Chapter 230

Huang Lingyi, born in 1936, in 1958 after graduating from Huazhong Institute of Technology, entered Qinghua Daxue's semiconductor specialty for further study; in 1960, after graduating, he returned to Huazhong Institute of Technology and led the team to develop and produce a semiconductor diode; in 1962, he was transferred to the Computer Technology Research Institute of Dongfang Academy of Sciences, and from then on formed an inseparable bond with computers.

In 1966, he participated in the development of the 156 computer; in 1966, he participated in the development of the 757 computer; in 1973, he began developing memory; in the 1980s, while Engineer Huang continued to delve deeply into the microelectronics field, a directive came from above: due to lack of funding, the research project on ultra-large-scale integrated circuits was shelved!

At that time, meetings were held in the North Building, while his workplace was in the South Building; Engineer Huang walked from the North Building to the South Building, tears streaming down his face all the way.

From then on, Dongfang's electronic experts no longer knew what was inside the purchased chips; they knew how to use them but not their internal structure, making them equivalent to a black box! For researchers, this is a disgrace!

Later, after retirement, Engineer Huang accepted the invitation, gladly came out of retirement, and participated in the development of Loongson No. 1; at the age of sixty, he lived and worked in the lab just like the youngsters, staring all day at the circuit diagrams on the computer screen, with the goal of creating Dongfang's own general-purpose processor!

Loongson No. 1 came out, achieving a breakthrough from zero, but its performance was poor; undiscouraged, they continued to make Loongson No. 2, Loongson No. 3… crawling on the ground, wiping away the disgrace on the motherland's body!

In later generations, Loongson still finds it hard to enter the consumer market; few people use Loongson computers, not because Loongson is inferior, but due to ecosystem issues—no software vendor is willing to provide support for a completely new system.

However, in other fields, Loongson shines brightly: early-warning aircraft, destroyers, military networks, government office platforms, and so on all bear its mark; even the brain of the BeiDou navigation satellite is Loongson!

With Loongson, Dongfang's information security is assured; those who constantly shout that buying is better than making are destined to be nailed to the pillar of historical shame—this is their shortsightedness, or perhaps their ulterior motives, the conscience of the American imperialists, which has obstructed the development of our motherland's chip industry!

Engineer Huang is straightforward; upon hearing Section Chief Zhou say that buying is better than making, he immediately became unhappy—if chips could just be bought, what would we researchers be doing?

"Comrade, you speak." Secretary Wang immediately turned his gaze to Engineer Huang.

"That's right, I admit that foreign chips are stronger than ours, but this is exactly the direction we need to catch up in; any architecture, instruction set—these difficulties can be overcome. If we don't do independent R&D, we'll only be able to purchase, and the processors we buy are just a black box to us—we can use them, but we don't know what's inside."

Engineer Huang stood up, his face solemn: "If it were only for civilian use, it would be fine, but for military use, if there were a backdoor hidden in the chips, it would pose a huge security risk! Moreover, once we lose our independent R&D capability, we will forever be stuck downstream in the chip field, at the mercy of others."

Secretary Wang nodded: "That's right, comrade, you're correct, Section Chief Zhou—what's your opinion?"

"Well… Engineer Huang's argument does have some merit, but…"

"But what?" Secretary Wang looked at him.

Section Chief Zhou's face flushed red, and he could find no other reason.

"But the chip work is being done by Ha Gong Da, not your Computer Institute, so you don't want Ha Gong Da to succeed, otherwise you'd lose face, right?"

"No, no, certainly not." Having been called out on his thoughts, Section Chief Zhou hurriedly denied.

"Section Chief Zhou, the times have changed; now domestic enterprises introducing technology must raise their own funds. While the Computer Institute can still get state financial support, doing research definitely isn't enough—you Computer Institute haven't even bothered to think about how to make a profit."

Section Chief Zhou really wanted to say, "The big shots are engaged in research—who would go into business, reeking of profiteering?" … but he didn't dare say it, for it would be tantamount to offering his head, and he still wanted to keep his current position.

"Hmm, hmm, Secretary Wang, I understand; our Computer Institute will surely strive to find a path in the tide of the market economy! We also want to be the vanguard of reform!"

This show of attitude, Secretary Wang was still fairly satisfied; he nodded: "All right, then we'll see your performance—approval for Ha Gong Da's microelectronics company should pose no problem, right?"

"No, no, we support Ha Gong Da's project!"

Secretary Wang nodded, then looked again at the speaker: "Comrade, your remarks just now were truly inspiring—it seems you have great expectations for domestically produced processors!"

"Yes, Secretary Wang, I have always hoped to make our own processor! We are descendants of the dragon, so we should also have Loongson!" Engineer Huang spoke.

"Hmm, then are you willing to go to Ha Gong Da?"

Section Chief Zhou's face changed again.

Just now, those few words from Engineer Huang left him unable to save face; Secretary Wang must be afraid of later retaliation—does he really have such a petty mind?

But such words cannot be spoken out loud.

"Secretary Wang, you don't know—this Engineer Huang is a technical backbone of our Computer Institute, currently researching memory, which is a key national project……"

Secretary Wang nodded, looked at Engineer Huang: "Are you willing to continue researching memory, or go research processors?"

Engineer Huang took a deep breath: "Report to Secretary Wang, I… want to go make processors."

This is like losing the wife and losing the troops—Ha Gong Da's microelectronics company project wasn't stopped, and instead they even sent our Computer Institute's backbone away! Section Chief Zhou wanted to cry.

"The procedures for the microelectronics company are stuck right here, Old Zhou—hurry up and sign the project, then hand it over to this Engineer Huang to take to Ha Gong Da." Secretary Wang gave Zhou a meaningful look, saying, "This time you've passed the test; we'll see your future reforms."

At the North Building entrance.

Section Chief Zhou enthusiastically saw Secretary Wang off to the car; after Secretary Wang left, he looked at those present and said, "Everyone heard that—our Computer Institute also needs to devote itself to reform; we need to discuss how to take the market economy road to solve our funding problems……"

"Section Chief Zhou, I have an idea!"

"Engineer Liu? What's your idea?"

"Let's set up a company under our Computer Institute……"

Liu Zhonglie knew his opportunity had come! Within the Computer Institute he was merely an unsung minor role, but now, if he stands out in this reform of the Computer Institute, he could become a great contributor to the Institute, even soar to great heights!

"The market economy? Nothing special—I can handle it myself!"