On the evening of February 1, 1956, Qian Xuesen was invited to attend a state banquet at Huairen Hall in Zhongnanhai with a big red invitation. When he entered the hall, someone waved warmly and cordially to him, and the companion next to him asked curiously, "Who is this gentleman?" ”
"Qian Xuesen! Just the scientist who can stand five divisions by one person. ”
Qian Xuesen
As soon as the words fell, there was a sound of exclamation, and everyone threw curious and eager eyes at Qian Xuesen. However, at this time, Qian Xuesen did not notice the amazement of the crowd, and he encountered a very embarrassing thing. On the invitation card was seat 37, which belonged to him, but now it was the name of another person.
Qian Xuesen was preparing to ask the staff to help him arrange another seat, but Chairman Mao said to him: "Comrade Qian Xuesen, sit next to me." ”
Why did Qian Xuesen's seat have someone else's name written on it? Why did Chairman Mao let him sit next to him?
On September 17, 1955, the president cleveland once again set sail from Los Angeles to Hong Kong. This same route made one passenger blush. After 5 years, he finally stepped on this passenger ship and embarked on the way home!
This person is Mr. Qian Xuesen, a famous scientist in China.
5 years ago, Qian Xuesen proposed to return to New China and use his own body to serve the country! However, U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Kimball blocked his way home. Kimball knew how terrible Qian Xuesen's knowledge and ability were, and he even thought that Qian Xuesen alone could be worthy of 5 US Marine divisions. Kimball said he would rather kill Qian Xuesen than release him back to China to help China become stronger.
The way back home was cut off, and Qian Xuesen was detained by the United States. The Attitude of the United States has always been very tough. In any case, they are not willing to put such a talent back in China.
This country, which flaunts freedom, uses tough measures to stop it when the sons and daughters of China want to return home. They were afraid that the ancient kingdoms of the distant East would become stronger, so powerful that they would threaten their hegemony.
The unreasonable behavior of the United States has aroused the condemnation of the international community, and many international friends have spoken out one after another demanding that the United States repay the money and freedom of Xuesen. At the same time, China has also been actively negotiating with the United States to promote Qian Xuesen's safe return to China.
In the end, after five years of tug-of-war negotiations, China and the United States reached an agreement: China released more than a dozen American pilots and prisoners of war, and the United States lifted the detention to allow Qian Xuesen to return to China with other students.
Qian Xuesen, who can finally return to China, knows that the motherland has paid a lot in order to let him go back, and he is eager to use his own strength to build a new China and dedicate everything to the motherland. Just as he was excited to step on the passenger ship back to China, he suddenly received a telegram. The content of the telegram was very simple, just instructing him not to go ashore along the way.
At that time, China and the United States reached an agreement that the United States must ensure Qian Xuesen's personal safety on U.S. territory. The personal safety of Qian Xuesen on the US passenger ship is naturally the responsibility of the United States, but once Qian Xuesen disembarks from the ship, nothing happens to the United States.
Obviously, although the United States agreed to let Qian Xuesen return to China, once he left the passenger ship, many people would seize this opportunity to assassinate him on the way home.
Qian Xuesen knew that there were many people who did not want him to return to China, and in order to save this life to serve the motherland, he never got off the ship. Qian Xuesen later recalled: "At that time, I returned to China with other classmates, and after staying on the ship for a long time, they would all come ashore to see and change their mood. But I never moved, knowing that once I left the ship, the Americans would no longer be responsible for me, and even if they took the opportunity to kill me, there was no reason to say anything. So I never got off the boat, even if it was uncomfortable. ”
Due to Qian Xuesen's caution and the protection of Chinese dispatches, Qian Xuesen's family arrived safely in Hong Kong. After that, he will enter from Shenzhen.
At that time, Hong Kong was still in british hands, and the only way to get from Hong Kong to Shenzhen was from a railway bridge called The Luohu Bridge. The bridge is 32 meters long and 12 meters wide, making it the last and most dangerous stretch of road back home. Because there have been many assassinations here, many people have died on the last step of returning home.
When crossing the bridge, the protection personnel and Qian Xuesen's family always waited in a strict line and did not dare to relax at all. Qian Xuesen's son, Qian Yonggang, later told everyone that when he first crossed this bridge, his father and mother had already discussed that once there was a sudden danger, his mother would protect his father in front of him at the first time.
Fortunately, God bless China, this last section of the road was thrilling and safe, and Qian Xuesen finally returned to the motherland safely!
Qian Xuesen's family
In January 1956, Qian Xuesen, who had not long since returned to China, was personally received by Chairman Mao when he attended the 6th Supreme State Council.
