The Spirit of a Great Country
1.With the tension accumulating across the Taiwan Strait, China was on the edge of war.In a speech televised nationwide, President Eisenhower, from American army, threatened to turn Red China into another Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
Early winter，1954. Shilin Official Residence, Yangming Mountain, Taiwan
Mr Chiang Kai-shek, in his mandarin jacket and unlined long gown, plodded out of the study towards the white-marble semicircle balcony of the presidential villa. Standing by the rail, he looked far into the distance.Across the distant sky, overcast and damp, the setting sun coloured the subtropical forests into an indistinct blood-red haze.A few returning ravens hovered over the coconut grove on the hillside, crowing hoarse and lonely.All these sounds and views gave Chiang, a man with little romanticism and a lifetime of war, a strong sense of melancholy and bleakness.He didn't like the winter on this isolated island at all.There was no discernible reason for it—though perhaps it was because his massive failure in the mainland was part of the last winter of his life.He extended his eyes as far as he could, over to the other side of the sea, toward his homeland, barely visible through the sea wind and fog.There was a kind of pain and regret in his heart which could never be relieved.He waved his hand gently, and the stolid guard standing beside him came forward and asked，“What instructions does your Excellency have?”
“Go and ask someone to drive off the ravens, their crows are driving me crazy……”
The secretary of the presidential office on duty had escorted Ye Gongchao, the Foreign Minister of the Kuomintang（KMT），inside. Chiang Kai-shek looked to Ye, and beckoned him to sit down.
“Brother Gongchao, are there any urgent matters?”he asked with some tenderness.
“Your Excellency, I have just received a phone call from the US ambassador Carl Lott Lank. The new Vice-President of the US, Richard Nixon, will visit us in December，”Ye Gongchao said, submitting the report of the Foreign Ministry for Chiang's approval.
“Damn it！How much better can the new Eisenhower administration be than the previous Truman one?Upon coming to office, they retreated from Korea. The Americans are not real friends of the Republic of China.”
This powerful Chinese man had been a dictator for almost his entire life, but when he interacted with the Americans, he always felt himself disdained, treated like a monkey. He could not forget, before the Dynasty of the Chiang Family collapsed, that Truman had colluded with Acheson to replace him with Li Zongren.And he could not forgive Eisenhower, the previous chief commander of the allied nations, for ending the Korean war and his dream of gaining the mainland back……
While Chiang Kai-shek read the report of the“Foreign Ministry”，he asked in his gentle Zhejiang accent，“Nixon, this 39-year-old vice president……he used to be a senator……and has a young turk background……is he friendly to Republic of China?”
Ye Gongchao answered confidently，“You can put your heart at ease, your Excellency！This man was a lawyer before, and he was famous for assembling lots of votes for Eisenhower in the Southern states. As a strong right-wing person, he is totally unsympathetic to the Red's communism.Not to mention he is a rising new star in American politics, and he's got a promising future……”
“Good. Then we should bet on Mr Nixon.Inform all the relevant departments, and welcome him in accordance with the highest standards as our important guest.Now that the Communist Party of China（CPC）has been aggressive to us, we should settle the Mutual Defence Treaty of the US and Taiwan when the Vice-President visits us.”
After Ye Gongchao left, Chiang Kai-shek's prior frustration and melancholy turned to excitement. The news about the upcoming visit of Nixon worked like a stimulant which injected into his enervated political veins.
Within a month, Richard Nixon arrived with his wife.
At the Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei, Mr Chiang personally welcomed the Nixon couple, despite his old age. The First Lady Song Meiling, who still kept her charm, personally acted as the interpreter.All of which indicated how much value Mr Chiang Kai-shek placed upon Nixon's first visit to Taiwan.
Richard Milhouse Nixon, a descendant of an 18th century Irishman who followed the gold-digging crowd to the American continent, was born in the little town of Yorba Linda near Los Angeles in 1913. Although his ancestors had been settled in the American continent for many years, they didn't realise their American dream of becoming farm land owners in the South.As a result, Nixon grew up a poor member of the underclass.He started to make his own way in life quite early, as a janitor and doorkeeper.He completed his study in Whittier College as a part-time student, before studying law at Duke University from 1934 to 1937.No doubt, his experience of struggling as a working-class man formed a solid basis for him to become a major Western politician.During the Second World War he joined the US navy and battled the Japanese fleets in the Southern Pacific tropical forests.After retiring from the army, he committed himself to politics, and was famous for his acute political acumen and great eloquence.He was elected as a Parliament Representative at the age of 34，and became a rising new star who later gained favour with Eisenhower, the five-star general.Nixon was subsequently nominated as the vice presidential candidate of the Republicans in 1952，and gathered a large number of votes for Eisenhower before he took office in the White House.Nixon became the youngest vice president in the US history.He represented the president in handling political issues many times and was trusted and relied upon by the president to a great extent.Even if Nixon has been in the White House for a limited period of time, he knew clearly that, in the eyes of the politicians in the White House and Capitol, Mr Chiang Kai-shek did not enjoy a good reputation；to receive such a grand welcoming ceremony made him confused and uneasy.Still, this did not affect the good feelings he registered at the first sight of this oriental emperor.
During the Nixons'stay in Taiwan, Mr Chiang made time to accompany them for sightseeing tours around the beautiful island. One evening, in the official residence of the president, Mr Chiang entertained the Nixon couple with a family feast.When he spoke of how the KMT had intercepted Polish commercial boats to China twice, or the shelling of an oil tanker from the Soviet Union to China, Nixon applauded the defeated prior dictator who had dared to confront the Oriental red bloc.But Mr Chiang was not happy at all.He sighed and said, in a dull tone，“Your Excellency, what you don't know is that the Communist Party of China has assembled massive troops and artillery over the areas of Dachen, Yijiangshan Island, Jinmen and Penghu.They intend to destroy us overnight, and our survival depends on the protection of the US.There is an old saying in China, there will be no intact eggs if the nest has been overturned.The government of the Republic of China is ready to make counterattacks against the mainland, but without the settlement of the Mutual Defense Treaty with the US, we can't even get started！I am counting on you, Mr Vice-President, to labour this issue, if you would.”
