introduction
Back then, Qian Xuesen encountered the biggest crisis in his life in the United States. Imprisoned by the United States authorities on trumped-up charges, he is tormented and longs to return to the bosom of his homeland.
However, the U.S. government has no intention of letting people go, they know that Qian Xuesen has mastered too many cutting-edge technologies, and they must not allow such talents to be used by China.
Just when Qian Xuesen was desperate, the Chinese government launched a thrilling rescue operation.
Premier Zhou Enlai personally commanded and launched-for-tat negotiations with the United States on diplomatic occasions.
The Chinese side put forward a condition that the United States could not refuse, that is, the release of the captured US pilots.
How many U.S. pilots did China release in exchange for Qian Xuesen's freedom? What price did China and the United States pay for this diplomatic game? And after Qian Xuesen returned to China, what kind of contribution did he make to China's science and technology?
When he was a teenager, his patriotic feelings appeared
Qian Xuesen was born in a scholarly family, and was deeply influenced by his family's patriotism, loyalty and filial piety. His father, Qian Junfu, was the principal of Zhejiang Provincial No. 1 Normal School, and he was also an intellectual who loved education and paid attention to ethics and morality.
When Qian Xuesen was growing up, his father often taught him earnestly about the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation and cultivated his patriotic sentiments and national self-esteem.
Her mother, Zhang Fengzhen, is a virtuous and kind woman, she attaches great importance to family education, and often teaches Qian Xuesen to study diligently and take responsibility in her daily life, so as to be a useful person for the country and the nation in the future.
Under the words and deeds of his parents, Qian Xuesen has established a lofty ideal of dedicating himself to the motherland and serving the people since he was a child.
However, Qian Xuesen's juvenile years coincided with the Chinese nation's internal and external troubles and crises. He witnessed with his own eyes the tragic scenes of warlord chaos and foreign invasion bringing about the shattering of mountains and rivers and the destruction of human lives.
In 1923, ten-year-old Qian Xuesen went to Shanghai with his father to make a living, which coincided with the outbreak of the "May Massacre" that shocked China and foreign countries.
The strong ships and artillery of the British and American imperialist countries bombed Shanghai Beach to ruins, and innocent people fell victim to the fire.
This bloody and cruel scene was deeply imprinted in Qian Xuesen's young soul and stimulated his strong sense of national distress and patriotic enthusiasm.
On September 18, 1929, the "September 18 Incident" broke out, and Japanese imperialism brazenly launched an armed aggression against Northeast China.
Qian Xuesen, who was studying at Hujiang University at the time, joined many patriotic students in the student movement to protest against Japanese aggression and denounce the Nationalist government's policy of non-resistance.
Although this movement was suppressed by the Kuomintang reactionaries, Qian Xuesen was not intimidated, but strengthened his determination to study diligently and serve the motherland. He secretly made up his mind that he must learn his skills well and contribute his strength to the cause of national liberation in the future.
In 1934, Qian Xuesen was admitted to the Department of Mechanical Engineering of National Jiaotong University with excellent results.
During his university years, he studied hard and was studious, and soon mastered a solid knowledge of mechanical engineering and aircraft design.
He often discussed with his classmates the importance of the development of aviation science and technology for national rejuvenation, and they all agreed that only by mastering advanced technology can China get rid of the situation of poverty and backwardness and truly achieve independence.
Through unremitting efforts, Qian Xuesen graduated half a year ahead of schedule with the first place in the whole department and got the opportunity to study in the United States at public expense.
At that time, China's aviation industry was still in its infancy, and many people chose popular mechanical, electrical and other majors. However, Qian Xuesen resolutely decided to study unpopular aeronautical engineering, he knew that this decision meant that he might face employment difficulties and low treatment after returning to China in the future, but in order to fill the gap in this field in his motherland, he embarked on the road of studying abroad without hesitation.
Study in the United States Taoguang and raise obscurity
Qian Xuesen studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the California Institute of Technology, where he studied under the world-renowned aeronautical engineer von Kármen. He studied hard and studied diligently, and soon mastered cutting-edge knowledge of aerodynamics, rocket propulsion, etc.
Under the guidance of von Kármen, Qian Xuesen has participated in a number of major scientific research projects such as jet propulsion and hypersonics, and has achieved a series of important results, which have been widely praised by the American scientific community.
Although his study and work in the United States were very smooth, Qian Xuesen's heart was always concerned about the motherland and hometown. He often discussed the current situation with other scholars in the United States, and everyone was extremely indignant at the current situation of the Japanese invasion of China and the loss of the country.
Many international students are eager to return to China after completing their studies and contribute to the anti-Japanese salvation. Qian Xuesen has also said many times that studying abroad is only temporary, and when he succeeds in his studies, he must serve the motherland.