When Qian Xuesen arrived in Zhongnanhai, premier Zhou, who couldn't wait, had been waiting for a long time. Then, Premier Zhou cordially took Qian Xuesen to the Juxiang Bookstore, and as soon as he stepped through the door, he smiled and said, "Chairman, I can invite you to the distinguished guests you are looking forward to." ”
Chairman Mao immediately stood up when he heard this, greeted him at the door, looked at Qian Xuesen, who had a bright and somewhat restrained look, and Chairman Mao smiled and took his hand and said cordially: "Comrade Qian Xuesen, our founder of engineering cybernetics and rocket expert, I can count on you to come." ”
Hearing Chairman Mao's words, Qian Xuesen was very surprised. Engineering cybernetics was a new technical science he proposed in 1954, when there were no translations of relevant treatises in China. He did not expect that Chairman Mao, who was full of opportunities, would know his engineering cybernetics.
Qian Xuesen said excitedly: "Chairman, in fact, I have long wanted to see you, but I am worried that you are busy with your work and have not dared to disturb you." ”
The chairman smiled and shook his head: "Comrade Qian Xuesen, it was I who considered that you must have too many things to do when you just returned to China, so I did not invite you." ”
Chairman Mao pulled Qian Xuesen to sit down on the sofa and said to him seriously: "I heard that the Americans regard you as 5 divisions, but in my opinion, you are not only worth 5 divisions, and your strength is far greater than that of 5 divisions." In addition to the aerospace and rocket aspects, I was recently studying the "Engineering Cybernetics" that you proposed, which also has a great enlightening effect on our economic construction. ”
Hearing the chairman's affirmation, Qian Xuesen finally let go of restraint and hesitation. He took the initiative to mention to the chairman his ideas and suggestions for China's national defense and aerospace undertakings, and Chairman Mao listened attentively and held heated discussions with him from time to time on some issues. The helmsman and the best sailor of the new China set sail and had a profound conversation about China.
After the conversation, Chairman Mao cordially left Money for Xuesen to have lunch. Considering that Qian Xuesen may not have understood the cuisine of the motherland for many years, Chairman Mao also specially arranged a table of authentic Hunan cuisine. Chairman Mao smiled and asked Qian Xuesen if he could eat spicy, and Qian Xuesen looked at the table of delicacies and already had his fingers moved, and he cleverly said a pun: "In this life, people have to taste the sweet and sour and bitter spicy!" ”
On the afternoon after the meeting at Juxiang Bookstore, the 6th meeting was officially held. Everyone's enthusiasm for construction was high, and Qian Xuesen's return to China also aroused everyone's enthusiasm even more, and everyone spoke enthusiastically at the meeting and put forward one constructive opinion after another. Until the original end time, there were still many unfinished words. Seeing this situation, Chairman Mao waved his hand happily, and immediately said that he would first disperse and rest for dinner, and continue in the evening!
When Qian Xuesen returned to his room and was preparing to rest, there was a knock on the door. When he opened the door doubtfully, he saw Chairman Mao standing at the door with a smile, "Comrade Qian Xuesen, do you have time to continue the morning conversation?" ”
Qian Xuesen also laughed, and it turned out that Chairman Mao was as unsatisfied as himself about the morning's conversation. Subsequently, the two people took advantage of this break to discuss the lack of talents in national scientific research.
Qian Xuesen is a treasure of scientific research in the motherland and a rare scientific research talent in New China. Americans say that he alone can be worth 5 divisions, which shows how important talent is. Qian Xuesen also proceeded from the identity of a professional scientific researcher and put forward many feasible suggestions to Chairman Mao on the young scientific research talent training plan.
Chairman Mao
Then the two men talked about the natural sciences. In fact, chairman Mao's reading of Qian Xuesen's "Engineering Cybernetics" also knows that he actually has a strong interest in natural science. Not only that, but he also has his own unique insights.
Chairman Mao asked: "Comrade Qian Xuesen, all of you scientists think that elementary particles are inseparable, but I think that elementary particles can be divided, and matter is infinitely divisible. What do you think? ”
At that time, the physics community generally believed that elementary particles were the smallest matter and could not be separated. Qian Xuesen has been immersed in academics for many years, and naturally knows this basic common sense. However, the chairman's question seemed to be seeking his own approval, and Qian Xuesen was momentarily stunned and did not know how to answer.
