Chapter 41 Chapter 40 The President's Decision

On April 12, 1945, President Roosevelt died of illness.At 7:09 that night, Harry Truman was sworn in as President.The whole ceremony took just over a minute.Immediately afterwards, the new president presided over the first cabinet meeting after taking office.When the meeting adjourned, the Secretary of the Army asked to stay and report on a "most important matter."In this way, Truman, who was the vice president a few hours ago, first heard about the "Manhattan Project" and the atomic bomb, as if he had heard "The Arabian Nights". Four days later, on April 16, 1945, Truman addressed Congress saying: Japan must surrender unconditionally!Every day that peace is delayed means that many lives are lost.

The House of Representatives stood up when the president spoke. On April 23, Perry was ordered to fly from Alamos to Washington. "Japan must surrender unconditionally—the good thing is that 'unconditional'!" The general triumphantly shouted to Aum, Ding Jieqiong and other senders at the airport. '? Now, well, one day we will send Hirohito to the gallows and hang there as a dead body looking for his 'bottom line'!" On the 25th, President Truman met with the Secretary of the Army and General Perry in the Oval Office of the White House to learn more about the "Manhattan Project".

The progress has been significantly accelerated.In June, the first atomic bomb was ready for assembly at Alamos.To conduct a test explosion.However, the consequences of the test explosion are unpredictable. It is not known whether it will lead to "fire in the atmosphere" or "destruction of the earth".The Secretary of the Army, General Perry, and Dr. Olmhorse reported to the White House round office: "Everything is ready. The time for the test explosion is for the President to decide." "If you want to reduce the sacrifices of the American people and human beings, and win the war with the least cost, you must use atomic bombs!" The president pondered, "and the premise of doing so is to carry out test explosions as soon as possible."

The Secretary of the Army nodded yes. The President asked: "How sure is the test explosion?" "I'm sure." The minister thought for a while, "However, in the final analysis, it depends on the results of the test explosion." "What if it fails?" "This possibility is extremely small," the minister emphasized, "yes, extremely small." Truman got up, fiddled with a button of his dark blue double-breasted jacket, walked to a large window, and looked out.After a long time, he turned around slowly, looking solemnly at a long rhombus-shaped wooden bar on the large writing desk...

The Secretary of the Army, General Perry and Dr. Olmhorse stood up in awe, and followed the President's line of sight.But I saw a line written on the rhombus-shaped wooden strip: "The buck stops here." Several of the guests knew that it was Truman's creed—the one he had placed prominently on his desk on his first day as president and in the Oval Office. The president put his right hand in front of his chest, raised his index finger to the ceiling, and announced his decision to test the explosion time word by word: "July 16, 1945 at four o'clock in the morning." , and it was accurate to the hour—this surprised the three guests somewhat.But after they glanced at each other, they found that they could only nod their heads.

Then, Truman folded his hands behind his back and waited to see off the guests. Perry turned his head to look at Olmhouse, put his feet together, and puffed up his chest: "Report to Your Excellency the President!" Truman looked at Perry. "That's right, Your Excellency, this Dr. Olmhorse..." "Let's call him 'Mr. President'." Truman said, turning to smile at the doctor, "I already know him, our hero." "Well, Mr. President," Perry continued, ignoring the Secretary of the Army's gaze to stop him, "Dr. Olmhorse's brother is a pilot, no, he used to be a pilot, and was injured..."

"It seems that there are only two points to discuss." The President looked at his watch, "One, what do you want me to do; two, whether I can do it." "Well, Mr. President, Major Hull Olmhorse..." "You mean Major Hull Olmhorse?" the President noticed. "Yes, Major Hull Olmhorse, who used to be a member of the Flying Tigers, a fighter pilot, and a subordinate of General Chennault, returned to China after being wounded in China. Since he was no longer fit to fly, he was transferred to the 'Manhattan Project' with my approval. 'The subordinate air force is engaged in ground service." The president was expressionless, but he was listening carefully.

"And now," reported Perry, "Major Hull is requesting to return to the skies." "You just said that he is no longer fit to fly." "He's not fit to fly a fighter," Perry said, raising his voice, "but he's eyeing a bomber." "He wants to fly a bomber?" "No, he wants to be a bombardier." Truman stared at Perry without saying a word. "He's going to drop the atomic bomb on the Japanese himself!" Perry paused. "He said he couldn't forget China." "George has not forgotten China." Truman pondered, "He also said that it is a country that people cannot forget."

