Break out of the courtyard

"You can think of these random brainwaves as a chaotic stream of consciousness!"

Zhang Heping stood in front of a miniature brainwave detector, looking at the irregular waveforms on the monitor, explaining the condition of the regenerated animal's brain that he had brought back to the researchers and assistants around him.

"Teacher Zhang!" A young man stood on a chair behind him, holding a notebook and pen, looking at the waveform on the monitor through the person in front of him, and asked in confusion:
"Can you quantify the messiness and chaos you're describing? Just how chaotic is it? How did you arrive at this conclusion?"

This seemingly absurd question is actually related to the researchers' subsequent study of the brains of those 23 regenerated animals.

Without understanding Zhang Heping's methods of judgment, subsequent research may take many detours.

"Go to the whiteboard. I'll draw out the types and order of brainwaves received by those regenerated animal brains. You can study them slowly later." After Zhang Heping finished speaking, he walked through the passage cleared on the right and came to the rest area of ​​this laboratory.

Although it's called a rest area, it's actually an open communication area, complete with tables, chairs, whiteboards, projection screens, and more.

When Zhang Long and Zhang Hu arrived, they saw a group of men, women, and children sitting in front of a whiteboard, taking notes attentively, while their father was explaining something in front of the whiteboard.

It was lunchtime when Hua Lao met Zhang Heping.

Because there were quite a few experts sent from Western Sichuan, Zhang Heping only met a few project leaders and briefly learned about their research and development projects and progress.

After hearing that the project leaders wanted to go to the underground laboratory to participate in brain-computer interface research, Zhang Heping did not make things difficult for them.

"You can apply for access to the underground laboratory from Professor Hua, Secretary Chen, and Vice Dean Qian. I only have one requirement: abide by the laboratory's rules and regulations." After saying this, Zhang Heping began to shovel food into his mouth.

The people next to them exchanged glances, and with just a simple exchange of eyes, they decided on the next topic.

A bald, elderly professor chuckled and asked, "Advisor Zhang, I heard you're holding a technology sharing session on next-generation brain-computer interfaces in Hong Kong tomorrow. What are the differences between this new brain-computer interface and the old one?"

Zhang Heping said calmly, "This kind of question involves classified technology. It's best not to ask it before your authorization is granted, to avoid misunderstandings."

The project leaders were taken aback for a moment before realizing that they hadn't yet undergone the review process here.

"Excuse me, Consultant Zhang!" an elderly professor with gray hair stepped in to smooth things over. "We heard you were going to hold a technical sharing session, and we thought the technology in this area wouldn't be kept secret."

Zhang Heping nodded and didn't say anything more.

The senior experts from Western Sichuan, knowing it was a rare opportunity to see Zhang Heping, did not touch their chopsticks to eat.

Seeing Zhang Heping eating so quickly, a thin old woman wearing black-rimmed reading glasses asked, "What does Consultant Zhang think about the application prospects of mental power in weaponry?"

Zhang Heping casually asked, "Are you asking if it's possible to create a mental bomb?"

"Yes!" the gaunt old woman said seriously, "Do you think it's possible to create a large-scale, highly destructive 'psychic morale bomb'?"

Zhang Heping nodded and said, "Theoretically, if a suitable storage medium for mental energy is found, a mental energy bomb can be created."

The thin old woman pressed on, asking, "Can a living organism's brain serve as a storage medium for spiritual energy?"

“This question involves classified technology again!” Zhang Heping picked up his soup bowl and looked at the group of Western Shu experts who had arrived first but whose laboratory access had been revoked by him halfway through. “If you have used the first and second generation brain-computer interfaces, you can answer the question you just asked yourself.”

Mental energy can only damage a biological brain; how could it possibly be stored in the brain?

Unless, of course, a large amount of mental energy is converted into brainwaves and poured into a brain without regard for the consequences, and then the brainwaves of that brain are forcibly converted into mental energy through a miniature brain-computer interface.

Therefore, it is theoretically feasible to create a psycho-bomb using a biological brain.

However, in practical applications, there are many problems, such as the reduction of mental power caused by obstacles such as grass, rocks, and steel.

Zhang Heping felt that instead of wasting time developing a mental bomb, it would be more practical to spend money to buy a few hand grenades.

Following Zhang Heping's gaze, several project leaders also saw the group of experts from Western Sichuan who had arrived earliest. Remembering how Zhang Heping had remotely removed their laboratory access because they hadn't followed the laboratory rules here, they couldn't help but become cautious.

Although Mr. Hua was sitting at the next table, he kept a close eye on the exchange taking place here.

Regarding the laboratory access granted to this group of experts from Western Sichuan, Zhang Heping's feelings had to be considered beforehand, so he didn't ask Secretary Chen for much approval.

