Qian Xuesen
On September 17, 1955, Qian Xuesen's family boarded a cruise ship back to China in Los Angeles, USA. For this day, Qian Xuesen fought for 5 years, and the Chinese government also tried everything to rescue Qian Xuesen and return to China. On the day of boarding, the port of Los Angeles gathered a lot of American journalists.
These reporters all hoped to get first-hand news about Qian Xuesen, and one of the reporters asked: "Mr. Qian, you are treated very well in the United States, do you plan to come back in the future?" Obviously, this reporter looked down on China, which was poor at that time, but he had no idea why Qian Xuesen returned to China.
Hearing the reporter's question, Qian Xuesen righteously replied:
"I don't think I'm going to come back, I can't find a reason to come back, it's a decision I've been thinking about in the U.S. for a long time. My purpose of returning to my homeland has always been clear, and I have done my best to help the Chinese people build their own country so that they can live a happy and dignified life. ”
On October 8, Qian Xuesen's family entered Shenzhen from Hong Kong, which was a historic moment. After Qian Xuesen returned to China, he quickly threw himself into the research and development of cutting-edge science and technology for national defense, which enabled China's national defense undertaking to develop by leaps and bounds.
Foreigners once commented on the significance of Qian Xuesen's return to China: "It is Precisely Qian Xuesen's return to China to serve that has made the launch time of China's missiles and atomic bombs at least 20 years earlier." "After Qian Xuesen returned to China, the state attached great importance to it, but why did he arrive at the scene in 1956 when he received an invitation from Chairman Mao to attend a state banquet?
Qian Xuesen's family was on a cruise ship back to China
Everything still has to start with Qian Xuesen preparing to return to China. Qian Xuesen considered returning to China as early as 1949 when new China was founded, and at the same time, the United States saw the founding of New China and the successful explosion of atomic bombs by the Soviet Union, and increased the censorship of students from China.
In May 1950, the US Army, Navy and Air Force held a three-service personnel security conference to study the Qian Xuesen issue. At this meeting, Qian Xuesen was banned from participating in any project research of the US military and directly revoked his secret-related research license, and Qian Xuesen directly submitted his resignation to the California Institute of Technology.
After resigning, Qian Xuesen was ready to return to China, and he thought that he was not welcome here, plus he was not ready to stay in the United States forever. After being questioned by federal investigators, Qian Xuesen issued a statement:
"For more than 10 years, I have been a really welcome guest. I am also proud of this, and honestly, even without exaggeration, I believe that my visit will be beneficial to both sides, especially during the Second World War. Whether in wartime or after the war, I made a great contribution to the scientific development of this country. But now the originally popular status is gone, and a cloud of doubt hangs over the head. The only gentlemanly thing he could do next was to get out of here. ”
After the news of Qian Xuesen's preparation to return to China spread, it was opposed by the US military. After Qian Xuesen's good friend and Vice Admiral Kimpole failed in persuasion, he immediately sent a telegram to the Ministry of Justice, asking the government to prevent Qian Xuesen from returning to China, and uttered the widely circulated sentence: No matter where Qian Xuesen is, he can be worth 5 Marine Divisions, and he would rather shoot this guy than let him return to Red China.
Qian Xuesen at the USCIS hearing
From 1950 to 1955, Qian Xuesen was illegally detained by the United States for 5 years, and he did not stop asking for a return to China. During these five years, Premier Zhou repeatedly instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to win over Qian Xuesen and other international students to return to China. Negotiations between China and the United States began during the Geneva Conference in June 1954, and by August 1955 the two sides finally reached an agreement: China released 11 prisoners of the US military, and the United States allowed Qian Xuesen and other students to return to China.
