In 1960, Chairman Mao summoned Qian Xuesen and handed him a cigarette. However, just when Qian Xuesen reached out to pick it up, he suddenly took it back and said seriously: "Self-reliance!"

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Preface

960, Chairman Mao summoned Qian Xuesen and handed him a cigarette. However, just when Qian Xuesen reached out to pick up the cigarette, he suddenly took it back and said seriously: "Self-reliance!"

Qian Xuesen suddenly tense his body and said firmly: "I will live up to the Chairman's instructions!"

What is going on? What is the profound meaning of Chairman Mao’s explanation?

Chairman Mao and Qian Xuesen

1. Self-reliance

On July 16, 1960, the Soviet Union withdrew all experts who assisted in the research of missile in our country and took away all previous research materials.

This is a critical period for my country's missile research. We who are already feeling the stones across the river undoubtedly cannot afford this kind of change, and my country's missile research has also fallen into a state of shutdown.

Chairman Mao was very concerned about this matter, so he urgently summoned Qian Xuesen, who was then the director of the Fifth Research Institute of the Ministry of National Defense and specialized in rocket and missile research, to discuss the future path of my country's missile development.

Qian Xuesen was also very troubled by this matter at the time. The scientific research strength within the institute is seriously insufficient, and it is obviously impossible to support such a huge project.

Therefore, when Chairman Mao summoned Qian Xuesen, Qian Xuesen was also very nervous and didn't know how to reply to the Chairman's current situation. After all, he made a promise by patting his chest.

Chairman Mao

Chairman Mao's eyes were so keen that he could see Qian Xuesen's concerns at a glance. In order to calm Qian Xuesen's emotions, Chairman Mao handed him the cigarette in his hand.

Qian Xuesen saw this and hurriedly reached out to take it. Unexpectedly, Chairman Mao's move was a frightened shot, and then he took the cigarette back, looking at Qian Xuesen with a torch and said, "Self-reliance!"

Qian Xuesen was a little stunned at first, not knowing what the Chairman's move was intended, but when he heard the Chairman's words, his body suddenly shook, and countless thoughts suddenly burst into his mind.

Yes, did the Soviet Union withdraw missile experts and there was no talent in our country who could take the lead?

Even if there is no help from the Soviet Union now, who can conclude that our country cannot study missiles?

Qian Xuesen

Self-reliance! No one can't leave anyone. Since the Soviet Union does not help, we will do it ourselves. One day we can also develop missiles, proving that our country is no worse than foreign countries!

In fact, when Qian Xuesen just returned to China, he wrote an opinion on China's science and technology undertakings based on his knowledge and experiences, and handed it to the central government.

In this opinion book, Qian Xuesen once put forward the idea of ​​self-reliance in scientific research. Even if external assistance is needed to promote domestic scientific and technological development, it should be controlled and cannot be over-reliable.

"Self-reliance as the main focus, striving to support foreign aid", this idea coincides with the scientific research strategy formulated by our country at that time.

Qian Xuesen

Now being pointed out by the Chairman, Qian Xuesen suddenly realized that he clenched his fists with his hands and said firmly:

"The Chairman is right! We can also build missiles by ourselves! There is nothing scary about this! Xuesen will live up to the Chairman's instructions!"

Chairman Mao laughed and patted Qian Xuesen's arm and said, "Okay, with you leading everyone to do research, I believe you will succeed and do better!"

Qian Xuesen bid farewell to Chairman Mao and devoted himself to the missile industry. He guided scientific researchers with amazing perseverance and vision, laying immortal achievements for our country's missile industry.

"Dongfeng No. 1" missile

11 On November 5, 1960, a red tail flame broke through the wind and sand of the Gobi Desert soared into the sky, and then there was a cheer that resounded through the sky like a tide.

China's first missile was successfully launched!

However, Qian Xuesen did not stop there. He knew that there were still many places in our country that needed to be improved, so he continued to devote himself to the research and development of atomic bomb .

On October 16, 1964, China's first atomic bomb exploded successfully !

atomic bomb explosion

Chairman Mao was very happy from the bottom of his heart and said bluntly that Qian Xuesen did not disappoint his guarantee. "This battle" was fought very beautifully, providing great help to our country's national defense construction.

Then on December 26 of the same year, Chairman Mao invited various talents to share their joy on the grounds of his birthday. Qian Xuesen was also invited and sat at the same table with the chairman at the banquet.

So, what happened during the banquet?

Chairman Mao

2. Banquet

This banquet was organized by Chairman Mao at his own expense. You should know how noble Chairman Mao’s identity was at that time. It was a great honor to be able to eat at the same table with Chairman Mao.

Qian Xuesen sat next to Chairman Mao and was a little embarrassed. Although he had had a dining table with Chairman Mao once, that was a few years ago, and now he was inevitably a little nervous.

After the banquet started, in order to ease the tense atmosphere of the people present, Chairman Mao took the lead in raising a glass to everyone and said humorously:

"I used my royalties to treat everyone to a meal. My children did not come, and they were not qualified. There are workers, farmers, scientists, and the People's Liberation Army here. Not only do they eat, but they also have to talk!"

Chairman Mao met with the masses

During the meal, Chairman Mao pulled Qian Xuesen's He said earnestly: "You are an expert in missiles. The country still needs your intelligence to combine our atomic bomb missiles as soon as possible!"

Qian Xuesen replied modestly: "I am still far from the requirements of the party and the people, and I dare not call myself an expert, but the country needs me, so I will do my best!"

Then Chairman Mao talked with Qian Xuesen for a long time. During this period, Chairman Mao also put forward higher requirements for Qian Xuesen in terms of political education of proletariat.

