Chapter 572: The Programmer

If Turing Ancestor endowed computers with a “soul” (computational theory and logic),

then the other Ancestor, von Neumann, endowed computers with a “body” (physical architecture and implementation).

Before him, a computer’s “program” and “data” were often separate,

requiring programming through plugging and unplugging cables—extremely tedious and inconvenient.

Von Neumann first proposed the concept of “stored program,”

meaning instructions (programs) and data are stored together in the same memory.

He established the five fundamental components of modern computers:

arithmetic unit, control unit, memory, input device, output device.

Even into the 21st century, the underlying hardware logic of everyone’s phones and

computers still follows this architecture.

Without von Neumann, computers might still have been massive,

hard-to-program, single-function monsters of vacuum tubes—he was the founder of modern computer engineering architecture.

Turing was the “architect” and “philosopher”: he drew the blueprint,

proved theoretically that the “skyscraper (general-purpose computer)” could be built, and defined its function.

Von Neumann was the “chief engineer”: he designed the specific construction plan (stored-program architecture),

specified how to build the skyscraper with steel and concrete, how to route pipes and wires, making the skyscraper rise from the ground.

Turing invented computer science, while von Neumann invented the modern computer,

both indispensable, together forming the foundation of the digital world.

The other Ancestor of computers, von Neumann, did not turn into 0 or 1 like Turing Ancestor—he was male, fond of women.

But perhaps as the price of attaining ultimate computational power and wisdom,

his hairline resembled a grassland devoured by goats, constantly receding.

In short, he grew stronger, yet went bald.

The primordial influence of an extraordinary path always affects later followers, just as the primordial biases of witches and hunters differ.

Turing and von Neumann, these two Ancestors, continuously influence their subsequent disciples—programmers.

Every time programmers pray their code won’t have bugs, they are making a pact with these two Ancestors.

If von Neumann Ancestor responds, your hairline will keep receding.

But if Turing Ancestor responds, congratulations—you will automatically unlock cross-dressing and slowly become a boy-girl…

There is no third option, because the world of computers is only 1 and 0.

Of course, if both Ancestors respond at once, congratulations,

you will become a bald, wig-wearing, cross-dressing boy-girl.

But Zhang Jie also knew a way to bypass the Sequence-0 and Sequence-1 heroes:

seek an adjacent path and switch paths when at Sequence One, thus evading high-sequence influence.

In plain terms, that means changing your major.

A brief medical anecdote:

Doctor: What discomfort are you experiencing?

Patient: There’s a bit of pain at the entrance of my buttocks.

Doctor: ?? Wait, where exactly did you say?

Patient: The entrance of fasting—that’s where, I accidentally…

Doctor: I must remind you, that’s the exit.

If you think it’s an entrance, it will keep hurting.

Patient: …

See? That’s professionalism!

What made me shed tears wasn’t just last night’s wine… (a powerful melody begins)

………

“I’m just a part-time programmer—surely I won’t suffer from hair loss, right?”

Zhang Jie thought uncertainly to himself.

His main profession in this world is a Qi-refiner; in other worlds, Zhang Jie was a martial artist,

emperor, and Devil Fruit user—all never specializing in computers, programming was merely his side job.

Surely von Neumann Ancestor wouldn’t be that thorough?

He’s just a temporary worker.

But to be safe, Zhang Jie decided he’d use true Qi to properly care for his thick, jet-black hair from now on,

and never wear plaid shirts again (if Turing School’s standard attire is cross-dressing,

then von Neumann School programmers’ true calling is plaid shirts and wigs).

As for whether Turing Ancestor might notice him and make him a disciple of the Turing School?

No need to worry—Zhang Jie was utterly certain: he was male, fond of women.

Though in this life he was still a herbivorous man without a girlfriend, in other worlds, Zhang Jie—

like the Heaven’s Sword Zhang Jie, the Dragon Zhang Jie, and the Water Margin Zhang Jie—were enjoying nightly revelry.

But it wasn’t their fault; after all, the worlds they lived in were low-cultivation realms.

With martial cultivation hard to advance further and themselves invincible under heaven,

they had ample time and energy to devote to pleasure.

Heaven’s Sword Zhang Jie, Dragon Zhang Jie, Water Margin Zhang Jie: After all these years of hard work, can’t we enjoy ourselves?

Keep playing music! Keep dancing!

Zhang Jie had no judgment toward their slight indulgence:

Before the Shared Space came, I suffered; after the Shared Space came,

I still suffered—wasn’t that a wasted divine gift?

Of course, the several Zhang Jies weren’t idle pleasure-seekers—they still fulfilled their primary duties diligently.

Water Margin Zhang Jie had already conquered the island nation and sent Ruan Xiao Wu overseas,

preparing to find the Egyptians and force the French, whose shoulder joints were already severely worn, to dig the Suez Canal centuries early;

domestically, he vigorously developed industry and improved people’s livelihood, propelling Great Gan from the steam age straight into the internal combustion age.

Ming Dynasty Zhang Jie had already chased down the fleeing and pursued the defeated; Emperor Shun of Yuan was ordered by him to be sent on his way by Wang Bao Bao using a bowstring at Fishinger Sea.

Though he didn’t wrap the last Caliph in a carpet and trample him into a 2D image like the Mongols,

dying the same way as the last Han emperor, Zhu Youlang of Yongli, was already more than generous.

Of course, if he dared learn from Wu Sangui and rebel, Zhang Jie would slap him.

Hmm, just a gentle slap—one that could crush a King-level monster.

Dragon Zhang Jie was slower, but he had already convinced Duan Yu to surrender his territory and unify the realm,

and naturally, other former Chinese lands like Western Xia and Liao couldn’t be exceptions.

As for why Dragon Zhang Jie, who was doing fine as Martial Arts Alliance Leader, suddenly began unifying the realm?

It wasn’t because Dragon Zhang Jie intended to evolve toward the Wind and Cloud world, where rulers weren’t called emperors

but “Supreme Martial Sovereign”—the martial level of the Dragon world simply wasn’t high enough;

it was simply that the Song Dynasty was pathetically weak, swarming with vermin, and how could one build China alongside such vermin?

Eventually, Dragon Zhang Jie could no longer bear it,

went straight to Dongjing (Bianliang), discussed matters with the Song Emperor, and made him learn from Yao and Shun, abdicating in favor of a worthy successor.

Overall, in these three worlds, thanks to the Zhang Jies,

though they hadn’t yet reached modern levels of life and development, they were undoubtedly moving in a better direction.

………

“Cultivate, cultivate.”

Zhang Jie drew back all those random thoughts and memories into his heart, sat cross-legged,

placed his hands naturally on his knees, palms upward, assuming the Five Points Toward Heaven posture, beginning his daily practice.

Streams of heavenly Qi were drawn to Zhang Jie, flowing through his Eight Extraordinary Meridians,

finally refined into liquid and converging into his dantian, vast as an ocean.