As the chief representative of the Chinese delegation, Wang Bingnan was still full of emotion when recalling this period of history in his later years, saying:
"From April 26 to July 21, 1954, after the Geneva Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Korean Issue attended by the heads of state of China, the Soviet Union, the United States, Britain, and France, the Sino-US ambassadorial talks began on August 1, 1955, and on the one hand, Zhou Enlai ordered the early release of 11 American spies, including Arnold, who had been captured by our side during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, in July, and on the other hand sent people to negotiate with the United States on Qian Xuesen's return to China. In this case, the US government also allowed Qian Xuesen to return to China on August 1. ”
Soon, Qian Xuesen's family received a notice from the US Immigration Bureau that he was allowed to return to China. At the same time, guo Yonghuai, Wang Chengshu and other scientists were also able to return to China soon. Later, when Premier Zhou mentioned this matter, he said with emotion: "The Sino-US ambassadorial talks have not yet achieved substantive results, but we have made contacts on the issue of overseas Chinese between the two countries, and we want to return a Qian Xuesen." In this matter alone, the talks are also worthwhile and valuable. ”
On October 28, 1955, Qian Xuesen's family returned to Beijing and was arranged to stay at the Beijing Hotel on the same day. The next day, Qian Xuesen's family came to Tiananmen Square early in the morning. When he saw the five-star red flag on the flagpole fluttering in the wind, Qian Xuesen clenched his fists: "I am finally back." ”
Qian Xuesen's family and their father Qian Junfu took a group photo
On November 1, the Chinese Academy of Sciences held a grand welcome banquet for the Qian Xuesen family on the 7th floor of the Beijing Hotel. Almost all the scientists in Beijing came to the scene, and everyone warmly welcomed Qian Xuesen's family back to China. This scene made Qian Xuesen tear up in his eyes. On November 5, Vice Premier Chen Yi specially hosted a banquet for Qian Xuesen.
It was also at this banquet that Qian Xuesen was arranged to work in the Academy of Sciences, preparing for him to preside over and lead the research work on mechanics of the Academy of Sciences with Qian Weichang. In order to let Qian Xuesen familiarize himself with the domestic scientific research environment as soon as possible, the leaders of the Academy of Sciences arranged for Qian Xuesen to go to the northeast to investigate.
Qian Xuesen did not expect that the leaders of the Academy of Sciences did not expect that the trip to the northeast would change China's national defense cause, and eventually make "Dongfeng Express" famous all over the world. During his visit to Harbin, Qian Xuesen offered to visit the Harbin Military Engineering College, where he had two good friends, Zhuang Fenggan and Luo Shijun.
At that time, this military academy belonged to the national defense level of colleges and universities, and Qian Xuesen could not visit it for the time being. The entourage thought that Qian Xuesen's identity was very special, so he immediately reported to his superiors. Peng Dehuai, then minister of national defense, agreed, and he also asked Chen Geng, who was also the president, to rush back to Harbin from Beijing to participate in the reception.
Qian Xuesen received a high-standard reception, and during the banquet, Chen Geng suddenly asked: "Mr. Qian, foreigners are laughing at our failure to build missiles. "Qian Xuesen has suffered all kinds of unfair treatment in the United States, and his return to China is to hope that the motherland can become strong as soon as possible."
Chen Geng
Qian Xuesen immediately replied: "What can't be made by foreigners, we can build it Chinese!" Qian Xuesen's answer greatly inspired Chen Geng and was also highly valued by the Ministry of National Defense and the military. When Qian Xuesen had not yet returned from the northeast, Peng Dehuai, who was hospitalized, called the Academy of Sciences several times and asked if Qian Xuesen had returned.
Peng Dehuai was so anxious to see Qian Xuesen because, as the commander of the volunteer army, he was well aware of the gap between the volunteer army and the US military in weapons and equipment. Although the morale of the volunteer army was like a rainbow, the backwardness of the weapons caused great casualties, which made Peng Dehuai feel sad. On December 26, Qian Xuesen returned to Beijing. In the afternoon of the same day, Qian Xuesen, accompanied by Wu Youxun, vice president of the Academy of Sciences, came to the Peng Dehuai ward of Beijing Hospital.
As soon as they met, Peng Dehuai's frank character was revealed, and he said: "Mr. Qian, I am a soldier. I came to you today to talk about the war. We don't want to hit people, but if people call, we have to fight back. Can you see if we can first build a short-range missile, what kind of manpower and material resources are needed? How long does this take? ”
Qian Xuesen answered Peng Dehuai's question in detail, and finally said: "From the perspective of the United States, it took the military nearly 10 years from supporting the development of missiles to making the first one. I think we can be faster than them, and for 5 to 8 years I think it's entirely possible. ”
This conversation gave the military great confidence, and an important task soon fell on Qian Xuesen's shoulders. In January 1956, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee proposed the "National Agricultural Development Program (Draft) from 1956 to 1967", Chairman Mao decided to preside over the discussion, and Qian Xuesen and other scientists were invited to participate in the discussion.
