Chapter 245: Qian Is A Suitable Candidate
“Qian?”
As a core figure in the China Aerospace field returning from America, Mishin naturally knew this name.
“That’s right, Qian would be a suitable candidate.” Glushko nodded.
He continued, “You need to understand that Qian’s influence in China goes far beyond aerospace and missiles; his footprints are also all over semiconductors.
The Panda brand radio we’re using now, the portable calculator China used as collateral for a loan, and even the light emitting diode technology we’ve always coveted but failed to obtain, are all inseparable from him.
Qian single-handedly led China’s development in the high technology field.
When NASA is led by a Chinese descent professor, I think approaching Qian might be a good path, one that can help us solve the problems facing N-2.”
If this were five years ago, Glushko’s proposal would be considered a pipe dream—cooperating with a country primarily focused on agriculture and supplemented by a small amount of light industry? What a joke.
But now it’s not five years ago; at the Leipzig Trade Fair every year, the most watched country in the Soviet camp is China.
Everyone is curious what good products China has brought this time.
If at the beginning, the Zelenograd microelectronics center in the Soviet Union still had ideas of catching up, now their notions of catching up have grown weaker and weaker.
Because as time passes, they’ve discovered that in the field of consumer goods, not only do they see no signals of catching up, but the gap between the two sides is still widening.
Consumer electronics products, mainly radios, recorders, portable calculators, and televisions, place China in the first echelon of the entire socialism camp.
The Panda brand television launched by China is still based on vacuum tube technology, with no generational gap compared to the Soviet Union and East Germany in terms of technology, but China’s products are just a bit better in user experience, design sense, and yield rate.
Plus China has a certain price advantage, which has also led to China slowly becoming synonymous with the consumer electronics production base within the socialism camp.
Even East Germany is negotiating with China to introduce pure silicon production technology and light emitting diode technology; the two sides are discussing technology exchange.
So now, talking about cooperation with China in the technology field doesn’t seem so abrupt.
Plus Lin Ran’s miracle, it might not be impossible to replicate in the Soviet Union.
After thinking for a moment, Mishin said, “Qian might be a suitable candidate, but don’t forget, we still face a very real problem.
That is, the relationship between the Soviet Union and China is not good, and achieving cooperation at this level between us would be too difficult.
After all, aerospace technology, especially rocket technology, concerns strategic weapons.
The more advanced the aerospace technology, the closer its relation to strategic weapons.
Cooperating with China would be a bit too sensitive.”
Glushko asked, “Are you worried about the R-36?”
Mishin nodded, “Of course. If China’s missile range could reach over ten thousand kilometers like the R-36, I think the ones who wouldn’t be able to sleep first would be the Kremlin rather than the White House.”
The R-36 is the predecessor of the renowned R-36M, which entered service last year and is also the first intercontinental missile in Soviet history capable of truly threatening the American mainland.
Glushko shook his head, “No, I think you’re worrying too much.
The core of a rocket is the engine. What we need is for China’s comrades to help us design the rocket together; they won’t be involved in engine production.
Like the R-36, even if China gets all the blueprints and knows our design concept, what can they do?
Even more specifically, even if China knows how we designed the engine, even the technical difficulties inside, how we solved the problem of the combustion chamber dimensions being too large—even if they know all that, they still can’t build an engine required for an intercontinental missile of the R-36 class.
Because the engine requires special alloys that can withstand high temperatures and resist oxidation, used for the combustion chamber and nozzle.
It requires key components with sufficiently high precision, like injectors and turbine blades, to ensure reliability and performance.
We’ve got China by the throat in the materials field; just knowing the design does nothing.
Just like the professor at NASA can do many things ordinary people can’t, this benefits from America’s strong industrial foundation.
Even if it’s the professor, if he returns to China, could he compete with us or NASA?
Probably not.
So we shouldn’t be afraid to cooperate with China; on the contrary, we should make full use of Chinese people’s wisdom and let their wisdom work for us.
Two Fields Medalists in a row have been of Chinese descent; our camp clearly has the largest number of Chinese people globally, yet we don’t know how to utilize them—isn’t that the most foolish thing?”
In Glushko’s view, not cooperating with China would be a terrible waste; the benefits of cooperating with China far outweigh the risks.
The professor is a fluke, Chen Dehui didn’t also win the Fields Medal? That’s another fluke. Isn’t China developing rapidly in the semiconductor field? Even East Germany can’t catch up?
As for ultra-long-range intercontinental missiles, the Soviet Union didn’t deploy them until 1965; how much longer will it take China to overcome the problems of high-precision materials and high-precision processing?
At least in the semiconductor field, China has to rely on East Germany’s optical system and can’t handle all the technology itself.
As long as they control materials and high-precision processing equipment and production processes, it won’t matter how much China grasps of their technology development situation.
Mishin’s worries are simply groundless fears.
After hearing this, Mishin pondered but still felt some hesitation inwardly, “But the premise of this matter is that Qian is really as strong as the professor.”
