Chapter 38 Chapter 37 "Box 1779"

"Guan Lan, my dear brother!" For many years, Ding Jieqiong's letters to Guanlan have always started like this. It's so sad to say!Apart from writing letters, she and Guan Lan had no other way to get closer.She thought that if she talked on the phone or met in person, something else might happen, and she would definitely not call her "brother" again and use another title.She had decided long ago that she could no longer call her that way after she got married; she should call her "Guanlan", "my dear", "husband", or simply "husband", even in front of guests or friends!But, get married, when?Even, is there such a chance?Whenever she thinks of this, she often shudders...

I went from "X base" to "W base".Now that the "visit" is over, in the guest house where I stayed, under the light, I wrote letters to my relatives.The war is getting more and more brutal, and we are getting busier.Fly directly to "Y Base" early tomorrow morning. Just now, two hours ago, on the parking lawn outside the guest house, Perry and I had a little disagreement.He was always so gentle and kind, and there was always a kind smile on his unremarkable face; but, the first time I saw him get angry, even his face and voice were distorted.This kind of conflict, this conflict, will happen sooner or later, so it's okay if it happens.I once told them that the plutonium bomb has a 90 percent chance of success and the uranium bomb has a 60 percent chance of success—in fact, I know that both bombs have a 100 percent chance of success!According to Aum's calculation, the explosive yield of a "critical" atomic bomb is several thousand tons, and my calculation result is about ten times larger than theirs.But no matter how many thousands of tons or tens of thousands of tons, once it is thrown and exploded, thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of lives will be destroyed!I am also worried about the occurrence of a more terrible situation: the core part of the atomic bomb explosion may have a temperature of hundreds of millions of degrees. Will this ignite the atmosphere?Should this happen, the Earth would turn into a ball of fire and it would be the end of the world.

I talk about all this with my colleagues.They more or less feel the same way.But after spending a few days with Perry, I found that his mind is completely different.He seems to be only worried about one thing, that the war is over before the atomic bomb is released... Aum arranged for Ding Jieqiong to live in a guest house, and sat in her room for a while.The guest house looks like a "motel" from the outside, but the interior is very well furnished, luxurious and comfortable. "Are you aware of Perry's... situation?" Orm asked softly. "I don't want to know anything about him!" The female professor still looked sullen.

"In some cases, it's better to know a little bit..." "What do you want me to know?" "For example, his relatives..." "What does his relatives have to do with me!" "It's like this," Aum said carefully, "his only son died in Pearl Harbor..." "When," the female professor's heart throbbed, "how did you die?" "When else, what kind of death, oh!" Orm sighed softly, "Second Lieutenant Josephine Perry, after graduating from West Point Military Academy, his father's alma mater, was sent to Pearl Hong Kong; the fourth day of his arrival at the base was exactly December 7, 1941 local time..."

"I see!" Ding Jieqiong couldn't sit still.She lingered for a long time, stopped in front of Aum, and asked softly, "He, Aaron Perry, what relatives does he have?" "And the wife. After losing her son, she went insane and was in a mental institution on Long Island for over two years." "My God," Ding Jieqiong murmured, "why didn't you say so sooner!" "I just found out too." "Really, when?" Ding Jieqiong was surprised. "It's been two hours, before Perry boarded the car to go to the airport." Aum looked at his watch, "He, he asked me to tell you."

The female scientist was stunned and remained silent. I have been in the United States for a full ten years. Apart from Aum, this Perry may be the most impressive American to me.He seemed not a soldier, not an engineer, but a brilliant statesman.He successfully circumvented the law, persuaded workers not to organize unions, and even successfully persuaded Congress not to intervene in the use of funds to avoid leaks.He is also a psychologist.Scientists from various universities were originally paid nine months a year, but Perry paid the full twelve months.During the war years, soldiers were respected, so he promised to confer military ranks on civilians...all these things won the hearts of the people.Due to strict secrecy, hundreds of operators and mathematicians in the computing center of Base Y do not know the purpose of their work, and they are deep in the desert, their lives are monotonous and boring, and even distracted and inefficient; so Perry ordered an exception to tell them the truth and let them know They are making an atomic bomb, and let them do a calculation first: How many "beasts" can an atomic bomb destroy? ——This move has greatly improved the mental outlook of the people in the computing center, and the work efficiency has soared by 20%!One day, Perry was on a long-distance bus and heard people talking about the gravel roads in the women's camps, which were inconvenient to walk on and easily damaged leather shoes.The next day he called in the mechanized road construction team, and within two or three days, a smooth asphalt road was laid...

