Deng Jiaxian: The pioneer of China's nuclear weapons development | The childhood of the "two bombs and one satellite" hero

Deng Jiaxian, one of the founders and pioneers of China's nuclear weapons theoretical research, was one of the main organizers and leaders of China's research and development of nuclear weapons technology. From 1958 to 1986, China conducted 32 nuclear tests, 15 of which were directed by Deng Jiaxian.

When Deng Jiaxian was in junior high school in Beijing

Tieyan Mountain House in Huaining, Anhui, where Deng Jiaxian was born

Story 1: The descendant of a famous person born in Tieyanshanfang

More than 200 years ago, in Bailinban, Huaining County, Anhui Province, Deng Shiru, who was known as the "first person in seal carving and calligraphy in the Qing Dynasty", was given a square iron inkstone by a friend and named his residence "Iron Inkstone House". On June 25, 1924, his sixth-generation grandson Deng Jiaxian was born here.

Deng Jiaxian's father, Deng Yizhe, returned from studying abroad and taught at Tsinghua University. He named his son "Jiaxian" with the meaning that the fruit of wheat is called "Jia", which means taking root, bearing fruit and maturing in the land of China and benefiting the people.

When Jiaxian was 8 months old, he was taken to Beiping to reunite with his family. When he was 5 years old, he entered Wudinghou Hutong Primary School in Xicheng District, Beiping. After school, his father asked him to go to the private school of Mr. Lu to study ancient books such as Zuo Zhuan, The Analects, The Book of Songs, and Erya. His father, who was well-educated in foreign culture, believed that it would be good for children to know what Chinese culture is.

His father, who was well-versed in both Chinese and Western literature, not only asked Jiaxian to read the Four Books and Five Classics of China, but also asked him to read foreign literary masterpieces. When Jiaxian was still a primary school student, he read novels by famous writers such as Maupassant, Turgenev, and Dostoyevsky. His father also had strict requirements for Jiaxian's English learning, and personally served as his enlightenment teacher, teaching him the correct methods and laying a good foundation for his future study and research.

Story 2: The naughty yet honest "idiot"

In the eyes of his mother Wang Shujun, Xiao Jiaxian was a playful little boy. In addition to flying kites and playing diabolos, teapots with handles and teacup lids also became his "toys". He also particularly liked to play with glass balls, calculating the angle and thinking about the fingering when playing. Sometimes he played with his friends until very late before going home, and when he stretched out his little hands like black claws, he would inevitably be "reprimanded" by his mother.

Once, Xiao Jiaxian went to Zhushikou Theater with his family to listen to Yang Xiaolou's "Water Curtain Cave". He ran to the front of the stage alone, holding his chin with both hands and watching intently. When the Monkey King did somersaults, he got excited and accidentally knocked the porcelain teapot of the spectator in the front row to the ground with one arm, startling everyone. After returning home, he was inevitably "reprimanded" by his mother.

Although he was naughty, Xiao Jiaxian was also honest and obedient. Once, when it was dark, Xiao Jiaxian had not returned home from school. His mother asked his elder sister Zhongxian to look for him, and found him standing alone with his back to the school brick wall. It turned out that he had broken a window glass while playing with his classmates, and was punished by the teacher to stand. He stood against the wall and reflected on his mistakes, regardless of whether anyone was watching or not.

When he got into trouble, some classmates would give him some advice to avoid punishment, but Xiao Jiaxian always ignored it. As a result, he got a derogatory nickname "Erbaiwu". Xiao Jiaxian didn't take it seriously. Once, his mother came to school to look for him, and his classmates shouted "Get out of the way, get out of the way, Wubai is coming, Wubai is coming!" Xiao Jiaxian laughed.

Story 3: The little naughty boy grows up to be an ambitious young man

In 1935, Xiao Jiaxian was admitted to Zhicheng Middle School and studied there for one year. In the second year of junior high school, he transferred to Chongde Middle School. This church school focused on English. Xiao Jiaxian benefited from his father's teaching of English in his childhood, so he learned it very well. In mathematics and physics, he also received help from Yang Zhenning, a classmate who was two classes higher than him.

For a period of time, Xiao Jiaxian was fascinated by mathematics. His father even asked Mr. Li from the Normal University Affiliated High School to give him extra lessons. Xiao Jiaxian worked on his homework until late at night every night. The next morning, his math homework drafts were scattered all over the floor. His attentive mother sorted them out for him one by one.

The national humiliation brought by the "July 7 Incident" strongly stimulated the pure heart of this little naughty boy. In addition to studying, Jiaxian began to meet with some radical classmates to discuss the fate and future of the country and read books banned by the pseudo-official authorities, and his thoughts became more and more active.

At that time, every time the Japanese army occupied a city in my country, they always forced citizens and students to celebrate their victory. Once, Jiaxian could not restrain his anger, tore up the paper flag in his hand, and stepped on it fiercely. At that time, the lackey only noticed that someone threw the flag, but did not see who it was for a while.

This matter was eventually brought up. The principal was a friend of Jiaxian's father, so he rushed to Deng's house to report the news. His father asked his eldest sister Zhongxian to take him to Kunming, the rear base. Before leaving, his father said earnestly: "Jia'er, you must study science in the future. Studying science is useful to the country." Jiaxian took this sentence as his motto from then on.

Reading link: The founder of the "Two Bombs and One Satellite"

"Two bombs and one satellite" originally referred to atomic bombs, hydrogen bombs, and artificial satellites. The atomic bomb and hydrogen bomb in the "two bombs" were later collectively called nuclear bombs, and the other bomb referred to the missiles developed in the early days. Later, "two bombs and one satellite" referred to guided missiles, nuclear bombs, and artificial satellites.

On September 18, 1999, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Party Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission solemnly commended 23 scientific and technological experts who made outstanding contributions to my country's "two bombs and one satellite" cause and awarded them the "Two Bombs and One Satellite Medal of Merit." They are called the "Two Bombs and One Satellite" heroes. (Source: National University of Defense Technology "Science Popularization China" co-construction base)