and development in China currently wouldn’t exceed 5, and with the importance of the Meteorological Bureau, even if applied for, they wouldn’t get one.
This was determined by material reality.
They still relied on manual calculations, slide rules, and mechanical auxiliary tools like tables for weather forecasting now.
Observation data from various places were summarized via telegraph, then manually drawn into weather maps by Meteorological Bureau staff, and finally analyzed to get results.
While America at present had already started using IBM 7090 to run three-dimensional primitive equation models, with over 1000 meteorological stations covering North America and the Pacific Ocean, plus observation data from airplanes and ships for weather forecasting.
The gap between the two sides was evident.
“Sorry, 107 can’t be allocated to you temporarily, but the help the Computing Center provides you won’t be less than a computer.
You can estimate its computing power as boldly as possible; the atmospheric numerical forecasting you’ve always yearned for, unless unexpected, it should be able to help you achieve it,” Dean Guo said.
Tu Changwang was first dejected, then became a bit curious about the Computing Center.
Since Dean Guo said so, then the Computing Center might not match a computer, but at least it could play some role.
Any role is better than none.
“I understand; I’ll go back now and bring the simulation analysis model for atmospheric forecasting these two days to the Computing Center.”
The weather forecasting team led by Tu Changwang had long completed research on the numerical calculation model for weather forecasting.
After all, this wasn’t anything new.
The reason they still relied on statistical empirical methods and primary dynamics in the past was because there was no other way.
The weather changes within 48 hours obtained from your observatory, relying on human brain and hands to calculate, by the time you calculate it out, your result is no longer a forecast but history.
In the past, limited by technology and resources, they simply couldn’t use the internationally advanced numerical forecasting at that time.
Now that Dean Guo had said so, Tu Changwang was determined to bring their most advanced model to the Computing Center for a good calculation.
Also to estimate how strong the Computing Center’s computing power really was.
After returning to the Meteorological Bureau, Tu Changwang called Ye Duzheng, Xie Yibing, and others.
These were all big shot figures in China’s meteorology.
“Let me tell everyone good news: the national side plans to provide us with computing support.”
Xie Yibing was overjoyed: “The country plans to allocate a 107 to us?”
Ye Duzheng was obviously more cautious: “Is it sharing one with the Physics Institute?”
Tu Changwang saw that the two juniors had the same first thought as him, and couldn’t help but smile bitterly: “No, it’s that we can submit the content to be calculated to the newly established Computing Center at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
They will compute the results and return them to us.”
Then Tu Changwang continued: “Duzheng, Yibing, let’s hurry; sort out the weather prediction model based on numerical analysis to be calculated as soon as possible, and try to submit it to the Computing Center before noon today.
Then Duzheng, I’ll have to trouble you to make a trip.”
After Ye Duzheng brought a stack of paper densely filled with data to be calculated to the Computing Center, he felt a bit disappointed inside.
Because this place was just a very ordinary room.
Only one window was left; looking inside from the window, it was obvious there were just two staff members inside.
No computer, not even an abacus.
This could calculate their latest numerical prediction model?
Ye Duzheng was very doubtful about this.
“Are you from the Meteorological Bureau?” The staff member sitting in front of the window, doing a bit of cashier work, had a sitting posture and temperament that stood out.
“Oh yes, this is what we need to calculate.” Ye Duzheng handed over a stack of envelopes.
The reason he still submitted their weather forecasting model was purely the thought of “since I’m here.”
Being here can solve many problems.
After the staff took it, they said: “Okay, comrade, please rest in the lobby on the first floor, or you can go back to work first; in about two hours, we will return the calculation results to you.”
Now it was Ye Duzheng’s turn to be shocked: two hours enough?
“This involves 3-day weather situation prediction, using our latest developed numerical analysis model.” Before Ye Duzheng could finish.
The staff interrupted: “I don’t understand what numerical analysis model; anyway, we will give you the results in two hours.
Remember to come pick them up.”
If it weren’t for multiple layers of transfers, plus to cover up China’s suddenly increased powerful computing power, it wouldn’t even take five minutes. Of course, data input still takes time, including using the Raspberry Pi also takes time.
The reason for saying two hours was also an estimate made by the scientists transferred to the Panzhihua base to pick up work, based on the situation they knew.
America’s meteorological bureau, together with the Joint Numerical Weather Prediction Unit, generally followed these steps for meteorological calculations: first using magnetic tapes and punched cards, manually processing and inputting data, interpolating observation data onto the grid to generate the initial field.
There really is a Joint Numerical Weather Prediction Unit, full English name Joint Numerical Weather Prediction Unit, abbreviated as JNWPU.
Starting in 1950, by 1962, America was already very mature in this area.
After completing data entry, they used finite difference methods to solve atmospheric dynamical equations, calculating the state of each grid point in future time steps.
This took more than ten minutes.
Data entry over an hour, data calculation more than ten minutes.
That is to say, America roughly took about two hours, so the Computing Center’s reply to Ye Duzheng was also two hours.
After Ye Duzheng returned to the Meteorological Bureau, Tu Changwang was not there; only Xie Yibing was in the office. Xie Yibing asked: “How was it?”
Ye Duzheng helplessly said: “They told me to pick it up in two hours.”
Xie Yibing’s expression was similar to Ye Duzheng’s at the time, mouth agape, eyes showing disbelief: “Two hours?”
Ye Duzheng nodded: “And that place is just an ordinary room; inside, let alone a computer, there’s not even an abacus, and only two staff members.
The staff sitting at the window doesn’t even understand numerical models.
That means the one actually responsible for the work is probably only the comrade deepest inside.
He alone has to solve our numerical weather prediction model within two hours.
Do you think it’s possible?
Not to mention him; even if Professor Lin came personally, he couldn’t do it, right.”
Lin Ran was equally famous in China.
Especially in academia.
Chinese media had reported a lot on his deeds, emphasizing his Chinese identity.
Even including the concept of Cultural China he proposed, there were similar reports domestically.
“Let’s quickly finish today’s weather forecast, then quickly transmit the forecast information to the provincial meteorological stations in various provinces and cities.
The newspapers and broadcasts are waiting too.” Now Xie Yibing also lost hope.
Seeking monthly votes!
Releasing two chapters in advance, total 10,000 words, wish everyone a happy weekend
