“People’s China is my forever home”

On October 1, 1949, the founding of the People’s Republic of China made Qian Xuesen, a guest in the United States, very emotional. After more than 10 years of hard preparation, it finally came to an end. It’s time to serve the motherland. He said to his wife Jiang Ying: "The motherland has been liberated, and it's time for us to go back."

At that time, Qian Xuesen was already a world-famous scientist, and his wife Jiang Ying was also well-known in the music industry. But the call of the motherland made them give up everything superior without hesitation.

In August 1950, Qian Xuesen and his family were preparing to leave the United States on a Canadian flight. However, the U.S. Department of Defense detained him through customs on trumped-up charges. Afterwards, the U.S. Department of Justice signed an arrest warrant, and Qian Xuesen lost his freedom.

During more than 10 years of working in the United States, Qian Xuesen made important contributions to the development of American aviation and rocket technology. American columnist Milton Vioest once wrote: "Money is a bright star in the galaxy of scientists who have helped the United States become the world's leading military power." Therefore, when it was learned that Qian Xuesen was going to return to China, the U.S. Navy Department The deputy minister immediately called the Ministry of Justice: "Don't let Qian Xuesen return to China no matter what, he is too valuable!" "I would rather kill him than let him return to China."

Qian Xuesen did not give in. During the days when he lost his freedom, he continued his scientific research on the one hand, and on the other hand, he persisted in fighting and looking for an opportunity to return to his country. In May 1955, he read a report from an overseas Chinese newspaper about China's celebration of May Day Labor Day. It included news that his family's familiar family friend Chen Shutong and Chairman Mao reviewed the parade at the Tiananmen Gate Tower.

Qian Xuesen immediately wrote a letter to Chen Shutong requesting the motherland to help him return to the country. He inserted it into a letter written by Jiang Ying to her sister in Belgium and sent it quietly. On the day Chen Shutong received the letter, he sent it to Premier Zhou Enlai. At that time, China and the United States were holding ambassadorial-level talks in Geneva. Ambassador Wang Bingnan negotiated with the US side in accordance with the Prime Minister's instructions. At first, the United States did not admit that it had detained any Chinese citizens, but when Ambassador Wang produced Qian Xuesen's letter, the United States was speechless. In the end, the U.S. government had no choice but to allow Qian Xuesen to return to China.

During his 20 years in the United States, Qian Xuesen has always retained his Chinese nationality. He recalled: "I have been in the United States for so long, and I never thought about staying there for the rest of my life. What I say is well-founded. Because in the United States, when a person works, he always has to save part of his income. Insurance company for later life. Many people find it strange that I don’t save a single dollar, because I am Chinese and have no intention of living in the United States for the rest of my life. ”

In 1955. In September, Qian Xuesen and his family boarded the ship Cleveland President to return to China. Before leaving, he went to say goodbye to his teacher, the world's master of mechanics and the father of American supersonics, von Kármán, and gave his new book "Engineering Cybernetics" to the teacher. After reading the book, Von Karman said to Qian Xuesen: "You have surpassed me academically now!"

"Foreigners can make it, China can also make it"

After suffering , Qian Xuesen returned to his motherland.

The next morning after arriving in Beijing, he led his family to Tiananmen Square. Looking up at the majestic Tiananmen Square and the five-star red flag flying high, he was extremely excited.

In 1947, Qian Xuesen returned to China to visit relatives and gave lectures on engineering and engineering science at the then Zhejiang University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Tsinghua University, which caused a sensation. The Kuomintang government repeatedly tried to persuade him to stay, but seeing the chaotic situation at that time, he refused and returned to the United States. Now, with the birth of New China, his ideal of a powerful country can finally be realized.

Soon after returning to China, the organization arranged for Qian Xuesen to visit Northeast China. Along the way, he visited newly built factories, hydropower stations, universities, and research institutes. From the great achievements made in the six years since the founding of New China, Qian Xuesen personally felt the power of the Communist Party of China to lead China, and further strengthened his belief in serving the country.

During the visit, Qian Xuesen visited Harbin Military Engineering Institute. General Chen Geng rushed from Beijing to the academy to receive him.

Chen Geng said to Qian Xuesen enthusiastically: "Harbin Military Industry opened its door to welcome Mr. Qian Xuesen." When visiting a small rocket test bed, Chen Geng asked him: "Can we build rockets and missiles?" Qian Xuesen replied without thinking: "What can't be done? If foreigners can build it, China can also build it!"

Chen Geng laughed loudly after hearing this, held Qian Xuesen's hand excitedly and said, "That's what I want from you!" Afterwards, Qian Xuesen learned that Chen Geng made a special trip with the instructions of Defense Minister Peng Dehuai. I came to ask him about this.

After returning to Beijing, Qian Xuesen made a proposal to the Chinese Academy of Sciences to establish an Institute of Mechanics after careful consideration. One month later, the Institute of Mechanics was established, with Qian Xuesen as director. Encouraged by Premier Zhou Enlai, he drafted the "Opinion Paper on Establishing my country's Defense Aviation Industry" and proposed the organizational plan, development plan and specific measures for my country's rocket and missile industry. Qian Xuesen's opinion letter received great attention from the Party Central Committee. Premier Zhou Enlai personally presided over a meeting of the Central Military Commission and decided to establish the National Aviation Industry Commission. At the same time, he ordered Qian Xuesen to establish my country's first rocket and missile research institute, the Fifth Research Institute of the Ministry of National Defense.