But things are different now. Once Zhang Heping signs the confidentiality agreement for the Sanxingdui underground base and sees the batch of materials airlifted from Western Sichuan, Elder Hua can get these Western Sichuan experts to sign the confidentiality agreement here, thus allowing as many experts as possible to stay.

Therefore, although Hua Lao heard Zhang Heping frequently using confidentiality technology to shut up those old experts, he did not speak up to smooth things over. After all, the confidentiality system was there, and not signing a confidentiality agreement meant not signing one, and there was no room for carelessness.

Zhang Heping put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a tissue, and then looked at Elder Hua and Secretary Chen at the next table, saying, "Elder Hua, you need to deal with their authority as soon as possible."

"Otherwise, they might not understand the virtual reality game console launch event that will be broadcast live from Hong Kong Island tomorrow."

Mr. Hua nodded in response, "The review will begin this afternoon, and we will definitely get it done for them before tomorrow's press conference!"

"Okay, I'm going to the lab now. I have to go back to Hong Kong Island later." Zhang Heping said, and then stood up.

"Peace, confidentiality agreement!" Old Hua hurriedly stood up, took the pen and paper from Secretary Chen who reacted quickly, and handed them to Zhang Heping.

Zhang Heping took the confidentiality agreement and glanced at it. It contained only standard confidentiality regulations, similar to those of the underground base of Shenzhen Peace Academy. He then signed his name.

After receiving the confidentiality agreement from Zhang Heping, Elder Hua said with a smile, "The information about Western Shu has been archived. You can go there whenever you want to see it."

"Let's talk when there's space in the back!" Zhang Heping said, glancing at the staff from the biological brain computer lab who had stood up beside him, and loudly added, "Don't waste food, finish your meal before you leave!"

Several young men followed Zhang Heping with smiles on their faces, saying they had already finished eating.

On the other hand, the two boys, Zhang Long and Zhang Hu, originally wanted to follow their father, but the two twin girls opposite them were too clingy. They kept saying "You've both lost weight" and put chicken legs and beef on their plates, making it seem as if their father was telling them not to waste food.

As soon as Zhang Heping left, Hua Lao looked at Qian Lao, who was smiling beside him, and said, "Vice President Qian, you'll have to lend a hand with this review. I'm going to Hong Kong Island with you later."

"Don't worry, Mr. Hua!" Mr. Qian said with a smile, "I have a memory of these people, and their files were sent in encrypted form, so we can do without background checks."

“The background check still needs to be done, but we can do it after tomorrow!” When Hua Lao said this, he was staring at Secretary Chen across from him. “Brain-computer interfaces are not toys, especially before we figure out whether we can make mental bombs. We can’t be too cautious!” Qian Lao nodded silently, which was considered as acknowledging Hua Lao’s caution.

Secretary Chen, sitting opposite, didn't mince words and whispered his thoughts, "Should we ask Commander Chu to send someone to conduct a background check?"

"You can do them at the same time, it's up to you," Old Hua replied, then looked at the food on his plate and said with a helpless smile, "I took too much food, hurry up and eat!"

Mr. Qian looked at Zhang Long and Zhang Hu's table and smiled, "Putting everything else aside, Consultant Zhang has done a good job educating his children. They are not as impetuous as those rich kids, nor do they crave pleasure."

Old Hua glanced at Zhang Long and Zhang Hu, who were engrossed in their meal, and replied with a smile, "If a father sets a good example, how bad can his children be?"

Secretary Chen glanced at Zhang Long and Zhang Hu, then whispered to Elder Hua, "Are Zhang Bei and Zhang Nan dating?"

Old Hua shook his head slightly, "Director Wang is still following up, this matter can't be rushed."

……

After leaving the cafeteria, Zhang Heping sent a young assistant to inquire whether the wild animals ordered that morning had arrived, while he and several other assistants went to the laboratory.

He arrived in a hurry this morning, and many things were not prepared in advance. So, he spent most of his time here answering questions for the laboratory staff and arranging subsequent biological brain computer research.

The reason for continuing to study biological brain computers is that chip technology is a feature of current civilization, while the Ruomu brain-computer interface may be a legacy of the previous civilization.

Just as Zhang Heping used chip technology to miniaturize the internal structure of the brain-computer interface, the two can complement each other's strengths.

Moreover, Zhang Heping believes that to achieve a globalized virtual dream game in the future, a highly intelligent biological brain computer server is necessary, rather than an autonomous intelligent brain.

However, how to control the degree to which intelligent biological brain computers develop into true intelligent brains is a major challenge.

In particular, when this biological brain receives countless external brainwaves and then remits countless mental energies, the evolution of the biological brain seems to be an irreversible problem.