As I write this, one thing comes to mind: Base W has thousands of women working as clerks, secretaries and stenographers or in other service jobs.The base was built in the wilderness, the environment was closed, and the service facilities and supplies were poor.The emotions of the women directly affected the progress of the project.As Perry scrambled to complete the facility, he delivered a speech to the women with these key words: "Most of you have loved ones in the military. They are fighting hard and bravely on the front lines. Sacrifice. Your work is love for them. For your work will shorten wars, bring victory sooner, and return your loved ones to America, to your tender arms!"

When Perry said this, the women were uproarious, excited, and many shed tears... Perry's words not only reassured most of the women in W Base at that time, and doubled their energy, but also made Ding Jieqiong, who is also a woman, feel excited after more than a year.The general obviously understands this philosophy (yes, it is a philosophy): love is part of a man's life, but it is the whole of a woman's life!Even for female professors, it is no exception.Although work, fame and achievements seem to constitute everything about Ding Jieqiong, they are only external, material and intuitive; as far as spiritual life and inner world are concerned, what she yearns for is love and longs to be a real woman , a woman who fully owns and fully enjoys love!Therefore, after hearing Perry's words, Ding Jieqiong immediately thought of the person she "deeply loves"; she thought that Guan Lan was also working hard to defeat the Japanese invaders and win the war; struggling for the same goal.She knows that, in a sense, her work can be more directly used to shorten the war and bring victory as soon as possible; therefore, from Perry's point of view, her work is her love for Guanlan!For women, the end of the war means that their lovers will return to their "tender arms" as soon as possible, and Ding Jieqiong hopes that she will be lucky enough to be one of them...

Perry was a patriot and truly loved America.His ingenuity, his devotion, some of it was written, and much more was left unsaid; in any case, everything he did was for America, and for America's best interests—and I thought, he really was He thought I had stayed too long in Berkeley and invited me out for a "walk"; later he thought that visiting the two bases was to allow me to help solve certain problems, scientific principles or production process problems-if so, he was considered "Right" again.For example, my suggestion to first low-enrich UF6 by "thermal diffusion" may make a significant change in the current "bottleneck" gas diffusion process.Regarding thin films, I gave precise physical parameters, which made the prospect of material synthesis and manufacturing suddenly bright...

It was later learned that it was more than that.Until just now, Aum told me: Perry hoped that I would form a deep impression on the advanced and powerful United States by visiting Base X and Base W (and then Base Y)-I said, I have been in the United States for ten years, and this Already impressed.Aum said, that’s not what he meant. Perry wanted me to love America like him, and to do everything for the United States and the highest interests of the United States like him!And to do all this, I have to become an American citizen and become a "real American" like him... Perry wants me to know that the advanced and powerful America is a product of the American democratic system.He believes that if someone like me stays in the United States forever, it is certainly good for the United States, but it is especially good for mankind, for science and for myself, and even good for China—just like Marie Curie who joined the French nationality , her native Poland is still proud of her.The General asks Orm to help him achieve this.He says no one is better suited for the task than Orm.He knew that Aum loved me, and I had a lot of respect and affection for Aum.He praised Orm for his outstanding contribution to the "Manhattan Project"-but if "Joan" can stay in the United States permanently, that is the greatest contribution!