With some sympathy and consolation, Nixon said to Chiang Kai-shek，“Your Excellency, put yourself at ease. The Taiwan Strait is of strategic significance to the US in confronting the Reds at the front line—the US government cannot ignore this.I will make a report to the president once I return.”
It can be said that, during his political career of more than half a century, Chiang Kai-shek had interacted with many American politicians, but there was always an irreconcilable cultural gap between the Americans and this oriental emperor. The arrogant Western politicians always harboured a sort of“oriental shortsightedness”when they looked to China.There was only one exception—Richard Nixon.As a result, he had formed a unique bond with Chiang Kai-shek, who was more than 20 years older than him.
During the subsequent few decades of his two terms of vice-presidency and presidency in the White House, he has always been the supporting pillar for the Chiang government, nestled away upon the isolated island of Taiwan. However, although the Chiang government succeeded with Nixon, they failed because of him as well.In the spring of 1972，Nixon flew to Beijing and shook hands with Mao Tse-tung, leaving Mr Chiang alone at the other side of the sea, a stranger to the historic event.Mr Chiang was so angry that he became sick.By the time of 1975，when Mr Chiang passed away, he was still complaining about the betrayal of Nixon.But that is a later story.
Several days later, in the Oval Office of the White House
Eisenhower, a tall but thin figure, was holding his pipe as he walked into the office. His most capable men in the cabinet, Vice-President Richard Nixon, State-Secretary Dulles and Secretary of Defence Wilson were already sitting there, waiting to meet him.Eisenhower strode to his seat like a soldier, glancing around at his subordinates as he sat down.The subtle smile on his face was filled with solemnity and wisdom.
Eisenhower declared the start of the meeting. He talked briefly about the content of the meeting, then titled his head to Nixon, sitting to the right side of him, his eyes full of trust and expectation.“Richard, could you please brief us on the current situation in Taiwan……”
While the Vice-President was making his report, Eisenhower would sometimes stand up from his seat and stroll around the room, sometimes gazing toward the picturesque views of the rose garden outside, sometimes at his cabinet members. This five-star general, elected as the president due to his reputation and character, a man who had successfully directed the Normandy Invasion and ended the Second World War with the allied nations, directed a foreign policy strongly coloured with the brush of anti-communism.
After Nixon's report, Eisenhower stood up immediately from his swivel chair, turned the globe of the world on his table and stared at the maple-shaped China. He said to Dulles, the secretary of state，“John, Taiwan is our unsinkable aircraft carrier at the strait of Malacca.We cannot accept the continuance of the current state of affairs.Talk with the Pentagon and come up with a strategy against China's penetration into Taiwan and Southeast Asia.We have already said that we could not exclude the possibility of using strategic nuclear weaponry during the Korea war, and now we must reiterate this……”
At the same time, on the eastern coast of the ocean, the people of China had just emerged from the bloodshed of the Korea war, content now to sit beneath the peace of the olive trees, enjoying the serenity and warmth of a peaceful life and nursing the bleeding wounds of the war. However, the US government, which harboured a strong prejudice against red China, and in spite of the shame of the war, had not corrected its view；on the contrary, the US government instigated the Chiang government in Taiwan to make provocations to increase the tension across the strait, fanning the fantasy that they would be able to land on the southern coast of China and recover the lost Chiang Dynasty.
On the June 25，1950，the Korea War had just begun. Truman, the US president, sent the 7th Fleet to the Taiwan Strait.The Fleet sailed into the Taiwan Strait, with 22 large warships and the“Midway”aircraft carrier as the flagship.They escorted the Chiang army many times and supported the Chiang air force in attacking and harassing the mid-south and southern part of mainland China.After Eisenhower took office, he went beyond Truman in his approach.When he was interviewed, he declared that the US supported Chiang in counterattacking the mainland；and if the mainland army attacked Taiwan, the 7th Fleet would join the battle to defend Taiwan with its modern defence systems.In addition, the Congress had passed acts to strengthen aid to Taiwan.For the time being, the tension accumulating across the strait was so strong that a war was on the verge of breaking out at any moment.
On the December 1，1954，not long after Nixon had returned to the US after visiting Taiwan, the US government officially signed the Mutual Defence Treaty of the US and Taiwan with the KMT government in Washington. The Treaty was submitted to the Senate on the 6th of January and ratified on the 9th of February.At this moment, the US again picked up its truncheon, reassuming its role as the world's police and threatening China with nuclear weapons.
According to a disclosed document of the US government, file NSC-162/2，the then Defence Minister Charles Wilson had even organised for important officials in the Pentagon to attend a highly confidential meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Admiral Arthur on the USS Sequoia. At this meeting they decided that a policy of containment must be followed, but with more reliance on the new strategic deterrence of the air force.Soon, the commander of the Strategic Air Corps of the US, Curtis LeMay, bellowed at the world：“There is no suitable target for the SAC, but I can find a proper target in China, like Manchuria or southern Russia, to throw our nuclear bombs.In these poker games, we need to put out the bigger stake.”
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Radford, was more straightforward when he submitted the Mutual Defence Treaty to the Senate for approval. He suggested to the president that, if there was a crisis on the Taiwan Strait, the US should use nuclear weapons against China.
As the representative of a new generation of leaders in China, Mao Tse-tung, who has been through the tough times when China suffered from the bullying and humiliations of the big powers, had a stronger sense of national justice and was more prepared for unexpected hardships. In the middle of January 1955，Chairman Mao ordered General Zhang Aiping, the Chief of Staff of the Southern China military area, to organise an underwater attack upon Yijiangshan Island, relying on intense aerial bombardment in coordination with the naval and military forces.Eventually they defeated the KMT army stationed on the island and liberalised it employing the forces of modern warfare.This success not only dealt a blow to the Chiang government in Taiwan but served as a kick in the arse for the cowboys in the US.