As wild mice, rabbits, and zoo monkeys were disinfected and sent to the laboratory, Zhang Heping began leading the researchers there to create a biological brain server.

"The experiments you conducted previously all used the brainwaves of the biological organism to influence the unconscious regenerated brain through brain chips."

Wearing gold-rimmed glasses, Zhang Heping prepared a nutrient solution for the regenerated monkey brain in front of him, while saying to the researchers who were eagerly waiting beside him:

"The reason why your experiment did not show obvious results is mainly because the brain chip conversion cannot truly replicate the brain waves of the biological body into the regenerated brain."

"This new brain-computer interface, which can convert brainwaves into mental energy and then convert mental energy back into brainwaves, solves the problem of the difficulty in converting brainwaves into mental energy."

"However, as I said this morning, I hope you will continue your research on brain chips."

"There are two reasons. First, the mental power converted from brain to machine is very dangerous and can kill people invisibly. It is impossible to put it into civilian use before the control technology is available. Second, brain chips can more easily restrict brain waves from entering and leaving the biological brain."

As Zhang Heping explained calmly and deliberately, the researchers present realized the importance of their biological brain-computer research and strengthened their belief in continuing the research.

"Professor Zhang, can we use the brain-computer interface you developed to assist in the research and development of biological brain computers?" a young researcher interjected.

"We'll distribute the new brain-computer interface to you once the safety features are improved. It's not possible now; it could easily cause problems," Zhang Heping casually promised, calming the researchers' anxieties.

After Zhang Heping set up the brain-computer interface around the unconscious regenerated monkey's brain, he asked everyone to step back 5 meters. Then, he sprayed some transparent liquid onto the monkey that the zoo had sent.

Immediately afterwards, the monkey started yawning, its head nodding repeatedly, and within a minute, it fell asleep in its cage.

"I'm going to start synchronizing the brainwaves of the two monkeys. You can observe their brainwave detection data." Zhang Heping said, using his mental power to connect the matching examination patch of the brainwave detector to the monkey's head in the cage.

Then, a golden disc the size of a button flew out from Zhang Heping's left hand and stuck to the forehead of the monkey in the cage.

Although the researchers present had all heard about the wonders of brain-computer interfaces and mental abilities, they were still amazed to see Zhang Heping manipulating objects in mid-air.

"The regenerated monkey's brain is showing brainwaves!"

A low gasp escaped, and the researchers present all looked toward the monkey brain in the nutrient tank and the waveform on the monitor next to it.

Zhang Long stood in front of the crowd and said, "Dad, I'll guard this place. You go and get the next rabbit brain!"

Zhang Heping reminded the people around him again not to get close to the experimental monkeys, lest they be harmed by the unconscious mental energy emitted by the monkeys, before going to the rabbit brain experimental area.

The only thing that can be observed in monkey brains is brainwave patterns, which is not very appealing to researchers who are used to seeing brainwave patterns.

So, after leaving two assistants to stay with Zhang Long, they all followed Zhang Heping and Zhang Hu away.

When Zhang Heping arrived at the rabbit brain experimental area, he did not disappoint the researchers and continued to explain the operating principle of the biological brain server.

“The regenerated brain is very pure, without sensory influences or numerous neural feedbacks,” Zhang Heping said calmly.
"Therefore, as long as it successfully memorizes a segment of dream brainwaves, it will become immersed in it and treat the dream as its real world."

"Professor Zhang!" A middle-aged male researcher in the front row raised his hand holding a pencil and asked eagerly, "If this technology is used on vegetative patients, could we use their regenerated brain to understand the brain activity of these patients?"

“It’s theoretically feasible!” Zhang Heping nodded slightly. “But the outside world might not accept this kind of research and will raise a lot of ethical issues!”

“Those people are just bored and have nothing better to do!” a young assistant said indignantly. “If they ever become a vegetable, they’d be more than happy to have us do these kinds of experiments and then cure them.”

Zhang Heping did not respond, because he did not need external recognition; he only needed his experiments to remain confidential and unknown to the outside world.

Zhang Heping and his two sons spent the whole afternoon working on one regenerated rat brain server, but in the end they only managed to successfully regenerate one rat brain server. The other regenerated brains did not record any dream brainwaves, and this success rate could only be attributed to luck.

After encapsulating the regenerated mouse brain into a nutrient bottle, Zhang Heping, amidst the hopeful gazes of the crowd, retrieved the several pairs of miniature brain-computer interfaces he had previously released.

"Stop looking!" Zhang Heping stuffed several golden miniature brain-computer interfaces into his pocket and said with a faint smile, "We can only equip you with brain-computer interfaces after the technology matures, otherwise it could lead to deaths!"

...(End of chapter)