People around him knew that when Truman was nicknamed "George", he could only refer to the five-star general George Marshall, the chief of staff of the Army and one of the most important figures in the United States during World War II.The topic suddenly turned to him, which made the people present feel awkward... "In 1924, Lieutenant Colonel Marshall took his wife and mother-in-law to China to serve as acting commander of the 15th Infantry Regiment stationed in Tianjin." As the vice-principal of the Fort Benning Infantry School, he spent three years in China. In just three years, he learned fluent Chinese—with a Tianjin accent, of course.”

The Secretary of the Army knew that Truman had an unusual relationship with Margoll.The other two guests, unheard of, looked at each other. "Look where I was thinking!" The president slapped his forehead and smiled apologetically, "But General Perry, why did you ask me for Major Hull's return to the battlefield?" "The 'Manhattan Project' air force is under my command," Perry replied, "but not the air force attacking Japan." "You mean, under the command of the commander-in-chief." "No. The Air Force is a branch of the Army, and matters of military decision-making, funding, and personnel are decided by the Secretary of the Army."

"Then why not go directly to the Secretary of the War?" "Looked for it, but he didn't agree." The Minister of the Army standing by the side didn't look sideways and didn't say a word. "Really? Then, General Perry, please convey the following decision of the President himself to the Secretary of the Army." The President drew a circle on his chest with his right index finger, "Hel Orm, the hero who won the Flying Tiger Medal in China Major Howes, promoted to lieutenant colonel, enlisted in the 509th Air Force." "Yes!" Perry was excited and snapped to attention. The Secretary of the Army, in civilian clothes, also stood at attention. He served as an artilleryman during the First World War. The President had just heard of the 509th Air Force, too.The mission of this aviation unit is to directly carry out the atomic bombing of Japan. "To tell you the truth, Joan, I was so excited that I was on the verge of tears!" Aum told Ding Jieqiong, "Really, I once thought that meeting Hull's request to return to the blue sky was more difficult than building an atomic bomb. Hull asked Passed me, I spread my hands and shook my head. He also approached Perry, but was rejected. But Perry actually sympathized with Hull, and specifically asked the Secretary of the Army to intercede for this matter, but was also rejected. However, you Look……" The female scientist listened silently, her eyes burning. "Hull is a veteran, forty years old, unmarried, but crippled; and so he will go back to the war... Anyway, he is my brother, he is very righteous, I hope His wish has been fulfilled, and I'm happy for him." Aum said in a low voice, "Yes, he said, it's for you, for China!" "I know, Aum!" Ding Jieqiong choked up, closed her eyes full of tears, and pressed her face against Aum's chest. "It's great, the hard work of more than two years has not been in vain, and we can see the results soon!" Aum kissed Joan's temples lightly, but did not go further.Since the accident happened half a year ago, their relationship has become much closer. "It has been decided that the 'critical value' of the uranium charge will be based on your calculation results." "Really? I'm very happy." The female professor raised her head and asked, "But what about the 'critical value' of plutonium?" "I haven't figured it out so far! Because of this, this plutonium bomb test is particularly important." Orm sighed, "You are a 'uranium expert', so you can just control uranium. Cough, Joan, for this 'critical value' , you almost paid the price with your life..." "You saved me, Orm!" That experiment was approved by Orm.He knew Joan's skills well, and he was very busy, so he took off after hastily signing and agreeing.The next day, he reconsidered the matter at Base X and felt something was wrong.The heavy and smooth block of uranium is manipulated in Ding Jieqiong's slender female hands, rehearsing the "critical state" before the nuclear explosion in human hands-what a terrifying scene!And Aum knows Joan's habits, likes to do experiments by himself, especially dangerous experiments... Aum broke out in a cold sweat, and called his brother: "Quick, Hull, send me a plane!" "departure time?" "immediately!" "Where are you flying?" "Alamos!" "Think about Joan?" "asshole!" It was already late at night when we flew back to Alamos, so we rushed directly to the experimental area.The rows of barracks-like houses were pitch black, except for one that was brightly lit, illuminating the night sky above.Orm knew it all too well.He was afraid that any sound would startle Joan, and even if he accidentally made the uranium blocks collide with each other...he tiptoed, fearful, and held his breath, quietly entered the laboratory, and came behind Joan, the more he watched, the more terrified he was.Finally, he found a wooden pole seven or eight feet long leaning against the wall next to