Chapter 8 Chapter VII

The day on the 15th was spent in checking and checking.I asked several people who participated in the atomic bomb test how they spent the ten hours before the big bang, and they all used extremely simple words such as "too nervous" or "confused". Fortunately, I saw an article titled "One Day in China" written by Commander Zhang Yunyu, in which he described in detail the exciting scene before the atomic bomb exploded... On the night of October 15th, I don't know How many people in the entire proving ground area did not sleep, at least that night no one could sleep as soundly as before.Years later, I still remember the phases of the moon that night: a first quarter moon, semicircular, bright on the right when viewed clockwise.Several strong lights on the test site looked dim and yellow under the hazy moonlight.The tent we lived in was very quiet, and we couldn't hear the familiar snoring.We both urged each other before we lay down, but actually falling asleep was another matter.

By the next day, our agitation and uneasiness seemed to have stabilized.According to the instructions of Commander Zhang Aiping, Li Jue, Zhu Qingyun and I drove to the iron tower in two jeeps at 10 am. Obviously, we were not needed for any work on the iron tower, let alone reaching out to do it.We also have no worries about the technical experts operating on the tower.But in the past, we were always afraid that it would not ring, but now we are worried about what to do if it "rings" under uncontrolled circumstances.This worry is not without reason.The purpose of our coming here is precisely here.There is a tradition in our party and army that in times of difficulty and danger, leaders and comrades must be together.If it really "rings", we will have a "space burial" with the comrades on the tower, it will be a splendid glory, then we will be the first to celebrate the success of our country's first nuclear explosion test...

Before the car arrived at the iron tower, we got off outside the cordon and simply greeted the sentry on duty.General Li Jue told the comrades who went up to the tower that Commander Zhang and Director Zhu are below and they will go up later.I greet the windlass operator operating the crane.Then we walked back and forth around the tower in small steps, like a leisurely walk.After a while, Li Jue got into a small brick house next to the iron tower.Here is installed the switch that detonates the cable and a telephone that communicates with the tower.According to the procedure, the detonator is being inserted on the tower.I sat on the ground not far from the hut.The sun was fine, the sky was clear blue, and there was a slight wind on the ground.It was the perfect weather for the test.The hanging basket was slowly lowered from the tower, and several operators came down. General Li Jue came out of the small brick house to meet them under the iron tower.Then he and I boarded the gondola, and Director Zhu Qingyun stayed under the tower.

The hanging basket rose slowly and sent us into the tool room on the tower. After eliminating the static electricity on our bodies, we climbed several more steps before entering the blast room.Fang Zhengzhi, the deputy director of the Experimental Department of the Ninth Academy, and his assistant are doing the final inspection. He simply said to us: "It's over." Then he continued to concentrate on the inspection. I had seen this nuclear device when it was installed, and when I look at it now, I suddenly feel that it has a living soul, solemn, pure, and awe-inspiring.After the inspection, Fang Zhengzhi's last task on the tower was to close the switch of the detonating cable.I took down the operating instructions posted on the wall, and immediately signed on it:

"October 16, 1964. Zhang Yunyu." Looking around from the tower, all the effectors as far as the eye can see are quietly unfolding on the ground. The whole scene is like a battlefield before the war. I suddenly touched the key in my pocket that could detonate the nuclear device. In the hanging basket that descended, Professor Fang Zhengzhi and I stood side by side. We are about the same height, body shape and complexion, but he has less beard than me. He is a very accomplished scientist. He is energetic and rigorous in his work, and his temperament makes him more like a senior skilled worker. His name should be recorded on the list of meritorious officials so that more people will remember him.

After the three of us got off the gondola, General Li Jue specifically instructed the hoist operator: "Please lower the portrait of Chairman Mao, forgetting that it is a political accident." We stood facing each other and looked at each other.We have formed a deep friendship in the joint work these days, and he returned to his Qinghai prairie shortly afterwards. The "hard-fated" general spent his whole life in military affairs, from Tibet to Qinghai, and from Qinghai to Lop Nur. Only here can he breathe enough air.He likes archeology, and one of his never-forgotten wishes is to go to Zhoukoudian to investigate the ruins of the Peking Man...

Professor Fang Zhengzhi closed the switch in the small brick building again.The detonation cables from the nuclear device on the iron tower to the main control station have all been connected at this time. I touched the key again, and it was still clinging to my shirt pocket. We left the tower together, my car was the last to leave.After a few hundred meters, I stopped the car again and took one last look at the tower.After the nuclear explosion, the iron tower is no longer its original appearance. Its upper part turned into gas at that earth-shattering moment, and the wreckage of the tower body twisted and fell to the ground, like a huge dinosaur skeleton, more like a strangely shaped monument . 22 years later, a heartbreak monument was erected here.In fact, the real monument is the iron tower.