Glushko rubbed his forehead, “No, Comrade Vasily, we know very well that the professor is one of a kind.
Although India says the professor is the second Ramanujan, we know very well that the professor is beyond what Ramanujan can compare to.
Even America itself can’t find a second professor.
What we need to do is find a collaborator capable enough to lead the completion of the N-2 project. We can only follow Comrade Korolev’s technical path and can’t break out of his constraints.
We need a new brain to join in, and this brain has to be top-tier enough.
I’m not sure if Qian can do it, but I think cooperating with China has the greatest possibility.
China has the most Chinese descent people globally. In the past, we could compete with America for German scientists; why can’t we now compete with America for the support of Chinese descent research personnel?
Chinese descent people number a full 700 million; among these 700 million, someday a talent like the professor will emerge.
And shouldn’t we start cooperating with China in the research field right now?”
Glushko is a standard pragmatist. After a pause, he said, “Comrade Vasily, you know we’ve finally waited for such an opportunity.
If it were Nikita, our request certainly wouldn’t be allowed.
For well-known reasons.
But now it’s Leonid.
Nikita wouldn’t do it, so Leonid will.
Do you know why?”
Mishin, having reached the position of director, naturally had his sensitivity maxed out, “Of course, to prove Nikita was wrong and justify replacing him.”
Glushko nodded, “Exactly, that’s one reason. The second is that now with Leonid in power, his desire for the moon landing will only be more intense.
During Nikita’s time, Gagarin as a Soviet person was the first to set foot on the moon’s land.
Whether or not it was a Soviet-American joint moon landing mission, it was a Soviet person who went up, and it was also the Soviet Union that held the power to allocate moon soil.
After the moon landing, wherever Nikita went to a country, he gifted them one gram of moon soil, basking in endless glory.
“Now if we go gift moon soil again, it will only constantly remind the public that this moon landing mission was accomplished during Nikita’s time.
After Leonid came to power, there’s been no way to do another moon landing.
Worse still, our biggest opponent, America, has achieved a solo moon landing.
So the pressure from the Kremlin in the future will only grow greater, and N-2 clearly has technical problems we can’t solve.
We need to bring in external forces to restart the entire moon landing program.
And among external forces, is there anyone more suitable than Qian?”
In the current camp, Fyodorovich Utkin from the Southern Design Bureau in Dnepropetrovsk might be a suitable candidate.
But obviously, Glushko meant bringing in a new force to break the current stalemate.
And the Southern Design Bureau, to put it bluntly, has no essential difference from the internal Soviet Space Agency; everyone learns the same tricks.
Glushko hopes to bring in a master from another school to lead the research and development of N-2.
Mishin asked, “The problem is, Comrade Korolev couldn’t solve this issue before his death, nor can we solve it; how can we guarantee that Qian can solve this problem?”
Glushko explained, “We don’t necessarily have to build N-2. What we need is a rocket capable of sending a Soviet person to the moon; it just happens to be called N-2. Whether it’s an improved version of N-1 doesn’t matter.
Whether it adopts the N-1 technical framework and Qian solves the multi-engine parallel issue, or Qian uses a new technical path—that doesn’t matter.
The most important point is that we need to throw the responsibility outward.
As I said earlier, the pressure from the Kremlin is growing; we haven’t solved it after so long, and we know full well we can’t solve this problem.
So let Qian try to solve it; let China’s comrades help us share the pressure from the Kremlin.”
Mishin read the unspoken second half of Glushko’s line: This is a good thing for us.
Only this could sufficiently move a veteran technocrat.
Obviously, Mishin and Glushko, this group of Soviet Space Agency technocrats, face pressure beyond what the original spacetime could compare to.
In the original spacetime, Nikita didn’t manage the moon landing; Soviet people didn’t reach the moon, and the Soviet Union didn’t get moon soil to show off everywhere in the socialism camp.
The huge achievement of the moon landing, even now that Nikita is gone, Leonid can’t ignore it.
In this timeline, completely changed, Leonid will only give the Soviet Space Agency ever-increasing pressure.
Glushko genuinely thinks Qian would be a good choice on one hand, and on the other, truly sees China’s comrades as the perfect scapegoat.
As for if the other side really succeeds, then NASA has the professor, and our Soviet Space Agency has Qian’s assistance—what’s there to lose face about?
Mishin obviously also figured this out, “I understand. I will fully report our ideas to the Kremlin.”
As for why the Kremlin would listen, if the technocrats all say so, would the Kremlin not understand?
Whether the Chinese side would agree, they hadn’t considered at all.
After all, for China, this is a rare opportunity to master Soviet rocket research and development technology.
Even if, as Glushko said, without high-precision processing capabilities and materials manufacturing processes, having the technology is useless.
But having it is better than not.
As a country with a long history and long-term aspirations, China won’t think this is useless.
The weather in Panzhihua is clear; even in winter, there is ample sunlight here, completely different from Yanjing’s hazy weather.
Area 51 can’t even be found on the map.
Inside an unassuming gray building, the room isn’t large but is filled with a solemn atmosphere.
