Chapter 31 4. Eliminate unrest and interference

During the ten years of turmoil, Zhou Enlai and other proletarian revolutionaries of the older generation took a series of protection measures for the nuclear industry, and fought against the interference and sabotage of the Lin Biao and Jiang Qing counter-revolutionary cliques, enabling the nuclear industry to continue to develop despite the turmoil . In the spring of 1967, the nuclear industry was affected by the storm of the general seizure of power and the armed struggle between the two factions. Liu Jie, the head of the Second Machinery Department, had "stepped aside".Seizing power, fighting, and even suspending production took place in many factories and research institutions successively. The lives of the majority of employees were affected and the safety of the factories was threatened.In response to this situation, during the eight and a half months from mid-March to the end of November 1967, Zhou Enlai personally called many times and issued 11 urgent telegrams, clearly stating that these units "are important national defense top-secret factories, It is of great significance to national defense construction and strengthening of combat readiness", and it is necessary to "guarantee the absolute safety of the factory and ensure the stable production of the factory".He also sent investigation teams (teams) twice to the atomic energy complex and the nuclear weapons development base to understand the situation, stop the fighting, and maintain normal production.All these protective measures have played a major role in the nuclear industry being able to carry out work as planned for a considerable period of time after the "Cultural Revolution".

In 1969, Lin Biao and his gang took advantage of the so-called preparations for war and decided to relocate the nuclear fuel plant.Reactors and nuclear fuel reprocessing plants are highly radioactive and cannot be relocated at all, and the relocation of other nuclear plants will inevitably interrupt production.The nuclear industry faces a catastrophe. On August 12, 1969, Zhou Enlai presided over a special committee to discuss this issue. He pointed out tit for tat: "The first-line factories cannot be moved, they must continue to produce, step up production, and strive to produce more and reserve more." This correct policy determined by Zhou Enlai avoids To avoid the fatal damage that relocation may bring to the nuclear industry.

From the beginning of 1970 to 1974, especially in the last two years, Zhou Enlai's situation became more and more difficult.On the one hand, the persecution of him by the "Gang of Four" became more and more crazy;However, for the prosperity of the nation and the security and prosperity of the country, Zhou Enlai, with his overwhelming heroism and perseverance, endured the pressure of the "Gang of Four", endured illness, and presided over the party and the country amidst the turmoil in the country. important task.In this critical situation, he still squeezed out precious time and continued to work hard for the development of my country's cutting-edge cause.During this period of time, he overcame many difficulties, personally presided over more than 20 special committee meetings, and made a series of major decision-making instructions on the development of various fields of cutting-edge industries in our country.These instructions, until today, still have practical guiding significance. In February, July, and November 1970, he pointed out three times that my country would build nuclear power plants and rely on the development of nuclear power to solve the electricity problem in Shanghai.

On March 31 and April 12, 1974, Zhou Enlai personally presided over the last special committee meeting before his death. It can be seen that he endured great illness with amazing perseverance to preside over this meeting.Perhaps he has estimated that the time to attend the special committee meeting is running out. At this meeting, he gave a long speech and put forward many valuable opinions on the development of my country's cutting-edge undertakings. On March 31, Zhou Enlai presided over the special committee to review and approve the construction plan of the Shanghai Nuclear Power Plant Project (now the Zhejiang Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant), requiring absolute safety and reliability, and instructing relevant departments to select good designers to support Shanghai. He set up a red and professional technical team; he asked the Second Ministry of Machinery, the Seventh Ministry of Machinery, the National Defense Science and Technology Commission, and the National Defense Industry Office to sum up experience and assign special personnel to handle this matter; Anti-corrosion and anti-weathering; he is very concerned about the treatment of "three wastes" (waste residue, waste liquid, waste gas), inquired about various treatment plans in detail, and gave instructions one by one; he emphasized that we must think of the 21st and 22nd centuries, and we must For the sake of future generations; and pointed out that the cutting-edge scientific research team has been messed up by Lin Biao and his gang, and it needs to be rectified and grasped from the system.

After Zhou Enlai's repeated instructions, the relevant factories, institutes (institutes) and colleges of the First Ministry of Machinery, the Ministry of Water and Electricity, Shanghai, and the Second Ministry of Machinery have done a lot of work in scientific research and design, equipment trial production and component development.However, due to ten years of turmoil, it was impossible for the country to have a clear policy and comprehensive plan for nuclear power construction, and it was difficult for all relevant parties to coordinate their actions. "(Today's Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant) never used a shovel or a pick during the "Cultural Revolution".

On April 12, when Zhou Enlai presided over a special committee meeting to review another project, he mentioned again that to eliminate the influence of Lin Biao's counter-revolutionary clique, to overcome factionalism, to fight against factionalism, and to take measures to rectify it.He listened to the report on the engineering design in detail and sharply criticized the original design plan.He pointed out that it is very dangerous to fix the site without drilling, without knowing the hydrology and geology; he believes that it is a serious mistake to make the design of "connecting the inside and outside of the cave" and "matching each other"; he warned everyone earnestly In the future, we must pay attention to the problem of water consumption when we engage in basic construction.He said that if the water is pumped too much, the ground will sink, and if you don't understand these things, there will be loopholes.He repeatedly urged everyone to keep in mind that my country's cutting-edge business is still in its infancy, and we must buy time to do it as soon as possible.

In August 1974, Zhou Enlai, who was seriously ill and hospitalized, listened to the work report of the Second Ministry of Machinery for the last time and gave many important instructions.After just over a year, Premier Zhou, who worked hard and worked hard for the development of my country's cutting-edge national defense, left us forever. When Premier Zhou Enlai marched towards modern science and technology for the new China, especially in the process of leading the development of the cutting-edge project of "two bombs and one satellite", he had a far-sighted vision and meticulous guidance.As Zhu Guangya, a famous scientist and witness to the development of my country's cutting-edge science and technology, said: "The success of 'two bombs and one satellite' is a glorious chapter of Premier Zhou's immortal achievements in my country's science and technology. Those successful experiences shine on him. His spark of wisdom. His words and deeds set a shining example for us."