This action sent shockwaves through the US. President Eisenhower ordered the 7th Fleet to assist the KMT in retreating from the Dachen Island while he comforted Mr Chiang Kai-shek, proclaiming that neither Yijiangshan Island nor Dachen Island was important to the defence of Taiwan.He sent the secretary of state Dulles to Taiwan frequently and discussed counter strategies with Chiang.
March 6，1955，White House, the Oval Office
Eisenhower was having a secret discussion with Dulles, who had just returned from Taiwan. Based on memorandums disclosed by the White House thirty years later, the two had secretly decided that, if the crisis on Jinmen and Mazu continued, they would apply nuclear surgery to Red China, rendering it a second Nagasaki or Hiroshima.Dulles delivered a speech at the Foreign Relations Committee of the State Senate, during which he declared emotionally：“Having spent three days in Taipei, I returned last night.We had a discussion with the Republic of China about our Mutual Defense Treaty.Today, the free world is confronted with a challenge which is more powerful than any before.Therefore, our government has decided to enforce a‘massive retaliation'strategy using‘new and effective weapons'to defeat any armed attack from China.We will spend what we can in order to gain the greatest deterrence possible.”
Although Dulles'speech of“massive retaliation”and the“edge of war”received boos and hisses, the Eisenhower administration was stubbornly determined to enforce it. That same year, on the March 18，the US president, a former soldier, delivered a nationwide television speech.After some discussion of the situation across the Taiwan Strait and the penetration into Southeast Asia of the oriental bloc, this five-star general, who had commanded millions of soldiers and brought peace to humankind, suddenly cast a nuclear tornado upon humanity's roof.He subtly implied in his speech that nuclear weapons were not only strategic weapons, but that they could also be used to serve the cause of“peace”.Between the lines, he was suggesting the waging of nuclear war against China—and that all ordinary Americans should be mentally prepared for that.
From that point on, the brinkmanship of the nuclear blackmail policy of the United States was officially developed, casting a dark cloud of war over the world：a nuclear winter had come to humankind……
2.Mao Tse-tung, a great leader in oriental history, waves his strong arm：to avoid bullying in the current world, one cannot live without nuclear weapons.
Beijing, spring，1955，in Fengze Garden, Zhongnanhai, the study of Mao Tse-tung
It was already early spring. The magnolia and winter jasmine outside of Zhongnanhai, the Chinese leadership compound, had just grown out their buds, waiting to bloom.A verdant green gently clothed the ancient capital.
While reading the traditional thread bound book of Tolerant Study essays at his large table, Mao Tse-tung waved the pen in his hand, commenting upon the historical notes Miscellaneous Notes from the Tolerant Study of the Song Dynasty's great intellectual, Hong Mai. Coming across something splendid, this romantic-poet of a politician could not help but read it aloud.Somehow, Mao Tse-tung, who held a life-long passion for reading, had developed a particular preference for this book of historical essays, which recorded the ancient classics and studies of ancient institutions, anecdotes and literary critics.No matter whether it was wartime or during one of his tours around the country after he took power in the Forbidden City, he would ask his secretary to take this book, and pick a few pages to read when he had some spare time.Sometimes, with great interest, he would select a few passages and give them to other high-rank officials to read, regardless whether they could understand them.
As Mao Tse-tung was enjoying his reading, his secretary on political matters, Tian Jiaying, brought a copy of reference materials from the Xinhua News Agency. From those confidential materials, which were only circulated around central power, there was a speech from Eisenhower about his intention to enforce a“massive retaliation”strategy against the Oriental Red Bloc.After reading this speech, Mao Tse-tung became livid—he slammed the paper on his table and stood up.
“A political hooligan！And with wild fantasies of becoming a global hegemony—it's a dream, complete bullshit.”He turned to Jiaying Tian.“Please invite comrade Enlai here.”
Premier Zhou Enlai quickly walked from Xihua Hall toward Fengze Garden. A great man who radiated humanity and held a life-long respect for Mao, he stepped into Mao's study and asked warmly，“Good morning Chairman, did you have a good sleep this morning?”
Mao replied in his strong Hunan accent，“Pretty good.”Then he pointed to the paper which published Eisenhower's speech and said, with a serious look，“Enlai, have you had a chance to read it?”
“I have already sent it to a few senior generals and the Foreign Ministry, to develop a counter strategy……”Zhou Enlai had always gained the respect and appreciation of Mao, with his peerless astuteness and meticulousness, like the silent tolerance of a great housekeeper. Mao Tse-tung told him solemnly，“We must be faster.The People's Daily should issue an official editorial to reveal our position.Additionally, how are we developing and cultivating the talent necessary to develop nuclear bombs and missiles?”
“We do have the advantage in this regard，”Zhou Enlai said confidently.“Qian Sanqiang has worked with the Nobel prize winner Madame Curie before. Yang Chengzong and Peng Huangwu returned from France and Britain, they are all famous radiation physicists.The other one, who has worked for the American father of the rocket, Dr Von Carmen, is missile expert—Professor Qian Xuesen.We have been trying to get him back to China via all available channels.”