The desk is piled with a large number of documents and several latest science magazines from America (translated editions).
Every time Dean Qian comes to this office, he feels deeply emotional.
He comes here a lot.
He’s almost watched with his own eyes as the military books in this office slowly disappear, replaced by the latest science magazines.
And the edges of the science magazines show clear signs of frequent flipping.
Outside the window, there are only bird calls; no other sounds.
The entire Area 51 is like a silent beast crouching in the southwest hinterland.
Dean Qian could see the hammer and sickle pattern printed on the envelope in the other’s hand, standing out especially under the dim yellow lights.
The other’s furrowed brows also fully showed the matter’s extraordinary nature.
“You wanted to see me?”
“Dean Qian, have a seat.
I have an important message to tell you.”
The room fell quiet for a moment, with only the low hum of the radio and the breeze outside the window intertwining.
“Comrade Kosygin from the Soviet Union is about to visit Yanjing, and they are also bringing comrades from the Soviet Space Agency. Moscow specifically named you to attend. According to the news we’ve received, the Soviet side hopes you will take charge of the N-2 rocket’s research and development.
And this meeting in Yanjing is an interview.”
At these words, a flash of surprise passed through Dean Qian’s eyes.
He frowned slightly, almost suspecting he’d misheard, and repeated, “N-2 rocket? The Soviet Union wants me to take charge of their moon landing rocket research and development?”
“Yes, based on our guess, the successful moon landing of Apollo 11 has put enormous pressure on them.
Comrade Korolev’s death has made things even worse for them; the N-2 rocket’s research and development has suffered setbacks one after another. Comrade Leonid is obviously anxious and hopes to leverage your professional knowledge to help them catch up.”
At this time, Chinese people could never have imagined there was such a thing as preemptively passing the buck across borders.
“This is an unexpected request.
But considering my tenure at Area 51, I really can’t and don’t want to go abroad at this point in time.
Our work is myriad and complicated; our plans are at a critical juncture.
At this time, I absolutely shouldn’t take on this task.
But without a doubt, this is a huge opportunity, one that allows our comrades to access core Soviet aerospace technology, and I equally don’t want to miss such an opportunity.
Since there’s an interview, that means they’re not certain I can do it either, so if I’m not suitable to go, we can send a comrade who definitely can.” Dean Qian said gravely.
“Oh, who?”
“I think Wang Xiji would be a suitable candidate.
My idea is this: use my busy work as an excuse to decline, then have Wang Xiji meet with the Soviet Space Agency comrades, with me accompanying throughout.
Propose a joint research and development model: Wang Xiji stays in Moscow, we meet offline frequently to discuss project progress, and Yanjing provides remote technical guidance.” Dean Qian said.
“Will the Soviet side agree to such a cooperation method?”
“Do our best and leave it to fate. Raspberry Pi is far more important than Soviet rocket technology.
We’re simply negotiating with the idea of not missing it if we can avoid missing it.
Although we can’t participate in the aerospace competition between America and the Soviet Union right now, I believe that sooner or later, our China’s figure will appear in this competition.
Since that’s the case, we must do everything possible now to stockpile technology.” Dean Qian said.
What he didn’t know was that precisely because of the efforts of predecessors like them, in the future world, not only would China sit at this table, but this table would only have China and America.
“I believe Xiji’s level is sufficient to lead N-2. The greater the pressure, the more enormous energy he can unleash.
Plus China’s support, I believe he can successfully complete the task.
Including this interview, I have confidence.
As long as the Soviet Union really wants external help, we will be the most suitable cooperation partner.” Dean Qian added.
“Dean Qian, I want to ask one more thing: figuring out their rocket design, would that help us build intercontinental missiles?”
“It helps, but the help is limited.
If we figure out their concepts and learn their methods, in the long term, it will definitely be of great help to us.
In the short term, there’s limited use for their designs in combustion chambers and engines, after all, we’re too weak in the materials field.
In the medium term, if possible, I will fully communicate with Xiji and have him, while leading this project, try using some metals we can produce to build engines for testing.
This way, these results we can directly use.
And we can also provide them with Raspberry Pi’s real-time calculation capabilities via remote fax, which is equivalent to completely using Soviet resources to research our own aerospace engine technology.
But the specific reasons I still need to discuss carefully with Xiji.
How to package this project, package it as being for N-2’s sake.”
“Then, do we have a chance to obtain the alloy formulas in the Soviet aerospace field?”
“There’s some possibility. After all, during cooperation, we can always obtain specific parameters; relying on these parameters and the information they reveal, reverse engineering is possible, but let’s not have too high expectations—this is just possible.
Because the other side might mislead us. I think it’s doable, but not greatly necessary.”
Dean Qian plans far ahead, thinking of short-, medium-, and long-term gains, hoping to treat this as an unprecedented opportunity.
And the Soviet Union again made the mistake caused by habitual thinking, treating China as just another ally country in the socialism camp that would willingly do only the tasks assigned to them by the Soviet Union.