Seeing Qian Xuesen's embarrassed look, Chairman Mao smiled and patted him on the shoulder, not angry because of his non-answer, but seriously and patiently explained to him the reason why he said so. Science should not be afraid to question and hypothesize, and the truth becomes clearer the more it is debated. Chairman Mao also told Qian Xuesen in a serious tone: "Authoritative scientific theories are not necessarily correct, and only by courageously struggling against the inherently old things can we give birth to the new and most vital things." ”
Chairman Mao's words made Qian Xuesen's heart shake, and for a moment he had the understanding of seeing the sun in the clouds. In the subsequent scientific research work, he always remembered Chairman Mao's words, dared to break the routine and dared to try various new methods, and finally successfully brought China's aerospace and national defense undertakings to the track of rapid development, and even more single-handedly advanced China's missile undertakings by 20 years.
The most amazing thing about this scientific debate is that 20 years later, the development of high-energy physics has proved Chairman Mao's idea of the indivisibility of elementary particles correct!
In 1977, at the suggestion of the American Nobel laureate Glashow, scientists named all the hypothetical components that make up matter "hair particles" to commemorate Chairman Mao's predictions in natural science.
In January 1956, the 2nd Plenary Session of the Second National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference was held, and Qian Xuesen received an invitation to attend. He attached great importance to this meeting, prepared a lot of materials, and put forward very detailed and constructive suggestions from the perspective of a professional scientific researcher at the meeting.
Qian Xuesen pointed out: Dialectical materialism is the best tool for scientific research, as long as we use it in scientific research work and conduct research in deep practice, we will soon build a strong scientific and technological team, and we will certainly be able to complete the task of catching up with the world's technological level within 12 years.
Qian Xuesen's speech made people see the practical prospects for scientific research and greatly encouraged everyone's enthusiasm for construction. His speech won the audience's unceasing applause.
After the discussion, Chairman Mao invited all the delegates to the Huairen Hall in Zhongnanhai to attend the state banquet in the evening.
In the evening, Qian Xuesen came on time with a red invitation. However, when he was ready to take his seat, he found that his seat 37 had someone else's name written on it.
Qian Xuesen opened the invitation card and looked at the seat number written on it, and once again confirmed that it was indeed seat 37. Feeling strange, Qian Xuesen wondered if the staff had made a mistake, and The elegant Qian Xuesen whispered in a good temper whether the staff was mistaken. The staff smiled and said to him, Mr. Qian came with me.
Qian Xuesen thought that the staff would arrange another position for himself, but in the end the staff took him to the first table. Qian Xuesen was stunned, and felt that the staff had made a mistake, because the No. 1 table had always been the seat of the state leaders. But when he looked down, he saw that his name was indeed written on the seat. On the seat next to him, there are three big characters written - Mao Zedong!
Qian Xuesen was confused, sitting was not, nor was he walking. At this moment, a thunderous applause sounded, and it turned out that Chairman Mao and other leaders had arrived. In the distance, Chairman Mao saw Qian Xuesen standing there, so he nodded and greeted him, and when he walked to his seat, he greeted him to sit next to him.
Qian Xuesen sat next to the chairman in the midst of everyone's attention, and the chairman explained to him with a smile: "Comrade Qian Xuesen, in fact, I crossed out your seat and arranged it here. Don't feel embarrassed, it is a great thing for us that you can return to China, you are the hope of our nation, and the missile cause of the motherland still depends on you. ”
Qian Xuesen did not expect Chairman Mao to attach so much importance to himself, he nodded his head heavily, and made up his mind to pay everything he had for the motherland, to live up to the motherland's care for himself, and to live up to Chairman Mao's attention and expectations for himself!
After that, Qian Xuesen used what he learned and gave all his energy and time to lay a solid foundation for China's manned spaceflight industry, and pushed forward the launch of Chinese missiles and atomic bombs for at least 20 years!
After Qian Xuesen returned to his homeland, he never went to the United States again in his life. After the improvement of Sino-US relations, many scientific research institutions and universities in the United States invited him to carry out academic exchanges, but he refused all of them.
In 1985, the United States wanted to invite Qian Xuesen to visit the United States and commend him for his many years of scientific research in the United States for his contributions to the United States. Considering that Qian Xuesen did not want to go to the United States, the US side even said that it could send Reps, the president of the Academy of Sciences, to China to present him with awards. However, Qian Xuesen refused.
He said: "Since returning to the motherland, I am ready to dedicate everything I have to the motherland, and if the Chinese people can say that I have done things for the country and the people, it will be the greatest reward for me." ”
Qian Xuesen's contribution to the motherland proved that Jin Boer's sentence that "one person is worth 5 divisions" was not an exaggeration, he gave up the good life in the United States, returned to the poor and white motherland, promoted the development of the motherland's aerospace industry, and helped the motherland break the imperialist nuclear threat and nuclear monopoly! The pillar of the country, nothing more!