In a letter to his father, he wrote: "Although I am in a foreign country, my heart is for the motherland; When he returns from his studies, he will do his best to repay. "
During his stay in the United States, Qian Xuesen always maintained a low-key and rigorous style, devoted himself to scientific research, and rarely participated in social activities. He is well aware that he is shouldering the heavy responsibility of national rejuvenation, and he must not be tempted by a life of spending all his days and drinking.
He devoted most of his time to study and research, often spending the night in the library and laboratory.
The hard work paid off, and Qian Xuesen obtained a doctorate degree in aeronautical engineering with excellent results, becoming the only doctor of aeronautical engineering in China at that time.
In 1943, the World Anti-Fascist War entered a critical stage. Qian Xuesen consulted with other patriotic scholars and agreed that he should return to China as soon as possible and contribute his strength to the victory of the Anti-Japanese War.
He resolutely resigned from his job in the United States and prepared to return to China to work at the Institute of Aeronautics.
However, on the grounds that "Qian Xuesen has mastered US military secrets," the US Government did everything possible to obstruct his return to China.
Persecuted in the United States, unyielding
The US intelligence services first arrested him on trumped-up charges and then detained him in a secret prison on the grounds of "endangering national security."
In prison, Qian Xuesen was subjected to inhuman abuse. The interrogators tortured him around the clock in an attempt to break his will and bring him into submission.
They either coerced and enticed, promising to give Qian Xuesen high-ranking officials; or intimidation and threatening, threatening to imprison him forever. In the face of the enemy's crazy revenge, Qian Xuesen has always been indomitable and unyielding.
When Qian Xuesen's wife, Jiang Ying, learned of her husband's arrest, she immediately ran around trying to rescue her husband.
She first found Qian Xuesen's mentor von Kármán in the United States, hoping that he would intercede.
Von Kármán was very angry at what happened to Qian Xuesen, and he repeatedly approached the relevant US departments to negotiate with them, demanding that they respect Qian Xuesen's human rights and dignity and release him.
Under von Kármán's mediation, the US authorities were forced to agree to release Qian Xuesen on bail, but at the same time imposed close surveillance and control on him.
After Qian Xuesen was released on bail, he found himself in a different kind of cage.
The U.S. authorities planted a large number of agents around his residence to monitor his every move at all times. They also sent people to follow Qian Xuesen and did not allow him to have contact with the outside world.
The Americans tried in vain to destroy Qian Xuesen's will and make him forget what he had learned about aerospace, so that he would stay in the United States forever.
In the face of the unreasonable demands of the Americans, Qian Xuesen said frankly: "You are violating human rights and international law!" I am studying and working in the United States, it is completely legal, and now I want to return to China to work, it is justified, why should you stop it?"
When the US officials saw that Qian Xuesen did not eat the soft ones, they came to the hard ones again.
They arrested Qian Xuesen again and sentenced him to five years in prison for "leaking state secrets."
In prison, Qian Xuesen was subjected to even more brutal abuse.
The guards used all means to break his will.
They did not allow Qian Xuesen to sleep and forced him to be interrogated non-stop; They didn't give Qian Xuesen food to eat, so that he starved and froze; They also beat and insulted Qian Xuesen, and labeled him a "Communist spy." In the face of the enemy's brutal persecution, Qian Xuesen did not give in at all.
Outwit and rescue the book of a thousand miles
During the house arrest period in the United States, Qian Xuesen and his wife lived under the White Terror. The U.S. authorities monitor their activities in all directions, and their every move is under the watchful eye of agents. Even if you go out to buy groceries, you have to be subject to strict checks and restrictions.
However, it was under such difficult conditions that Qian Xuesen and his wife seized an unexpected opportunity and skillfully sent the distress letter back to their motherland.
One day, Jiang Ying went to a Chinese supermarket to buy groceries as usual. She carefully selects fresh fruits and vegetables, and accidentally finds a piece of paper in the basket.
Jiang Ying opened it curiously, and it turned out to be a group photo of Chairman Mao and Li Shutong, the new Chinese ambassador to the United States!
Jiang Ying was overjoyed by this discovery, and she decided to take the opportunity to write a letter to her father in China to seek help from the party and the government.
Jiang Ying hurriedly returned home and told Qian Xuesen about this idea. When Qian Xuesen heard this, his eyes lit up.
They decided to write a long letter to Jiang Ying's father, Jiang Yiwu, telling about what they had encountered in the United States over the years, and expressing their strong desire to return to the embrace of the motherland.
After writing the letter to their family, the problem faced by Qian Xuesen and his wife was how to send the letter out safely. You must know that their every move is under the supervision of American agents, and if they are intercepted by the enemy, the consequences will be unimaginable.
Qian Xuesen and Jiang Ying discussed again and again, and decided to transfer the family letter to Premier Zhou Enlai through Jiang Ying's sister Jiang Mei in Belgium.
At that time, Premier Zhou was leading the Chinese delegation to the Geneva conference, and Jiang Mei happened to be working in Brussels, and she could pass the letter to the prime minister through diplomatic channels.