it... The human body cannot directly touch "bare uranium", otherwise the dose received is enough to kill anyone within a few days or dozens of days.However, as long as you put a little distance from the uranium-235, even if it is only a few inches, the damage of the radiation will be greatly reduced... So, that wooden bar came in handy a few seconds later. The atomic bomb is a colossus, surpassing all ordinary bombs of all types in weight and volume.Among the various types of bombers in the United States, only the B-29 can carry atomic bombs, but it must also be modified.From the autumn of 1944 to the beginning of 1945, Base Y has been designing and producing "fake atomic bombs". The "false atomic bomb" is exactly the same as the real atomic bomb in terms of weight, volume and shape, and contains ordinary explosives.The B-29 of the 509th Air Force bombed Japan countless times with "false atomic bombs" in preparation for dropping the real atomic bombs. According to the principle of explosion, atomic bombs can be divided into two types: "gun type" and "implosion type". The "gun type" is charged with uranium, and two or more uranium blocks smaller than the "critical value" are placed in a "barrel". When they collide together, they will exceed the "critical value" and explode. The "implosion type" uses plutonium charge, and when the "spherical shell"-like ordinary explosive explodes, the powdered plutonium is "squeezed" to the core part from all directions, so that the "critical value" is exceeded and an explosion occurs-from the difference in the principle of explosion Two shapes of atomic bombs can be imagined: the "gun type" is long and thin, and the "implosion type" is round. The "gun style" is therefore also known as "skinny", or "little boy" and "skinny"; the "implosion style" is therefore also known as "fat man", or "big boy", "big man" and "round people". The "gun type" has a simple structure, but it is difficult to obtain uranium 235, which is enough to make a bomb until the eve of the test explosion; the "implosion type" has a complex structure and takes a long time to develop, but the plutonium charge is relatively easy to obtain, and it can be produced before the test explosion. For making two bombs.No one ever doubted that the "gun" would explode successfully; therefore, a "fat man" was used as a test. The first atomic bomb test was code-named "Trinity", or "Trinity" for short. Some people say that this is a metaphor for the first batch of atomic bombs.There is an Air Force shooting range in the "Inca" desert dozens of miles away from Alamos, which is now used as the "Trinity" proving ground.The center of gravity is called "Zone Zero".The standard place for dropping an atomic bomb is called "zero point".The weather got weirder and weirder as we got closer to the test, and there was not a single drop of rain in June and July for weeks on end.Every day when the sun is hot, the stones and gravel in the desert seem to have just been pulled out of the stove; the wind blowing from any direction also seems to be blown out of the stove, the grass is smoked, the leaves are dried and burnt. It's almost gone.Wildfires occur frequently.The only water source in the town of Alamos is a small cistern, which is barely enough for people to drink, and it is difficult to take a bath. The nurses in the hospital can only brush their teeth with Coca-Cola sometimes... However, the test plan remains unchanged. The first atomic bomb did not have the appearance of a bomb and could not be used for throwing. It was just an "explosive device".On July 12th and 13th, that is, Thursday and Friday, the convoy loaded with all the components of this explosive device drove slowly along a mysterious road in the Alamos Desert.It came from the assembly area code-named S, and was transported to the test area nicknamed "Death Zone"... "Zero" has long since built a steel frame a hundred feet high.The explosive device is ready to be placed on top of the steel frame.When the test was approaching, the weather changed, and thunder and lightning occurred frequently.Not long ago, a "fake atomic bomb" filled with ordinary explosives was just installed, and it immediately exploded when lightning struck!In order to avoid lightning strikes, the atomic bomb can only be installed a moment before the test explosion. There were heavy thunderstorms on July 14th and 15th, but the scientists were still flown in from bases X and W, and some scientists were flown in from nearby bases in Y.Most of them don't know the purpose of coming.But they are all used to not talking too much.What they should know, they will know sooner or later. In the rainy afternoon of the 15th, the scientists were gathered for a meeting and it was announced to them that the first atomic bomb test would soon be carried out.They were praised for their merits, and they were told that they would witness this unprecedented and potentially spectacular spectacle...   