Premier Zhou and Peng Dehuai
Before the meeting, Chairman Mao decided to talk to Qian Xuesen, which was the first time the two had met. That day, Qian Xuesen was very excited, and came to the Zhongnanhai Juxiang Bookstore early, and he found premier Zhou already waiting outside the door. As soon as he entered Chairman Mao's study, Premier Zhou smiled and said, "Chairman, the distinguished guest you have been looking forward to meeting for a long time has arrived." ”
When he first met Chairman Mao, Qian Xuesen was a little nervous. Chairman Mao stepped forward, held out his hand and clasped it tightly with Qian Xuesen, saying: "Comrade Xuesen, I have been waiting for you for a long time!" Our founder of engineering cybernetics and rocket expert. ”
Qian Xuesen was very excited: "I have long wanted to visit the chairman, mainly because I am afraid that you are too busy, so I dare not disturb you." Chairman Mao laughed and said, "You say no." I thought that you had just returned to China and had too many things to deal with, so I didn't dare to meet up too early. ”
Chairman Mao invited Qian Xuesen to sit down on the couch and held out five fingers to him: "I heard that the Americans compared you to five divisions. I see, for us you are much stronger than the 5 divisions. I am now studying your Engineering Cybernetics, which is very well written and will be used to guide the economic construction of our country. ”
Qian Xuesen was flattered and thanked him one after another, and on this day Chairman Mao also left Qian Xuesen at the Juxiang Bookstore for lunch. Originally, only one afternoon was scheduled for the meeting, but the meeting was full of speakers and the atmosphere was warm, and it had to be temporarily extended. Since dinner had not been prepared in advance, Premier Zhou proposed to take a little rest and eat snacks to continue the meeting at the meal point.
In the lounge next to the venue, Chairman Mao suddenly walked up to Qian Xuesen, and the two talked again. Chairman Mao said that the country is now very short of scientific and technological personnel, and hoped that Qian Xuesen could train more young scientific and technological personnel. Qian Xuesen said that he would do his best, and then the two talked about some natural science issues.
Qian Xuesen gave lessons to the students
In fact, Chairman Mao was very interested in natural science, and when Mao Anying and Mao Anqing were in the Soviet Union, he wrote to his two sons hoping that they would learn more about natural science. Chairman Mao asked Qian Xuesen: "Do you say that elementary particles are divisible?" I have seen a lot of information, you scientists say that elementary particles can no longer be divided, I see that elementary particles are also separable, do you believe it? ”
Qian Xuesen is not an expert in this area, replying: "At present, scientists believe that elementary particles are inseparable. Chairman Mao said: "From a philosophical point of view, matter is infinitely divisible. Elementary particles are also separable, divided into two, and the opposites are unified! ”
20 years later, the physics community confirmed Chairman Mao's judgment that elementary particles are also separable. In 1977, at the Seventh Annual Conference of the International Conference on Physics, the American Nobel Laureate in Physics, Glashow, made a speech in which he proposed: "Name the components of all the hypotheses that make up matter 'Maons' in honor of the late Chairman Mao Zedong, who has always advocated a deeper unity in nature." ”
Although this proposal was ultimately not realized, it is enough to show chairman Mao's emphasis on natural science. Qian Xuesen later recalled: "Chairman Mao made a very incisive exposition on the question of the infinite divisibility of matter from the height of materialistic dialectics. Chairman Mao brilliantly foresaw the development of high-energy physics 20 years later. ”
In his later years, Qian Xuesen vaguely remembered chairman Mao telling him: "We must understand that the things that are new and have the most vitality always grow up in the struggle against the old and decaying things." Shortly after the first meeting, Qian Xuesen received an invitation signed by Chairman Mao, inviting him to attend the group discussion of the second plenary session of the Second National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on February 1, 1956, and to attend the state banquet held at the Zhongnanhai Yinian Hall that evening.
In his later years, Qian Xuesen
Qian Xuesen opened the invitation and found himself seated at table 37. This was Qian Xuesen's first time to attend a state banquet, and on that day, Qian Xuesen wore a brand new Zhongshan suit and came to the venue to participate in the meeting. Qian Xuesen made a speech at the meeting, and based on his many years of experience working in the United States and from the perspective of scientific and technological workers, he made an objective analysis of China's science and technology and the training of young scientists at that time.
Qian Xuesen put forward his own views on the state's historical task of "catching up with the world's scientific level in twelve years", saying:
"I firmly believe that under the leadership of the Party, in the wave of building socialism throughout the country, some of the old habits of intellectuals will naturally be washed away. In addition, as long as we can learn, apply the best tool of scientific research- dialectical materialism, to business, can practice in depth, and gain sensitivity to new things and new environments, we will soon become active scientific and technological workers; At that time, our scientific and technological contingent will inevitably become an invincible army, and the task of catching up with the world's science and technology in twelve years will certainly be completed. ”
During Qian Xuesen's speech, Chairman Mao, Premier Zhou, and other party and state leaders kept nodding their heads. It was at this meeting that Qian Xuesen was co-opted as a member of the Second National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. This is a great honor, and Qian Xuesen deeply feels a heavy responsibility on his shoulders and is secretly determined to make contributions to the cause of national defense.
