Today is a day to remember, in memory of a national hero.
He is known as the "father of China's aerospace", "the father of China's missiles" and "the king of rockets", and has pushed forward the development of China's missiles and atomic bombs for at least 20 years.
He is a world-renowned scientist, and the undersecretary of the US Navy even said:"I'd rather shoot him than let him go back to China, he alone is worth 5 divisions. ”
Ralph Rapp, a member of the Manhattan Project in the United States, even said:"What the Chinese have achieved and what they may achieve in the future cannot be attributed to his leading role. ”
In the eyes of his wife, he was a man who valued the interests and honor of the motherland, the nation above all else"It can be said that he is a Chinese who is loyal to the country and full of national integrity. ”
He also has a tender side, and he has been with his childhood sweetheart for 62 years, and he is harmonious.
He is Qian Xuesen.
Today is the 112th anniversary of Qian Xuesen's birth, let's take a look at how legendary Qian Xuesen's life is
I was lucky to meet Jiang Ying".
Qian Xuesen and his wife Jiang Ying almost became brother and sister.
The Qian family and the Jiang family are world friends. The Jiang family has five daughters, and the Qian family only has one son, Qian Xuesen, so Qian Xuesen's parents begged the Jiang family to pass on their third daughter, Jiang Ying.
The Jiang family agreed, and Jiang Ying changed her name to "Qian Xueying" and lived in the Qian family.
It didn't take long for Jiang Ying's parents to regret it, and they wanted to take Jiang Ying back.
Qian's mother said yes, but she had to make a deal with her:
"Jiang Ying has grown up, and she will have to be my daughter-in-law in the future. ”
Unexpectedly, it was just a joke at the time, but in the end, it became reality.
When the two grew up, they went to their own ideals, Qian Xuesen went to the United States to study aerospace engineering, and Jiang Ying went to Germany to specialize in vocal music.
It's been 12 years since we met again.
At this time, Qian Xuesen became the youngest tenured professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and he was full of spirit. Jiang Ying has also become a rookie in the world music scene, and her amazing singing skills have become a sensation.
After returning to China, Qian Xuesen often went to Jiang Ying's house to play, saying that he was coming to visit Aunt Jiang, but in fact he was going to see Jiang Ying.
But he doesn't know how to be romantic, he doesn't know how to chase girls, and he doesn't know how to send some flowers every time he comes, and finally he can't hold it back, and suddenly comes out: "You go to the United States with me." ”
Jiang Ying's eyes widened in surprise and asked him, "Why did you go to the United States with you?"I'm going to be alone for a while, so let's talk first. ”
After being rejected, Qian Xuesen didn't say anything else, and kept saying the same sentence over and over again: "No, leave now, follow me to the United States." ”
After saying it a few times, Jiang Ying "surrendered".
Six weeks later, the two got married in a grand wedding at the Peace Hotel in Shanghai.
After coming to the United States, Qian Xuesen bought Jiang Ying a black grand piano and placed it in the most conspicuous place in the living room.
Both of them like **, and as soon as they were happy, Qian Xuesen took out his flute and said to Jiang Ying: "Let's cooperate." Jiang Ying began to play the piano to his rhythm.
In the five years that Qian Xuesen was *** by the United States, the two survived the long and difficult night together in the graceful **.
Later, the piano crossed the ocean from the United States to China, and stayed with them until old age.
In 1992, on Jiang Ying's birthday, Qian Xuesen smiled and said to the friends present: "I am very lucky, my wife is several years younger than me." ”
After saying that, he took her shoulder, took her hand, and hugged each other amid the laughter of everyone.
Previously, Qian Xuesen always said when talking about Jiang Ying to the people around him:
How blessed I am to meet Jiang Ying!”
Whenever Qian Xuesen encountered a problem at work and couldn't figure it out, Qian Xuesen would listen to Jiang Ying's singing, and when he listened, his thoughts suddenly became clear.
In their later years, they were still in love.
Qian Xuesen has been bedridden for many years and has difficulty moving, so Jiang Ying went to accept the award on his behalf.
Before going out, Jiang Ying jokingly said, "I'm going to collect the bonus on your behalf." ”
Qian Xuesen took her words and expressed his love to her: "Well, you want 'money', I want 'Jiang'!."”
As soon as the words fell, the two laughed like children.
In the end, all the prize money with love was donated.
When he became famous, he never forgot his wife's silent efforts behind the scenes.
In 1991, Qian Xuesen was awarded the title of "National Scientist with Outstanding Contributions", which is a huge honor, and he is still the only one to receive this honor.
At the award ceremony, he expressed his deep gratitude to Jiang Ying:
Everyone knows what I do, but what does my wife do?I'm going to explain it to you. My wife mainly teaches classical art songs, and I will not forget the understanding and support she has given me over the decades. ”
From childhood sweethearts to husband and wife, and then to growing old together, the two have been together for 62 years, experienced hardships, enjoyed glory, and worked together in warmth and happiness for a lifetime.