“Excellent！”Mao knocked on the arm of his chair in excitement.“Without the nuclear bomb, nobody will ever listen to what we have to say！So long as we have got the talents, and the resources, we can create miracles！”
Soon after that, while meeting a delegation from Finland, Mao was asked by a journalist about his comment on Eisenhower's“massive retaliation”strategy. Mao Tse-tung didn't lose his heroism and bravery as a great figure of oriental history in his reply, as he stood there and said，“During the 1940s, I told an American female journalist in Yan'an that nuclear weapons were just paper tigers.Today I am still credited with the phrase.No matter how powerful the Americans'nuclear weapons are, they can throw them at China and penetrate the earth.And certainly, this will be of some significance for our solar system；but in light of the size of the universe, it will hardly amount to anything……”
Mao Tse-tung's response was soon published in some major Western newspapers, receiving applause from Western society and some insightful men in Asia and Africa. By this point, China's project of developing nuclear missiles had already started, following a long and secretive journey of which hardly anyone was aware……
In the fall of 1955，Professor Qian Xuesen, the famous scientist who was remarked upon by the US Navy Secondary Chief Kimble as not being tradable even for five divisions, had returned to China as a result of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's efforts and those of a number of international academics.
Qian Xuesen was born in Shanghai in 1911. He followed his father to Peking at the age of three, and studied in the affiliated elementary school and middle school of the Normal University.At 1929，he was admitted to Peking Jiaotong University, and was sent to study abroad by Tsinghua University at the government's expense during the 1930s.In 1935，he was enrolled into the engineering department of MIT with the Boxer Indemnity.The following October, he transferred to the California Institute of Technology and became a student of Dr Von Carmen, a grand master of mechanics.They later became close partners.Qian subsequently got his PhD in aerodynamics and gained a professorship.During the Second World War, he took part in the Manhattan Project with his mentor Von Carmen, developing nuclear missiles.Von Carmen praised him as being the most talented and exceptional scientist in the field of rocket science.In 1945，when Von Carmen was employed by the US Air Force as Chief of the science consulting group, he insisted upon nominating Qian as a member, who later became one of the few foreign consultants.However, just like all the other students of the old China who wished to use science and technology to save the country, Qian had witnessed the sufferings of China under the big powers and experienced the pain of not being able to help the country.So when the five-starred red flag rose upon this unfortunate land, he felt as if he had seen the awakening of a major power that had lain dormant for over a hundred years.In spite of his mentor's persuasion and the happiness of the foreign land, he insisted upon returning and contributing to the construction of a new China.Kimble was furious upon seeing his resignation.He slammed the table, roaring，“No！No！He knows all the core secrets of the American missiles.One Qian could be as powerful as five marine divisions.I would rather shoot him to death than send him back to red China！”From then on, Professor Qian was under arrest and all his books and study materials were taken away；later he was imprisoned upon an isolated island, a victim of McCarthyism.Even so, this excellent scientist of the twentieth century didn't waver from his determination to contribute to the motherland.With Premier Zhou Enlai's solemn entreaties to the US and support from some American scientists with just minds, Qian was able to return to his motherland after five years of imprisonment.When Qian went back to China with his wife Jiang Ying and a pair of young children, he gave his mentor a monograph, Engineering Cybernetics.Professor Von Carmen told his Chinese student excitedly，“Now you have achieved more than me intellectually, go back and contribute to your homeland.Science knows no boundaries.”
After Qian returned to China, the Defense Minister Marshal Peng Dehuai went to meet him, praising his patriotism and entrusting him with a number of important duties. Qian was appointed as the Director of the Fifth Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense, specifically responsible for the research and development of China's rockets.
Early spring，1956.
The warm sunshine of spring drifted from the cold winter sky, melting the last remaining snow in the capital. The verdant greenery of spring brought the ancient royal city a new vigor.
In the dignified and solemn headquarters of the General of Staff of the PLA, Premier Zhou hosted a grand meeting for the Central Military Committee. As these marshals and generals, men who had directed millions of soldiers, took their seats, Premier Zhou declared, in his usually gentle but exceptionally serious tone, that，“Today we have invited you here, not to be the teacher, but to be students.Now let's welcome Comrade Qian, who has just returned from the US to give us a lecture on advanced technology, and our plan to develop missile technology.”
With a wave of applause, Professor Qian, who had just turned forty, stepped confidently onto the podium. Facing the Premier and the battle-hardened marshals and generals, Qian suddenly experienced an unprecedented feeling of excitement and heaviness, despite having been in similar situations with US five-star generals and other famous physicists many times.His lecture would reveal a fresh new field to these marshals and generals who came from Nanchang, Jinggangshan Mountains, Yan River and the Loess Plateau, and would lead to the promulgation of a vital new national defense strategy.Holding the heavy outline materials for his lecture in his hand he talked, with all his wisdom as a scientist, about the history of rocket technology from ancient times to the present.He also discussed new trends and developments in the technology, along with his vision of China's future missile development, visions which gained the full support of the sie marshals and generals.After the meeting, Premier Zhou personally submitted the briefs of the meeting to the Central Committee of the Party and Chairman Mao.Having pulled through the tough times of the wars, the leaders of the new China had developed historical acumen and foresight.They knew deeply and clearly the significance of China having its own nuclear weapons if it intended to regain its role in the world as a major power, as it had in history.Mao not only approved the report submitted by Zhou but, on the most sacred podium of the highest State Council of the Republic, voiced the aspirations of this oriental nation's determination to rise again.
“Today we must be stronger than yesterday. Not only do we need more planes and cannons, but nuclear bombs.In the world today, if we want to avoid bullies, these are necessities.”A man of courage, he gave his predictions：“Within ten years it will be totally possible for us to have our own nuclear bombs and hydrogen bombs.”Chen Yi, a Supreme Commander and diplomat, unable to resist his own poetically bold nature, waved his arms and said：“Do it！Even if we have to sell our pants, we must build our own nuclear weapons！”
General Zhang Aiping, the Deputy Chief of General Staff, a man appointed by Premier Zhou to be specifically responsible for the project, stated more clearly and vividly，“We cannot live without a stick to beat back the dogs……”
The curtain was being lifted on a project which related to the future and status of the Chinese nation.
The Central Committee of the Party set up the Aviation Industry Committee, an organisation specifically responsible for high-end technology. Seeking an appropriate director for the Committee, the General Secretary of the Party, Deng Xiaoping, who had been working on the front line, vested his hope and trust in the Marshal Nie Rongzhen.