After some twists and turns of camouflage, the package containing the family letter came to Belgium and fell into the hands of Jiang Mei. After Jiang Mei saw the letter, she was overjoyed and rushed to Geneva overnight.
On June 27, Premier Zhou Enlai met with Jiang Mei, who had come on a special trip, on the sidelines of the Geneva meeting.
Jiang Mei said excitedly: "Prime Minister, my sister and brother-in-law are suffering in the United States, and they have written this letter to their families after several setbacks, asking you to help them return to the motherland as soon as possible!" After speaking, Jiang Mei offered the pomelo covered with dirt with both hands.
When Premier Zhou saw the grapefruit, he couldn't help but wet his clothes with tears. He immediately said that he must rescue Qian Xuesen and his wife as soon as possible and return to China.
Diplomatic mediation honorably returned to his hometown
In 1955, Sino-US relations were in a state of tension. The two sides held ambassadorial-level talks in Geneva in an attempt to ease tensions. During the talks, the US representative first demanded that the Chinese side return the captured US pilots.
In this regard, Wang Bingnan, the representative of the Chinese side, argued on the basis of reason, and he solemnly pointed out that the US pilots were captured during the war of aggression against Korea, and they should be punished.
At the same time, Wang Bingnan said that the Chinese side demands that the United States unconditionally release all Chinese students and Chinese in the United States, especially the illegally detained scientist Qian Xuesen.
As soon as the US delegates heard Qian Xuesen's name, they immediately expressed strong opposition. They said in a loud voice that Qian Xuesen had mastered the core secrets of the United States and that he must not be allowed to return to China.
The two sides were at loggerheads, and the talks reached an impasse for a while. At the critical moment, Wang Bingnan came up with a list of US pilots released by the Chinese side. He announced that in order to show its sincerity, the Chinese side had decided to release the four pilots in exchange for Qian Xuesen's freedom.
The news reached the capital of the United States and caused a strong reaction. The top level of the U.S. government met overnight and repeatedly weighed the pros and cons.
Some hawks resolutely oppose the release of the detainees, believing that this is a bitter ploy by China and a provocation to the dignity of the United States.
However, many rational people have pointed out that Qian Xuesen's hunger strike in prison has aroused widespread concern in the international community. If the United States does not let people go, it will inevitably be morally inferior and jeopardize the international image of the United States.
After some heated debate, the U.S. government finally agreed to the exchange, but offered to release 11 more pilots for "fairness".
When the news reached Beijing, Premier Zhou Enlai immediately made a decision: "Change!" Nothing is more important than our scientists! We would rather put a few more pilots in exchange for Comrade Qian Xuesen. He is a precious asset of the country and an indispensable pillar of building a modern socialist country!"
In this way, under the diplomatic mediation of China and the United States, Qian Xuesen finally regained his freedom.
On August 4, 1955, Qian Xuesen boarded the cruise ship "President Wilson" at the San Francisco dock, bidding farewell to the land that had bound him for five years.
On August 24, Qian Xuesen arrived in Hong Kong and was warmly welcomed by the Chinese government and Hong Kong compatriots. As he stepped off the cruise ship excitedly with flowers in hand, the crowd erupted in long-lasting applause. People shouted: "Welcome Comrade Qian Xuesen home!" You've suffered!"
On September 17, Qian Xuesen flew to Beijing by special plane. Premier Zhou Enlai personally greeted him at the airport and hugged this old friend who had been reunited after a long absence.
After returning to the motherland, Qian Xuesen successively served as vice president of the Fifth Research Institute of the Ministry of National Defense and deputy director of the National Defense Science and Technology Commission.
He worked tirelessly, day and night, leading the team to overcome one technical difficulty after another. Under his auspices, China has made a series of breakthroughs in missiles, rockets, satellites, and other cutting-edge fields, greatly enhancing its national defense strength.
From then on, the people's republic had the "important weapon of the state" and no longer had to look at other people's faces to act.
epilogue
Looking back, Qian Xuesen's experience of returning to his hometown can be described as twists and turns.
It embodies the wisdom, courage and foresight of the older generation of proletarian revolutionaries such as Premier Zhou Enlai. They adhered to principles, dared to struggle, upheld the dignity of the country through diplomatic mediation, and won the respect of the people.
It was precisely under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee that Qian Xuesen and a large number of patriots with lofty ideals broke through many obstacles, returned to the motherland one after another, and contributed their wisdom and talents to the cause of building new China.
Qian Xuesen's bumpy experience on the road back to China shows the pure heart and firm belief of a patriotic scientist. He would rather go back to China to grow apples than stay in the United States, and this patriotic feeling is worth learning from each and every one of us.
Resources:
CNKI - Zhang Xianmin: "Qian Xuesen's Return to China and the Negotiation of the Return of Chinese and American Expatriates in the Fifties of the Twentieth Century"
2019-01-04.CCTV - Five years to return to the country, ten years to two bombs! People's Scientist - Qian Xuesen.