Qian Xuesen

Afterward Qian Xuesen recalled:

"Chairman Mao cares about me very much and personally gave me an important material. I understand Chairman Mao's profound meaning, and I want me to realize that it is impossible for intellectuals to not follow the path of socialism. There is no way out for regression or pause."

This is not the first time Chairman Mao has treated Qian Xuesen so well. Previously, when Chairman Mao was hosting a banquet for CPPCC members , he sat with Qian Xuesen and almost made a mistake.

What's going on?

CPPCC meeting

1956, during the CPPCC meeting, Chairman Mao personally hosted a banquet in Huairen Hall in Beijing to entertain the participants, and Qian Xuesen was invited to the banquet.

According to the personnel arrangement at that time, Qian Xuesen should have been arranged at table No. 37, but when Qian Xuesen arrived at the scene, he could not find his name.

Qian Xuesen was confused and wondered if the staff were careless and forgot about himself?

At this moment, the staff member on the side came to him and said kindly: "Comrade Qian Xuesen, your previous position has been temporarily cancelled. Please come with me."

Qian Xuesen was a little confused when he heard this. This was a banquet organized by Chairman Mao. The list of attendees and seat arrangements have been screened layer by layer. Who has such a right to be transferred?

Qian Xuesen

Under the leadership of the staff, Qian Xuesen actually came to the table No. 1. Qian Xuesen looked at the seat sign on table No. 1 and suddenly realized. His name was placed next to Chairman Mao's position.

Qian Xuesen's heart tightened and hurriedly said to the staff: "Are you wrong? How can I sit with the Chairman? Isn't this a terrible thing?"

The staff was about to explain, but Chairman Mao had already arrived in front of Qian Xuesen. Chairman Mao held Qian Xuesen's hand and said gently:

"Comrade Xuesen, your original seat was cancelled by me. This matter is a bit sudden. Just sit by my side with peace of mind. I have a lot of things to ask you."

It turned out that before the banquet, Chairman Mao deliberately changed Qian Xuesen's position, but suddenly there was no way to notify the incident in time, so such a miserable scene happened.

Chairman Mao invited Qian Xuesen to a banquet at

This banquet was at the level of a state banquet. All the national senior officials who could sit with the chairman were senior national officials. As a scientific researcher, Qian Xuesen was able to receive this honor and instantly became the focus of the banquet.

Qian Xuesen had never seen such a scene, so he was very nervous and hurriedly said to Chairman Mao in a low voice: "Chairman, it may not be appropriate for me to sit here, I am really a little nervous."

Chairman Mao smiled and patted Qian Xuesen's arm, signaling Qian Xuesen not to be nervous, and then said : "Just treat it as eating at home, there is nothing wrong with it, don't be restrained."

Since the chairman has spoken in person, asking for a change of seats will not be shameful to the Chairman, and it will make the Chairman unable to come to Taiwan. Qian Xuesen sat down with peace of mind.

Looking back at Qian Xuesen and Chairman Mao’s first meeting, perhaps the fate between the two had been confirmed long ago...

Chairman Mao met with Qian Xuesen

3. The road to return to China

1955, Qian Xuesen led his family through untold hardships, and finally overcame the many obstacles set up by the United States and successfully returned to the motherland that he had been thinking about day and night.

Under the wave of the times at that time, my country had a huge demand for intellectuals, especially world-renowned scientists like Qian Xuesen, who were indispensable for my country's national defense construction.

Therefore, when Qian Xuesen returned to China successfully, he was highly valued by our party and the national government. As a world-leading talent in the field of missiles, Qian Xuesen's life is destined to be unorthodox.

1956, under the arrangement of Premier Zhou Enlai, Qian Xuesen and Chairman Mao met in Juxiang Bookstore . This was the first time that the two met. The content of their conversation had a profound impact on my country's national defense.

Chairman Mao met with Qian Xuesen

"Ah! Comrade Qian Xuesen, I have been waiting for you for a long time! The founder and rocket expert of our engineering cybernetics !" Chairman Mao said, holding Qian Xuesen's hand.

This is the first time Qian Xuesen met Chairman Mao and said somewhat restrainedly: "I want to come to visit the Chairman too. I am afraid that you are too busy, so I dare not disturb you."

Chairman Mao said approachably: "You said it's against you! It's because I considered that you just returned to China and there must be a lot of things to deal with, so I dare not make an appointment too early."

Qian Xuesen is inevitable that he is nervous and restrained. After all, the person in front of him is the leader of a country, but fortunately, Chairman Mao's attitude is gentle and friendly, and Qian Xuesen gradually relaxed.

Chairman Mao

Then Chairman Mao also solemnly asked Qian Xuesen: "The country is ready to organize missile research in various disciplines and departments based on your theory. Do you have confidence?"

Qian Xuesen had long expected this situation, but he still said with a humble attitude: "Chairman, the country has handed over such an important task to On my hands, I'm afraid I can't do it well. "

"Nothing is difficult in the world, as long as I'm willing to climb." Chairman Mao waved his hand and said firmly: "You are a well-known expert in the field of missiles. I believe you can do it with confidence and boldness, but you're still afraid of it not doing it well!"

Qian Xuesen was flattered and hurriedly promised the Chairman: "Xuesen will definitely keep in mind the Chairman's teachings, work hard for the country and the people, and develop our own missiles."

Chairman Mao was also very excited. He said "OK" three times in a row, and took Qian Xuesen's hand to discuss some other issues.

Qian Xuesen's "Opinions on Aerospace Industry"

This opinion is a suggestion made by Qian Xuesen on my country's national defense construction based on engineering cybernetics.