That night, after Qian Xuesen came to the Zhongnanhai Yinian Hall with an invitation card, an unexpected scene appeared. There were many tables at the banquet site, and Qian Xuesen came to the 37th table and turned around without finding that he did not have his own name tag. Did I get it wrong? Qian Xuesen opened the invitation letter and looked at it again, and he was arranged at the 37th table.
Chairman Mao and Qian Xuesen sat together
Qian Xuesen immediately asked the waiter on the side, and the other party was also confused. At this time, many invited personnel had already come to the scene, and just when Qian Xuesen was wondering, there was a warm applause at the scene, and it turned out that Chairman Mao, Premier Zhou, and other party and state leaders had come.
Chairman Mao saw Qian Xuesen in the distance and motioned for him to walk over. As soon as Qian Xuesen walked to his side, Chairman Mao said, "Comrade Xuesen, I have crossed out your name, please come to the First Table and sit next to me." Qian Xuesen looked at it, and on the seat on the right hand side of Chairman Mao's seat at table No. 1, he had his own name plate. When Qian Xuesen sat down next to Chairman Mao, he immediately became the focus of the scene, and everyone was touched by Chairman Mao's attention to scientists.
Originally, when Chairman Mao was reviewing the list of the first table, he specially drew Qian Xuesen's list from the 37th table to the first table, which shows the importance he attaches to Qian Xuesen. In the photos taken by the reporter, we saw that Qian Xuesen and Chairman Mao were smiling, and this scene became the most memorable moment in Qian Xuesen's life.
Soon after, Qian Xuesen received instructions from Premier Zhou and submitted to the state the "Opinions on the Establishment of China's National Defense Aviation Industry," formally proposing the guiding principles, organizational plans, development plans, and specific measures for developing China's missile technology.
Qian Xuesen's opinion was taken seriously by the highest level, Chairman Mao gave instructions, and soon the Aviation Industry Committee with Nie Rongzhen as its director was established, and Qian Xuesen was appointed as a member of the committee, which is the leading institution for missile and aeronautical scientific research. Immediately afterward, Qian Xuesen was appointed to set up China's first rocket and missile research institute, the Fifth Research Institute of the Ministry of National Defense, and served as its first president.
"Dongfeng-1" missile
Since then, the development of China's rocket and missile undertakings has embarked on the road of rapid development under the leadership of Qian Xuesen and others. In the beginning, the assistance of the Soviet Union was an important help to the start of research on sophisticated weapons for our national defense. However, as sino-Soviet contradictions intensified, the Soviet Union quickly cut off aid, withdrew all scientists and took away relevant technical information.
All this did not overwhelm the scientists represented by Qian Xuesen. In this regard, Chairman Mao also encouraged scientists: "We must make up our minds to engage in cutting-edge technology. Khrushchev does not give us cutting-edge technology, excellent! If given, this account is difficult to repay. Chairman Mao also repeatedly instructed that "the research and trial production of sophisticated weapons should still be carried out with great speed and should not be relaxed or dismounted." "We must vigorously coordinate to do a good job in this work."
Chairman Mao's concern and encouragement brought great confidence to Qian Xuesen and other scientists, and after that, China's missiles, atomic bombs, hydrogen bombs and other sophisticated weapons have been successful one after another, which has greatly enhanced China's international status. According to Qian Xuesen's recollection, before Chairman Mao's death, he was received by Chairman Mao six times.
On September 9, 1976, Chairman Mao passed away. Qian Xuesen was very sad and participated in the vigil of Chairman Mao for three consecutive days. On September 16, Qian Xuesen published a signed article in the People's Daily entitled "Never Forget Chairman Mao's Cordial Teachings", deeply remembering Chairman Mao's teachings to him:
"After returning to China, Chairman Mao personally taught me many times, pointed out the direction for me to continue to move forward, and each time added strength to me to climb the peak."
The honor guard of the three armed services carried Qian Xuesen's coffin
Qian Xuesen's contributions to China's national defense cause and to the development of sophisticated weapons have long been well known, but when he summed up the achievements he made in his life in his later years, he always modestly said that this was due to the leadership of the party, Chairman Mao, Premier Zhou, and others. On October 31, 2009, Qian Xuesen, the "father of China's aerospace", "the father of China's missiles", "the father of China's automation control" and the "king of Chinese rockets", died in Beijing at the age of 98.
The day after Qian Xuesen's death, heavy snow fell in Beijing, and God also mourned the loss of a people's scientist. I would like to pay tribute to Qian Xuesen with this article.