One morning in autumn, General Secretary Deng went to Marshal Nie's residence by car from Zhongnanhai, to visit his old friend while he was recovering from disease and consult him regarding the allocation of work. Three years ago, as the Chief of Staff of the PLA, Nie fainted and collapsed when he accompanied Marshal Peng Dehuai's tour around the suburbs of Beijing.Later Nie was diagnosed with heart disease and high blood pressure which were causing an imbalance of the neural system in his brain.He submitted his resignation to the Central Committee of the Party in order to find time to recover from his disease.Now Nie had recovered, and the newly established republic was in urgent need of the talents of these marshals and generals in order to cure the heavy“disease”of a country which had lain ill it for hundred of years.
Comrade Deng asked about Nie's physical well-being in his heavy accent, holding big brother Nie's hands.“Good to hear you are recovering，”he said in satisfaction.“Now the Central Committee is prepared to entrust you with a number of important tasks. Comrade Chen Yi has been assigned to the Foreign Ministry, and Comrade Peng Zhen is too busy to take on the responsibility of mayor of Beijing.So now that leaves us with two vacancies.Indeed, there is another vacancy also：to direct the use of military technology and equipment development.We would like you to choose one of these three options.”
“I thank the Central Committee for trusting in me. I must admit to having had a strong interest in science ever since my teenage years.I would hope it may be possible to assume a role in charge of technology and missile development.”
“Excellent，”Comrade Deng said, in his usual decisive tone.“Then it's settled.”
3.The Chinese government signals to the Soviet Union its intention to purchase nuclear weapons, but the Kremlin replies with silence.
By the end of the 1950s, the political honeymoon between China and the Soviet Union had come to an end.
The sun that had once sweetly shone and wandered between the two continents was now covered by the sudden cold wind rising from Siberia. For Nie Rongzhen, the newly appointed Vice-Premier in charge of the Aviation Industry Committee of the Defense Ministry, it was an inauspicious sign.
Not long before Nie recovered he had made contact with some famous scientists. Soon afterward he submitted the Preliminary Opinion on Establishing a Chinese Missile Research Project to the Central Committee of the Party.After Zhou Enlai's approval, the Central Military Committee resolved to begin developing missiles.But China's project still required the help of a big brother—the Soviet Union.
Early autumn of the same year, Zhongnanhai, Office of Premier Zhou
Although he was under intense pressure every day, Zhou put away the tasks at hand and told the Vice-Premier of the State Council Li Fuchun, with enormous trust：“Fuchun, you have a heck of a task in leading the delegation to Moscow. Not only do you need to settle 150 projects of technological and economic cooperation, but to be entrusted with the task of conveying the Party and Chairman Mao's request for assistance to develop our nuclear missiles to the Soviet Union……”
Li remained silent for a while and sighed.“I have already written a letter to the Chairman of the Soviet Union Council of Ministers, Comrade Bulganin, in August，”he told the Premier in his heavy Hunan accent.“Usually Comrade Bulganin has been quite friendly to China, but this time his reply was rather ambiguous.”
“He's not the one to blame. Bulganin cannot make the final decision—Khruschev's opinion is more important.”With a serious look Premier Zhou continued，“Earlier this year, Marshal Peng and General Chen Geng mentioned this issue to the Chief of Staff of the Soviet Union, so the message must have been passed on.But the Kremlin replied with silence, without asking anything more.You have been in the Soviet Union for many years, and have a good relationship with them.I hope you can strive to settle it all.”
“Premier, rest assured—I can guarantee you that I will see this task completed，”Li said, standing up to leave.
“Good. When you return, I will personally give a dinner of welcome.”Premier Zhou accompanied Li out of Xihua Hall, watching him go.
Several days later, the trade delegation arrived in Moscow.
It was a fine autumn day, all the maple tree ablaze；unexpectedly however, in this capital of the northern neighboring country, there came also a bout of snow that saw the Volga River clothed in silver.
The Chinese delegation did not seem to have any interest in admiring the stunning Moscow views. Assisted by the Chinese ambassador Liu Xiao and the commercial counselor Li Qiang, Comrade Li Fuchun signed 150 aid contracts with the Soviet Union.But the task Premier Zhou had entrusted him with remained a heavy burden.
One evening, in the magnificent banquet hall of the previous tsarist Russia's Romanov Dynasty in the Kremlin, the Premier of the Soviet Union, Bulganin, organised a feast to welcome Li Fuchun. Li used to study in France with Premier Zhou, and later continued his studies in the East University of the Soviet Union.Bulganin respected Li from the bottom of his heart and regarded him as an“expert on Soviet Union”.He raised his glass of vodka frequently to Li, talking to him kindly in Russian.
“Comrade Li, the agreements are settled now. We have accomplished something great.In a few days, I will accompany you to the suburbs of Moscow for a hunting tour, and we can enjoy some rest.”
Li however was not cheered by this kind offer. He extended his hands：“Comrade Bulganin, if the Soviet Union could offer China some assistance in building nuclear missiles, it would be of much assistance—far better than to go on a hunting tour！”
“I'm sorry，”Bulganin answered after some hesitation.“When I wrote back to you I felt I had stated our position clearly. But as an old friend, I am still willing to have another conversation with Comrade Khruschev about the whole matter……”
“Fantastic！Then let's go hunting！”Li raised his glass to Bulganin.“To our friendship！”
Bulganin extended his glass to Li.“To my old friend！”
Several days later, Kremlin, Office of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Nikita Khruschev was half bald and big-bellied. He wandered around his spacious and bright white office.This palace of power had seen its owner change no less than four times.
Although Khruschev had only been in office for three years, he was beginning to feel more confident in exercising his power. He sat atop the powerful seat of Stalin, a seat which could shake the entire earth；or perhaps his arrogance had simply blossomed as a result of occupying the red Palace which had once accommodated Peter the Great, Nicholas the First and the female Tsar Catherine.