The general knew that I liked Aum, but he didn't know that there was a man in my heart that Aum couldn't match.I don’t know, although I have seen the advancement and strength of the United States, but I definitely don’t want to stay in the United States permanently because of this; my hope and pursuit is that my motherland will become equally advanced and powerful one day! Writing here, the female professor recalled an incident a few days ago: when she saw a mountain of silver at Base X, Perry said casually: "The silver comes from China." "Really?" The female professor was stunned. "I'm only just learning about that, too." "There is such a cooperation between China and the United States?" "No. These silvers belong to the 'Gengzi indemnity', and the original silver ingots are still engraved with the imprint of the Qing treasury." The general said, with a light tone, "It may be considered the best silver in China back then, but the impurities contained in it Too much. We entrust the American Metal Refining Company and Phelps Dowley Copper Company to refine and process it before it can be practically used in the electromagnetic process." In 1900, the twenty-sixth year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty (Gengzi Year), the Allied Forces of Eight Nations captured Beijing.The "Xin Chou Treaty" signed in the following year stipulated that China should pay 450 million taels of customs silver to other countries, pay off in thirty-nine years, and the principal and interest totaled 982,238,150. two.Soon, in 1905 AD, as a condition for ending the Sino-Japanese War of Sino-Japanese War, the "Shimonoseki New Treaty" signed by China and Japan stipulated that China should pay Japan 200 million taels of silver.The huge indemnity Japan received through the two treaties was all invested in primary and secondary education... Ding Jieqiong has studied "General History of China" and knows all about it. "The silver is China's indemnity to the United States." Perry went on to say, "But the United States did not rush to use the silver, but stored it. It may have been used as a hard currency reserve, but it later became Strategic stockpile—now, Joan, you've seen it, they're finally being used. What a great way the U.S. and China have worked together, haha!" Ding Jieqiong listened, with a sense of humiliation surging in her chest; especially Perry's indifferent appearance made her angry!She thought: Is this guy showing off his "psychology" again?She replied coldly: "I hope that China and the United States have a better way of cooperation, and there has been one!" "Really?" "Excuse me, General," Ding Jieqiong drawled, "Scientists from several countries participated in the 'Manhattan Project'" "America and Britain." "And me?" "By the way, there is also you, you are Chinese." Perry pondered, "But you are the only Chinese..." "Yes, I am the only Chinese." The female scientist's eyes sparkled, "But with this, you can no longer say that only Americans and British participated in the 'Manhattan Project'." Perry was silent. The wall clock struck.The female professor glanced, ho, it's already three o'clock in the morning!She thought, I can't write any more, I should sleep, and it's good to only sleep for two or three hours, because I have to catch a plane early in the morning!However, after thinking about it, let's finish writing this letter, finish writing... For years I had disappointed Orm; now I didn't want him to be disappointed again right away.Just had a bad time with Perry, and I don't want to have another bad time.Moreover, the "Manhattan Project" is becoming more and more busy and tense. Every day and every work of ours is related to the early end of the war, and we cannot allow side effects; so I remain silent.After finishing my studies, I must return to China—this original intention has never changed, just like my love for you has never changed. Really, Guanlan, my younger brother, every situation and thing is arousing my endless nostalgia for you.The electromagnetic process, to obtain uranium in sufficient quantities and to a sufficient enrichment, must use chemical means extensively, especially at the beginning and end of its first stage.The gas diffusion process has never been able to find a suitable thin film material - and the nature of the materials problem is chemistry.The separation of uranium 238 into plutonium 239 in the "atomic boiler" is entirely chemical. The deionization process of "boiler" cooling water also uses chemistry.And the "W Base" with as many as 60,000 workers is essentially a chemical factory—the largest chemical factory in the United States...Chemistry, chemistry!I, a physicist, always think of chemistry, isn't it because my lover is a chemist?There are many links in which chemistry must be used in the atomic bomb manufacturing process.I think every day and all the time, it would be great if you could be in the United States, be by my side, and participate in the "Manhattan Project" with me! Ding Jieqiong wrote for a while, and finally felt tired, extremely sleepy, but still not sleepy.She read through the dozen or so sheets of letter paper that had just been filled, and did not fold them or put them in envelopes, but held them up and pressed them against her cheeks for a long time.At the same time, although her eyes were tightly closed, tears were streaming down... After another ten minutes or so, Ding Jieqiong finally got up, went to the bathroom to wipe his face, and carefully