I will do my best to let the Chinese people live a dignified and happy life."
In September 1955, after being placed under house arrest by the United States for five years, Qian Xuesen finally embarked on the road back to China.
While waiting for the cruise ship at the port of Los Angeles, the American reporter asked Qian Xuesen if he planned to return to the United States.
Qian Xuesen showed a firm expression:
"I won't come back, I have no reason to come back. In the future, I intend to do my best to help the Chinese people build their own country so that they can live a dignified and happy life. ”
Since then, he has shed his blood on the road to serve the country and the people.
In China in the fifties of the last century, the industrial base was so weak that it could not even build a tractor, let alone a missile.
General Chen Geng asked Qian Xuesen with some concern: "Is it okay for the Chinese to build missiles on their own?"”
Just returned from the United States, Qian Xuesen was holding his breath:
"What's not to do?What foreigners can do, Chinese can also do, is it possible that Chinese are shorter than foreigners?”
Hearing this, Chen Geng was excited, and stepped forward to hold Qian Xuesen's hand: "What I want is your words." ”
In the predicament of foreign technology blockade, Qian Xuesen led everyone to be self-reliant.
In 1960, when Sino-Soviet relations broke down, the Soviet Union withdrew all its experts in China, and before leaving, it said: "Without us, China would not be able to build missiles at all." ”
Qian Xuesen did not believe in evil and often encouraged scientific and technological personnel: "The Soviet Union can engage in missiles and rockets, why can't we do it?"”
On June 29, 1964, under the leadership of Qian Xuesen, China's first self-designed and manufactured "Dongfeng-2" missile was successfully launched.
More than three months later, China's first atomic bomb was successfully launched**, and a mushroom cloud rising from Lop Nur in Xinjiang shocked the world.
But in addition to being shocked, Western countries did not forget to ridicule our atomic bomb as a "bullet without a gun".
Because our atomic bomb was detonated on the top of a 102-meter-high iron tower, it is difficult to deter enemies from afar without a means of delivery.
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense McNamara predicted that China: "It is impossible to build a delivery vehicle within five years, and it will take at least ten years to master missile nuclear **."
However, he still underestimated Qian Xuesen's ability.
As early as before the first atomic bomb, Qian Xuesen put forward the idea of "combining the two bombs" with an advanced vision, that is, atomic bomb + missile = nuclear missile.
Under the planning and auspices of Qian Xuesen, in 1966, China's nuclear missile was successfully launched at the Gansu Experimental Base, accurately hitting the bullseye of the impact area of Lop Nur 894 kilometers away.
Then, Qian Xuesen took on the important task of combining missiles with hydrogen bombs and trial-produced Chinese thermonuclear missiles.
On December 27, 1968, China's first thermonuclear missile was successfully tested.
Since then, China has completely mastered nuclear missile and thermonuclear missile technology, completely shattered the predictions of Westerners, and has become a world-recognized nuclear power.
Under Qian Xuesen's leadership, New China's "two bombs and one satellite" cause has made significant progress one after another.
After the successful launch of the nuclear missile, China joined the team of space explorers by launching artificial satellites.
On April 24, 1970, China successfully launched its first artificial satellite, Dongfanghong-1, which meant that China's rocket technology reached a new level.
In addition, Qian Xuesen has always been concerned about education, and a large number of aerospace science and technology talents he has cultivated have become his top people.
In the fifties of the last century, when Qian Xuesen was teaching in the Department of Mechanics of the University of Science and Technology of China, he found that many of his classmates in the Department of Mechanics were poor and could not afford to buy the necessary slide rule for their majors.
Seeing this situation, he felt quite heavy.
Immediately, he did not hesitate to take out the 10,000 yuan prize he had won and assigned each student a slide rule.
In guiding and leading various major tasks, in order to give full play to the talents of technical personnel, let them throw away their worries and make bold innovations, he will always say to everyone sincerely
"If your suggestion succeeds, the credit goes to everyone;Failure, the responsibility is on me. ”
Under Qian Xuesen's careful cultivation and edification, a large number of pillars emerged, and many of them later served as the chief designers and commanders of various types of missiles, rockets, satellites, and spacecraft, and became the best people in China's aerospace industry.
As far as China is concerned, Qian Xuesen is exactly what *** said to him at the beginning:
"I heard that the Americans treat you as five divisions, and I think you are much more powerful than five divisions to us. ”
My home is in China".
My career is in China, my achievements are in China, and my destination is in China, and I will do my best for the prosperity and strength of the socialist motherland. ”
Patriotism is a footnote to Qian Xuesen's life.
He studied and worked in the United States for 20 years, and he did not miss his motherland for a moment.
In the U.S., when a person joins the workforce, he or she saves part of his earnings to an insurance company for retirement.