Whether it was due to a naturally inherited chauvinism in Russia's blood, or because his family had come from the Ukraine's Cossack family, Khruschev had a rudeness and assertiveness in his personality. During his first visit to the US he had argued with the American senators, taking off his shoes and banging the table, embarrassing the Soviet Union.Or in October of 1954，visiting China a month after his inauguration, he had found himself in a rather unpleasant exchange with Mao and Zhou on the issue of the Soviet army's retreat from Dalian and Lüshun.When Khruschev proposed building a long-wave radio station in China and extracting the resources in Xinjiang, he received strong resistance from Mao.No wonder then that from their very first meeting the two leaders held a subtle psychological grudge against each other—one which later developed into the“divorce”of the two parties.
“Comrade Bulganin, how can you become one of the Chinese?”Khruschev said as he talked to the chief of the Council of Ministers in his strong Ukraine accent, waving a stubby hand.“Do the Chinese comrades want to have nuclear weapons?You should convince them to come under the protection umbrella of our red family.”
“Comrade Sergeyevich, could you please reconsider their request?This issue matters to the brotherhood of the two parties.”Bulganin was kind but serious in his entreaties to the powerful secretary general.“Do we need to discuss this issue at the meeting of the political bureau?”
“All right, let's just follow what you have suggested, Comrade Bulganin，”Khruschev said, waving his hand impatiently.
Watching Bulganin walk away, Khruschev was so angry he broke the pencil in his hand. He murmured to himself，“Let's see, Comrade Bulganin.I'll take you down……and then we'll see who the ultimate winner is.”
At the next meeting of the Central Political Bureau of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, it was the ideas and emotions of Khruschev that coloured the atmosphere and direction of the meeting. He stood up suddenly, spreading his hands in contempt, and said sarcastically，“The Chinese comrades are unwilling to take shelter under our nuclear protection umbrella and intend to build their own.In my opinion, they can't possibly succeed.In the end, they may not even be able to afford their pants……”
After that it seemed that there was no need for other people at the meeting to add anything else. In a society where power is highly centralised, everything will often be determined based on the personal idiosyncrasies of the leader, and this can lead the whole country to the abyss of tragedy.
For a couple of months, the Kremlin kept silent. Only when the delegation from China flew back did the Communist Party of the Soviet Union pass a perfunctory message to Liu Xiao, the Chinese ambassador in Moscow.“China can rely on the nuclear umbrella of the socialist family—there is not much meaning in having one or two more socialist countries equipped with nuclear weapons.”They agreed to pick fifty Chinese students who were studying in the Soviet Union to transfer to majors in missile technology.
Maybe it was god who helped China. In the following year, the international political situation changed dramatically.The cold war had begun.The“peaceful evolution”strategy of Dulles took effect first in the red satellite states of the Soviet Union.It was Najib from Hungary who first showed defiance, before being followed by Tito from Yugoslavia.Khruschev encountered mockery and criticism for the first time when he visited the West.The hegemonic status of the Soviet Union in the international family of communism had been challenged.To secure its dominance at the upcoming International Meeting of Communist＆Workers'Parties, Khruschev was in urgent need of the vote of China, a land with a population of more than 600 million.As a result, a year later, the highest power organ of the Soviet Union showed signs of concession to China's request to purchase nuclear missiles.
In the summer of 1957，the chairman of the Ministry of the Soviet Union, Nikolai Bulganin, telephoned the Russian general consultant in China and told him that the Kremlin was ready to welcome the representative group of the Chinese government to Moscow to discuss the sale of nuclear missiles. As a man who had always held a strong emotional attachment to the Chinese people, the general consultant in China could not withhold his excitement.“Call my driver as soon as possible，”he told his interpreter, for fear he might forget.“I'm going to meet Comrade Zhou Enlai in Zhongnanhai！”History had finally given the Chinese people a chance！
4.By the side of the beautiful Volga River, a negotiation concerning the future of China's strategic missiles takes place.
Summer，1957，by the seaside of the Beidaihe
This famous summer and tourism resort seemed to been bestowed with all nature's gifts. China's first emperor, Qinshihuang, left the famous site of the Qin Palace-on-tour at this holy place, neighbouring the Yan Mountains to the north and the Bohai Sea to the east.Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, who made conquests around the territory, had toured to Jieshi, causing Cao Cao to write a historical poem after his war towards the east：I came to view the boundless ocean/From a stony hill on the eastern shore/Its waters roll in rhythmic motion/And islands stand amid its roar.And Mao Tse-tung had put a classic“ending”to this roll of poems dedicated to the sea：The pouring rain falls on the silent swallows/As the white cream waves surge and roar to the sky.
After the founding of PRC, the leaders of Party's central organs would come to work at this place every summer. It already seemed to be an open secret.
Marshal Nie Rongzhen popped out of the blue water, lying on the balcony of the villa while he looked over toward the sea. The sunny sky joined the blue sea in the distance, flocks of seagulls chasing after the white sailboats and merging into the far horizon.Amidst the view, a combined sense of bleakness and impending historical danger seemed to have arisen in the Supreme Commander's heart.Without wars and fights, all that he could see were the silence and serenity of heaven and earth.How did the Supreme Commander feel about this, having directed millions of soldiers?No one had ever asked him whether it was pleasure or a kind of loneliness.
Interrupting his meditation, his secretary Fan Jisheng suddenly rushed to him.“Commander, we have just received a notification from the General Office of the Central Committee. The Soviet Union government has agreed to have a discussion with our representative group.The Premier has asked you to return to Beijing right away.”
Nie stood up instantly, just as if he had been commanding a squad of troops.“Telephone Chen Geng, Song Renqiong and Liu Jie immediately, and ask them to prepare the plans and materials for the negotiation. Let's pack up and head back to Beijing！”
Several days later, the delegation of China for the negotiations with the Soviet Union were officially set up in Beijing. Nie was appointed as the director of the delegation of more than thirty members.The Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade Li Qiang, Deputy Minister of Nuclear Industry Liu Jie and the Chief of the General Armaments Department of the General Staff Lieutenant General Wan Yi were all members of the group.