wiped off the tears on his face, then walked to the fireplace, sat down on a high-backed chair, and straightened the stack of thick letter papers. Put them neatly into the hearth, strike a match, and ignite... Ding Jieqiong's research involves uranium and nuclear.Her work and herself have long been brought into the attention of the security agencies; after participating in the "Manhattan Project", she was even "officially" monitored.This is not surprising.No one involved with the "engineering" except the President, the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Staff of the Army, and General Perry are not "exempt" from this point.She is the only "foreigner" in the "Manhattan Project", the only non-British-American scientist, especially such a "unbelievable" insistence on retaining the nationality of a poor and weak country that has been bullied and slaughtered. Joining American nuclear scientists, the monitoring is more "thoughtful".It is true that General Perry and his colonels and captains were very polite to her; but that was only appearance, and "normal" surveillance was not without a moment's notice.Aum urges her to be patient, to "think long term," that this is inevitable in all countries and in all social formations, all for the sake of winning the war, all for defeating German and Japanese fascism, and so on.As for her, since she participated in the "Manhattan Project", it is impossible to withdraw; for the sake of a just war, she should not withdraw.In addition, she has nothing to fear, she is not afraid of being followed when she goes out, she is not afraid of eavesdropping on the phone, and she has nothing to fear that others will know; the only problem is communication—communication with Guanlan... Communication is the only channel for her to contact Guanlan.They often corresponded, and it was a very long letter. They expressed their feelings to each other in each letter, and each letter was a love letter; one of them was a physicist and the other was a chemist. Their best bond.In addition to the lingering love stories, scientific issues are discussed most in the letters.But after participating in the "Manhattan Project", Ding Jieqiong found that even "freedom of communication" was cancelled!In the past, the loss of letters was always thought to be due to an "accident" with the plane or ship, but now I know there are other reasons.Not only can you not talk about science, you can’t even talk about love-the British movie "Neglect" said: There are nothing more than two breakthrough points for rebellion, one is the temptation of money, and the other is the love between men and women.Moreover, love is always shy and secret - its beauty, charm and dignity are also here, all here.Who wants to expose their love to a group of "agents"?It is especially frustrating that all this cannot be stated in a letter.Do not imply to the other party that there is no "freedom of communication".otherwise?Otherwise, the letter will not be sent out, and it will "disappear", even if it is posted from anywhere in the United States.No wonder Ding Jieqiong often fantasizes that Su Guanlan is also in the United States and also participated in the "Manhattan Project", because then there will be no such troubles, and that would be great! What worries Ding Jieqiong in particular is that Guan Lan sees that her letters are getting shorter and more boring, and even her tone and titles have become colder, obviously "coping"... Guan Lan is confused, and even feels anxious and painful , Send a letter to ask.The female professor suffered from being unable to answer.Sometimes she can only hope to work hard so that the "project" will be successful as soon as possible, the atomic bomb will be manufactured and put into use as soon as possible, and after the truth is revealed to the world, it will be possible to "decipher" it, and then she will be able to get rid of this difficult situation. Embarrassed! But she has always insisted on writing letters to Guanlan, writing long, long letters like in the past, without interruption.It's just that none of these letters were posted.After finishing writing, she would read it carefully, without folding it or putting it in the envelope, but holding it with her hands and sticking it to her cheek or chest, letting them soak her tears in silence, and living like that for a while , then put it in the fireplace, strike a match... "No, I will never burn it again!" Now, Ding Jieqiong caressed her cheeks that were sore and sore from being soaked in tears, while staring at the wisps of flames and smoke in the hearth, meditating alone. "From now on, I will keep all the letters I wrote, keep them, keep them in hand, as a token of love, as a testimony of this extraordinary period, and one day hand them to him face to face..." The door slammed twice.The female scientist couldn't react for a while: "Who?" "Om." "What's the matter?" Ding Jieqiong still didn't respond. "Didn't you look out the window? It's dawn and we're leaving." "Oh, Aum, you are Aum." Ding Jieqiong woke up like a dream, "Go back to the house, I will come right away." As she spoke, she hurriedly wrote a letter to Guan Lan—this was a letter to be posted "publicly", and it would be posted in the mailbox of the guest house after a while.She is going to "Y Base" soon, and she will live there for a long time; she doesn't know how long she will live there, but she knows one thing, that is, she must live there until the atomic bomb comes out!