On the way back, I first went to the main control station. The leading comrades at the main control station also included Deng Yifei, deputy political commissar of the base, and Professor Cheng Kaijia, deputy director of the base research institute.Professor Cheng Kaijia, a scholar and technical director who returned from England in 1950, is a real teacher.After all the preparations for the test were completed, he said to me more than once: "It has to go off." His thin lips trembled, as if he was cursing and praying for the atomic bomb.After the explosion, I saw him again—the maker of the test plan, and said to him: “This time, you are Zhang Fei’s beard—full face.” At the main control station, I will activate the console key It was handed over to Comrade Zhang Zhenhuan who was in charge of commanding there.

The work-ready launch control system is solid.There are many sandbags piled up at the door of the main control station, and these are used to block the door opening to prevent the pressure of the shock wave.We also used rice bags and flour bags to build fortifications in the battle of Shangganling, and today this method has come in handy again.Facts have proved that there is nothing more economical and beneficial to gain time than this method. Comrade Xin Xianjie is the commander of the main control station.He is academically top-notch, has profound knowledge, works with people and is approachable, and is a very reputable research director.Today, he leads these scientific and technological personnel to impact the world with their own hands.When he passed away in the winter of 1988, I bid farewell to his body with deep sorrow.

When I arrived at the Baiyungang headquarters, General Zhang Aiping said that the "K1" command had been issued.At this time, the cooks brought the buns, and they could smell the aroma from afar, but they couldn't feel it at all when they tasted it.Wu Jilin stood with me, the leader of the nuclear weapons development, I will never forget his complex expression at that time, it was completely different from his usual amiable expression. The "K2" command was issued, and I returned to my position. After the "K3" command is issued, the equipment enters the automatic program. 9, 8, 7, 6... The sound of the countdown made me feel an indescribable excitement and tension.I held my breath, we were facing the direction of the explosive heart, wearing deep black protective glasses, with our heads lowered, waiting for the final moment to come...

Where is Wang Ganchang at this time? He was not seen in Zhang Yunyu's field of vision, why?This is because Wang Ganchang is still assigning tasks that seem to be more important than the commander's initiation of the big bang, that is, the testing and sampling of scientific data after the big bang-this is the most important and necessary thing to verify the atomic bomb explosion.Generals and soldiers can see the "mushroom cloud" to complete the task, but for scientists, the big bang is just an appearance, and it is fundamental to obtain various data and samples.Wang Ganchang was busy with the dozens of small things that had to be explained before the big bang.But after all, the big bang in front of us is the most brilliant. As the main technology leader of nuclear weapons, Wang Ganchang is more looking forward to seeing the "little sun" he developed shines brightly than all the officers, soldiers and soldiers who participated in the test!Just because everything is in place doesn't mean there's nothing left to do.Starting from the 48-hour countdown to the explosion test on the 16th, all technical issues have been completed accurately.However, this could not restrain Wang Ganchang's heart hanging in his throat. I originally had an appointment with Mr. Wang Ganchang, and I asked him to elaborate on every little work and his mood during the 24 hours after the atomic bomb explosion.It was not possible because of his sudden death.I saw a description of Wang Ganchang and his disciple Deng Jiaxian before the big bang in the book "Dr. When the atomic bomb test entered the 48-hour preparation process, all the people present were so nervous that they almost fainted, the worst of which were Professor Wang Ganchang and Deng Jiaxian.Professor Wang always asks the people around him whether a certain solder joint of a certain measuring instrument is firm.He suddenly let out a cry of surprise in meditation, grabbed the person and asked, did you see that wire was inserted according to the procedure?Did you see clearly?Nothing wrong, right?He even asked to open the sealed door of the job number, and then went in to check the wiring, always worried that someone accidentally touched which wiring would cause desoldering... It can be seen that before the big bang, Wang Ganchang's heartstrings were so tense that he had to tense!Yes, even a slight loosening of a welding joint, a circuit, or a nut in the huge and extremely complicated atomic bomb engineering test may cause the entire test to fall into terrible consequences!No one dared to imagine such a problem.But what if such a problem arises?Who is responsible?Who can take this responsibility?No matter what responsibility, whether he can afford it or not, Wang Ganchang, the head of production and technology, is the first one who can't escape!Before the big bang, he was undoubtedly the most nervous and stressed person.It is said that old people are not easy to be excited, and that great scientists are the most calm, but this time Wang Ganchang is even more impatient than those ten or twenty-year-old soldiers—"5, 4, 3..." The sound of the countdown made Wang Ganchang's blood pressure soar, and it seemed that his heart stopped beating...