Just before the delegation departed Beijing, Nie went to Qinzheng Hall in Zhongnanhai to meet the Premier and receive his instructions. Nie reported to the Premier about their preparations for the negotiation, including the general principle of“Putting China's interests first and striving for foreign aid.”
“But there will be no begging or anything which could disgrace China. And we will not reveal all the aspects of our current industrial ability.”
After listening to his report, Premier Zhou nodded.“Good. I am in total agreement.The preliminary preparations made by the delegation are quite comprehensive.It was not a short while ago we made our request to the Soviet Union, and it can be said that there have been quite a few turns on this issue.Your task is not easy.Tell Comrade Chen Geng and Song Renqiong that our principles are, first, to buy；second, to request；and third, to learn.And we need to learn the technology as soon as possible and build our own nuclear missiles.I wish you success！”
Carrying the broad and glorious dream of the rocket, as well as the trust of the Central Committee and Chairman Mao, the delegation of China flew to Moscow and started their tough negotiations.
The views by the Volga River was at their most charming during autumn, but no one had time to be enchanted by the beautiful scenery. Rather, they quickly engaged in a long and difficult negotiation.The Soviet Union government had appointed the Deputy Chairman of the Ministry, Pervukhin, and a lieutenant general from the Defence Ministry to be responsible for receiving and corresponding with the delegation.
The Chinese never forgot that where they came from was a great country of courtesy. Before their departure, the delegation prepared Hunan embroidery handcraft as gifts for every member of the Soviet Union staff from the leaders of the state to ordinary working porsonnel with whom they would make contact.When the Marshal Nie gave Pervukhin the gifts for Khruschev, Vorochilov and Bulganin, Pervukhin answered in embarrassment，“Comrade Nikita Khruschev is taking a holiday at his seaside villa and cannot return for the meeting.He asked me to welcome you on his behalf.”In fact, Pervukin had played an embarrassing role as the only remaining Vice Premier of the Malenkov bloc.He had no actual power to decide what to negotiate and what to relinquish.Pervukhin was only the receptionist, while Khruschev was behind the curtain.And everything had to obtain Khruschev's approval.
The delegation was separated to live in two different locations. Supreme Commander Nie, General Chen Geng and Minister Song Renqiong were placed in the villa on Belinski Street, which was of better condition, while the rest were arranged to live in a normal hotel.
The Soviet KGB was omnipresent. On the day of the group's arrival, the Soviet State Security Council immediately sent a colonel to the entrance of the hotel and monitored all the actions of the Chinese.The delegation found that, when they left the hotel, the colonel would sometimes make a telephone report to his superior.To avoid unnecessary troubles, the delegation decided not to discuss any critical issues of the negotiation in their rooms, instead discussing them during their walks outside.The most interesting thing was that the members of the delegation could not get enough food.For the first few days, the members living in the hotel all felt that there was not enough available.And there was no reply even after they complained.When the Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiao and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade Li Qiang happened to visit them they mentioned the problem.Li burst into laughter after hearing it, and the Deputy Minister, who was called“Expert on Soviet Union”，told them a little secret, asking each member to put a few roubles under their plates after their meal.From then on, all the cooks and waitresses seemed to change their personality entirely, and took all of the nice dishes out to the Chinese.
The marathon negotiations were undertaken by the side of the Volga River. Nie directed the proceedings calmly.General Chen, along with Wan Yi, Song Renqiong and others who were responsible for negotiating the sale of the missiles led the experts in introducing the models of missile available.Although friendly laughs and handshakes were exchanged, the vigilance and gaps between the two age-old nations could not be bypassed.Sometimes some subtle thing would provoke disagreement.
During the negotiations, the highest military leader of the Soviet Union brought the delegation to the most modernised weapons factory in Moscow. But there were very strict restrictions imposed upon the members, which allowed only the Ministers and military officials with ranks higher than that of major general to visit.They were worried about the potential hidden experts in the group.Thus, throughout the 1950s and 1960s, there was a popular rumor that, in order to enable Qian Xuesen to visit the Soviet Union's weapons factory, Mao had joked with Premier Zhou that Qian could be promoted to a major general.During interviews for the preparation of this book, the author asked the secretary of Supreme Commander Nie, Fan Jisheng, Lieutanent General Wan Yi（who was already blind）and previous Minister for Foreign Trade Li Qiang more than once whether Qian Xuesen had ever been in the delegation.But none of them could recall whether he was with them.Maybe this rumor itself was only a story, but it does reflect the subtle and complicated relationship that existed between China and the Soviet Union from the perspective of ordinary Chinese people……
In early October，1957，after 35 days of long and intense negotiation, the project plan for nuclear bombs and missiles was drafted by both parties. However, at this moment, Khrushchev, who had been hiding behind the curtain, suddenly stepped onstage.He conveyed the following message to Nie：We are willing to give China missiles and nuclear bombs.But before that, can Comrade Mao attend the International Meeting of Communists＆Workers'Parties at Moscow?We need his presence to support the entire meeting.Between the lines, Khrushchev suggested that the final decision rested in the hands of China.
Just after National Day, Song Renqiong and Ambassador Liu Xiao flew back to Beijing and reported to Mao. When they walked into Fengze Garden after their long journey, Mao asked, in his Hunan accent，“Comrade Renqiong, how is your task going?”
“Chairman, everything is ready, the only thing needed now is your presence in Moscow，”Song Renqiong answered with the same Hunan accent.
Following Song and Liu's report, Mao agreed to go.“We should give Khrushchev the honor.”
On October 15，1957，the agreement between China and the Soviet Union for the supply of missiles and nuclear bombs was finally settled.