A line of camouflaged cars of various colors parked outside the venue.After the meeting, the convoy carrying the scientists drove onto an asphalt road, headed for the "Inca" desert, and arrived at the test site after driving for four hours.Dr. Olmhorse and several other scientists who have been sticking to the "frontier" greeted them in the twilight and accompanied them into various bunkers and trenches. The phone rang again. "I bet it was the Secretary of the Army himself," Aum said. "Don't bet, I know that too," Perry said, checking his watch: three in the morning.He picked up the receiver: "Yes, Mr. Minister... No, it seems not. After several months of drought, there have been sudden thunderstorms these days. Although the rain has stopped now, the air is still very humid, filled with water droplets and fog. The rain will concentrate the radioactive dust on a small area, with serious consequences; in the immediate future, it will make it difficult to measure many technical parameters, and there is a danger of short-circuiting the wires and ruining the test. I am about to call you Well, I ask for a postponement, depending on the weather, I'm afraid...Is it? Okay, as ordered, thank you." The general put down the receiver, glanced at the doctor, and sighed: "The minister agreed, and the delay will be one hour." Then he looked at the female scientist, "How about it, Joan, I will say the same thing: Please go to the 'second line', use My car will take you there, okay?" "not good!" "Please don't get me wrong, Joan," Aum also chimed in. "The general's meaning is to respect and take care of women, which is a kind of politeness and kindness..." "Now I'm not a woman—" "What is not a woman?" "It's a physicist," Ding Jieqiong raised her head, "there are high voltages flowing in the blood vessels." The scientists present first looked at each other in blank dismay, and then laughed, using laughter to dilute the tense atmosphere in the bunker. The number of bunkers, bunkers, and ditches spread out along an arc drawn with a radius of fifteen miles from Point Zero was called the Second Line.A large number of scientists, engineers and soldiers from various bases were there to observe the atomic bomb test explosion.The "front line" is ten miles away from the center of the blast, and there is a large, strong and complex bunker group here, where the central command post for the explosion test is located.It was not until midnight on the 15th that Perry, Orm and more than 20 other important scientists and generals were evacuated from "Zero Zone" and came to the central command post on the "front line".They will no longer retreat, but will complete the entire mission of the first nuclear explosion in human history here. Although the "first line" and "second line" are only five miles apart, calculations show that their safety factors differ by a factor of one hundred! Time passed by minute by minute, and it was almost five o'clock in the morning.The weather has improved, and the rain has stopped, but it is still not suitable for the atomic bomb test.This time, Perry took the initiative to call the Secretary of the Army and asked again to postpone the test explosion.Aum leaned close to him, and the voice in the earphones could be heard clearly. "How long is the delay?" The other party asked after pondering for a moment. "It's hard to say, it seems that today is inappropriate..." "You mean to wait until it's completely clear?" "yes." "Which day will it be completely sunny?" "In a few days..." "What if the weather is still cloudy after a few days, ten days or so?" The minister said in a serious tone, "Your weather experts have predicted that it will be sunny for the next few days. What is it actually like? Why do you believe their next forecast?" The always shrewd and capable Perry was left speechless. "Perry, don't keep staring at Alamos at your feet. You have to see the other side of the Pacific Ocean and the whole world like the president." The minister paused for a while, with a meaningful tone, "The president chose this day, with my There is a very deep meaning that I cannot tell you at present, and it is connected with a series of major events that are about to shake the world..." "You mean, there is no way out, and we have to go on?" "Yes! It can't be postponed for a day or two, and it can't even be postponed for only an hour or two-it will be bright in an hour or two, can it still show that gorgeous and spectacular effect? ​​Don't forget, it is our Celebrating the victory over the Japanese bandits with the first fireworks, which can only be displayed at night." "Okay. Then your opinion..." "I'll give you another half an hour—" the Secretary of the Army said decisively, "At 5:30 in the morning on July 16, 1945, the explosion test was on time." "yes!" "Go," Aum tugged on Joan's sleeve, "go for a walk." The air in the bunker was dull and smoky, and Ding Jieqiong had long been irritable.When she reached the ground, she felt cool and comfortable all over her body; when she looked up, the starlight was dim, and only about one-third of the stars were trembling and twinkling... "Yes," the female scientist said to herself, "it is possible..." "What can?" "The weather can explode." "This is God's will - God is judging, and God will send the devil to hell on time!"