Qian Xuesen didn't save a penny, and the people around him felt strange when they heard it, he only said:"It's not strange because I'm Chinese and don't plan to live in the United States for the rest of my life. ”
In the fifties of the last century, the United States gave him an annual salary of tens of thousands of dollars, and in the face of high salaries and favorable living conditions, he never thought of staying there.
Qian Xuesen has done his best to build New China, but he has always been very humble.
He didn't like to be called the "father of missiles" and "the father of astronautics", and in his opinion, he was just "a drop in the ocean, very small." ”
Missile and space flight is the cause of tens of thousands of people, not just one or two who can succeed in it, and all achievements are attributed to the party and the collective. ”
He shared weal and woe with the soldiers, and did not have the slightest frame of a great leader.
In the test of thermonuclear missiles, the hoisting and docking of nuclear warheads are the most dangerous links, and the slightest carelessness will endanger lives.
Qian Xuesen has been guarding the missile from beginning to end, and he will not leave no matter how much the staff persuades him.
He said:"If I hide far away in the face of danger, what do other soldiers think?”
This move gave great confidence to the front-line soldiers, and the soldiers all said: "When we are rich and always in front of us, we are steadfast in our hearts and have strength in our bodies." ”
"Don't seek profit in one body, and seek profit in the world." ”
This is Qian's family motto, and it is also Qian Xuesen's consistent way of life.
Qian Xuesen is indifferent to fame and fortune, noble conduct, and has donated manuscript fees, lecture fees and bonuses many times in his life, the largest one is 1 million yuan, and this huge bonus has not even passed through his hands, and he directly entrusted the secretary to donate to the ** Association for promoting the development of the sand industry.
He lived a very simple life. ** Praised Qian Xuesen:"He always worked hard, lived a hard and simple life, and never cared about personal gains and losses. ”
During the country's three-year economic hardship, the whole society lacked materials, and Qian Xuesen's family was no exception.
Once, a batch of pork was transferred into the hospital, and the ** office specially asked the cook to give half of the pig to Qian Xuesen's family.
The cook saw that Qian Xuesen was tired from work, coupled with malnutrition, and the whole person lost a lot of weight, and he was very distressed, so he made a big pot of braised pork for Qian Xuesen.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he brought the dishes to the table, Qian Xuesen's face changed instantly, and he was so angry:
"Do you know that now the people of the whole country are living in difficulty, tightening their belts, and they don't even eat meat anymore, and you actually make braised pork for me, and your party spirit has gone to **?”
In his later years, Qian Xuesen was sick in bed, but he still insisted on reading books and newspapers every day, learning about cutting-edge scientific knowledge, and caring about the fate of the country and the people.
Qian Xuesen has won numerous awards and honors in his life, but in his heart:
"If the people are finally satisfied with the work we have done in life, that is the highest reward.
On October 1, 2009, the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Second Artillery Corps' "Dongfeng-31-A" intercontinental nuclear missile squadron appeared in Tiananmen Square, which immediately attracted the attention of the world.
The maximum range of the Dongfeng-31-A ICBM is more than 11,000 kilometers. This means that China can drop nuclear bombs to any corner of the earth, which is China's "killer weapon" and the "trump card" of China's hard power.
This important force of China's national defense embodies Qian Xuesen's wisdom and contributions.
In 1956, when Qian Xuesen proposed the formation of a "rocket force", China did not have missiles.
And 60 years later, on December 31, 2015, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Rocket Force was officially established, and China had its own strategic missile forces.
The long sword of a great country, the mighty east wind.
China's strong national defense force makes foreign countries dare not attack.
It is precisely because Qian Xuesen has always put the country and the national righteousness first, and selflessly dedicated his life to the motherland, that we have a peaceful and stable today.
A Chinese student once asked Qian Xuesen: "Why did you choose the path of returning to the motherland?"”
Qian Xuesen replied
In the nearly 100 years since the Opium War, the Chinese people have dreamed of strengthening the country and struggled continuously. The revolutionary martyrs sacrificed their precious lives for the rejuvenation of the country and the dream of a strong country for the descendants of Yan and Huang, and the blood fertile the hot land of China. ”
Personally, as a member of the descendants of Yan and Huang, I can only follow the footsteps of the martyrs, explore and pursue in the midst of thousands of hardships and dangers, and cannot take into account anything else. ”
Let's take a look at how many ups and downs the founders and builders of the republic, on the barren land that is in ruins, withstanding domestic poverty and foreign blockades, and letting a socialist new China stand tall in the east of the world. ”
Thinking of this, what personal interests should not be thrown away?”
Serve the country with one heart, return to the country in five years, and make two bombs in ten years.
Like those ancestors who have been the successors of the motherland for generations, Qian Xuesen has spent his life casting the shield of the motherland's gate and guarding the stable life of hundreds of millions of Chinese people, so that the Chinese has gained dignity and stood up its backbone.
The people he guarded on this hot land will always remember him and respect him.