5.The first batch of two P-2 missiles is sent to China through Manzhouli, but the nuclear bombs fail to arrive, despite repeated requests.
History has played a funny joke upon China.
China was the cradle of the rocket, which in turn signaled the dawn of the era for gunpowder-based weapons. And rockets and gunpowder, which were invented by the alchemists, constituted the sun of this new era.In the 12th century, when Genghis Khan swept through the Euro-Asia continent with the Mongolian Calvary, burning the castle of Moscow with rudimentary rockets and cannons, the entirety of Europe was still trapped in the long night of the medieval period.
During the 16th century, when the young Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty gave the Chinese-made rockets to Peter the Great of Russia, the Tsar treated the gifts like rare treasure. Russia was still struggling with helotism.A diligent ruler, Peter the Great learned from the West.Indeed, he was not resistant to the Eastern civilization either.Eventually, overcoming tremendous obstacles, Russia rose as a strong nation connecting Europe and Asia.
Although China had been on top of the world for thousands of years as a civilisation, after only one or two centuries of isolation by the Great Wall, the vision and breadth of mind of the Chinese had become blocked, hemmed in by the red walls of the palaces. And Western civilisation, nurtured by the fruits of the Eastern civilisation, had left the Chinese nation far behind.The dramatic changes occurring in the world far surpassed China's own development.
The thousand year-long dream of the rocket dream, it seemed, would itself not be realised for another thousand years！
In the winter of 1957，the Chinese finally regained an opportunity to realise this dream again.
A secret military train from Russia carrying two P-2 missiles and other equipment travelled, bound for Manzhouli, China. After 300 years the rockets were returning to their homeland, two boxes of ancient missiles traded for two modern missiles.
Beijing, the General Logistics Department of the PLA
A witness to history, the retired former Head of the Equipment Department of the General Staff, Wan Yi, who had also been involved in negotiations with the Soviet Union, stood waiting to receive the carriage in Manzhouli.
The old veteran, blind and white haired, had worked for General Zhang Xueliang of the Northeastern Army during his youth, before working undercover for the Communist Party. After the Xi'an Incident, he fought with Marshal Peng on the grand Loess Plateau.By the end of the 1950s, at the Lushan Meeting, and following his involvement with Peng and Huang's Petofi Military Club, he had been through numerous political downfalls.
Though he is now 86，he is still quick-thinking and had a clear memory. Excitement arose from this senior general's heart when he recalled the extraordinary experience of the missile talks with the Soviet Union.
“At the end of 1957，the Soviet Union government sold two P-2 missiles to China. And the missiles entered China from Manzhouli.At that time, Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou, along with the entire Central Military Committee, had given this event tremendous significance, basically treating it as the treasure of the nation.Marshal Peng specifically asked me to receive the missiles in Manzhouli.After they entered China, we guarded them in ways we had learned from our old big brother the Soviet Union.To be fair, this brother did lend us a hand when we first started our missile project.Though there had been some very tough times during the bilateral relationship, some of which could be partly blamed on Khrushchev, we ourselves could not be totally absolved.Back then we put far too much emphasis on the convergence of ideology.What we overlooked was the national interest, which should be our biggest concern.It should be said that most of the people from the Soviet Union were friendly to China.And most of the missile contracts between China and the Soviet Union were carried out.Of course, our relationship with the Soviet Union deteriorated later, as agreements regarding the nuclear bombs were not performed.We had received a telegraph from Moscow saying that the model for the nuclear bombs would arrive soon, and I waited in Manzhouli for it with my colleagues several times.But despite repeated requests, they never came.”
The reasons why the Soviet Union never sold nuclear bombs to China still remains an unsolved secret……
On August 19，1990，the red flag having fluttered over the hometown of Lenin for 70 years, it suddenly fell from the Kremlin. The answer to the secret was finally uncovered from the confidential files of the KGB……
The last winter of the 1950s, the Kremlin
After kicking Bulganin, the Chairman of the Council of the Ministers, out of the politburo, Khrushchev secured his position in the Kremlin and was able to deliver orders as he wished.
One day, the Minister of Heavy Machinery Construction, Slaviski, responsible for nuclear weapons research, walked gingerly into the secretary-general's office, trembling. It was just before he was to make the determination to send the nuclear bomb model to China.Slaviski called Khruschev by his nickname, Sergeyevich.“Comrade Sergeyevich，”he asked in a probing tone.“We have already assembled all the relevant parts for the nuclear bomb model to send to China.Comrade Secretary General, if you would please sign the final approval……”
Khruschev took the approval document and put it on the side of the table.“What is your opinion, speaking from the side of the Heavy Machinery Construction Ministry?”
Slaviski was very good at guessing the ideas of his superior. He knew that, when Khruschev advanced his famous secretive report about Stalin's crimes to the 20th Congress of the Soviet Union Communist Party, it was Mao Tse-tung who stood up to criticize Khruschev, having previously attempted to criticise Stalin's mistakes.At the Bucharest Conference, Deng Xiaoping and Peng Zhen, as the delegates of the Chinese Communist Party, had argued vehemently with Khruschev, embarrassing him tremendously.According to rumors, during the last visit of Khruschev to China, celebrating the tenth anniversary of the new Communist China, he had again had an unpleasant experience with the Chinese leaders.So Slaviski said, taking a moment to prepare himself mentally，“Considering our deteriorating relationship with the Chinese Communist Party, our belief is that we should not send the model to them, so as to avoid any later unnecessary troubles.”
Khruschev drummed on the table with his two stubby hands，“This is a very good piece of advice. I must say, I agree with you completely.”And he slapped Slaviski's shoulder as he moved forward, tearing up the document before throwing it into the bin.
At the very last minute, Nikita Khruschev had torn apart the honeymoon between the parties of China and the Soviet Union with his fat hands.
The people of both countries would pay a heavy toll for his rude conduct in the years to come.
