Chapter Fifty Science Big Shot
Thanks to book friend Dance of Three Armies for his generous reward ^_^
Hu Weidong selected 24 relatively new trainer planes, 6 fighter jets and 6 bombers from the various aircraft parked at Hangzhou Jianqiao Airport. He had the captured pilots fly them to a newly built airfield in the wilderness, as many of the pilots knew where Chong'an County was located. With the guidance of ground personnel's bonfires, there shouldn't be any problems. As for the possibility of the pilots escaping by plane, that was also impossible, as each aircraft would have an additional special forces member on board. This was partly to give the special forces members a chance to learn about flying planes and partly to monitor the pilots. If they dared to try anything, even if it meant both men dying together, they would not be allowed to succeed.
Hu Weidong had initially planned to pilot a plane himself to lead the way but was dissuaded by his comrades in the Red 15th Army due to safety concerns. Moreover, there were more important people in Hangzhou City at that time than these pilots. Hu Weidong gave up on this idea but still boarded a fighter jet and flew around the airport once to prove he could really fly a plane. This seemingly arrogant move unexpectedly earned him the admiration of the captured pilots, who felt psychologically closer to him. Many of them began to consider joining the Red Army from that moment on...
No matter in the later generations or during the Republic of China period, Hangzhou's education and cultural undertakings were relatively developed. Among them, three universities - Zhejiang University, Zhijiang University, and National Hangzhou Art College - were famous schools during the Republic of China period. Although Zhejiang University had not yet reached its peak when Zhu Kezhen was president, it was already worthy of the phrase "talents gathered". Moreover, there were many high-level talents in science and engineering, including Li Shouheng, director of the chemistry department, Wu Jianxiong, assistant professor of physics, Bei Shizhang, associate professor of biology, Wang Guosong, director of the electrical engineering department, Shu Xingbei, associate professor of physics, Chen Jianguo, director of the mathematics department, Professor Su Buchin, and Huang Yi, professor of psychology. These individuals were all renowned figures in Chinese scientific history and even world scientific history. Several people, including Wu Jianxiong, had planned to leave Zhejiang University at the end of this semester but were forced to stay due to the sudden attack by the Red Fifteenth Army on Hangzhou. Hu Weidong couldn't help but feel grateful for this.
For these talents, Hu Weidong still insisted on his usual approach, not letting go of a single one from the science and engineering fields, even taking some coercive measures. For those who joined the Red Army voluntarily in social sciences and humanities, he welcomed them with open arms but did not force anyone to join. However, many renowned scholars have strong self-esteem, and if they were treated roughly, it could lead to serious consequences. Therefore, Hu Weidong personally visited each of them to persuade them to join.
As a science expert himself, Hu Weidong had a good grasp of his peers' psychology. He could usually win them over with some advanced scientific theories or concepts and then offer an attractive research topic. Of course, Hu Weidong offered them salaries no lower than their previous ones and promised that if the Red Fifteenth Army could not ensure their safety, he would let them leave on their own accord. This was another important reason for their peace of mind.
Although this meant that the Red Fifteenth Army had to increase its expenses by tens of thousands of yuan each month, which was more than the cost of a division, and even higher when research funds were included, Hu Weidong believed it was worth it. If some people with high awareness voluntarily asked to give up their salaries and adopt a supply system in the future, Hu Weidong would naturally welcome them even more...
But among these science giants, the future "Queen of Physics" Wu Jianxiong was an exception. Firstly, she had only graduated from university a year ago, and despite her excellent academic performance, Hu Weidong's attention to her (Note 1) seemed too much, which naturally made Wu Jianxiong unable to understand and suspect that Hu Weidong's motives were not pure. Secondly, Wu Jianxiong had been crazily worshiping Hu Shi since she was in her teens, and Hu Shi had always been extremely anti-communist, so Wu Jianxiong would not have a good impression of the Red Army either. Thirdly, Wu Jianxiong was not only talented but also had stunning beauty (Wu Jianxiong's young photos were even more beautiful than those of famous Republican beauties like Soong Mei-ling, at least more in line with modern aesthetic standards, and not inferior to that "Republican first beauty" Lin Huiyin, it's just that her scientific achievements overshadowed her beauty and charm). With an unfavorable impression of Hu Weidong, she naturally thought he had ulterior motives towards her. On the other hand, Hu Weidong's profound attainments in physics (thanks to his wife who worked on nuclear physics) made Wu Jianxiong, a future physics genius, deeply admire him, even producing a thread of respect that she herself did not want to admit...
In addition, what made Hu Weidong cry and laugh was that not only did Wu Jianxiong have misunderstandings about him, but even his own subordinates thought he had feelings for Wu Jianxiong. Okay, Hu Weidong admitted that Wu Jianxiong was a rare beauty, and also a colleague in the scientific community, although they had very different political views, but in other aspects, they still had a lot of common language, so it could be said that Wu Jianxiong was a good match for Hu Weidong. However, Hu Weidong had seen photos of Wu Jianxiong when she was old, and once he thought about it, he lost interest, so with a clear conscience, he really never had any improper thoughts. But this kind of thing has always been difficult to explain clearly, and the misunderstandings of his subordinates were not entirely without benefit. At least no one dared to offend or pester Wu Jianxiong, so Hu Weidong just maintained an attitude of "the clear will be clear, the murky will be murky." Anyway, after the truth is revealed in the future, everyone will understand...
In addition, among these scientific bigwigs, the later "Father of Chinese Radar" Shu Xingbei was also taken away by the Red Fifteenth Army, but his attitude was always very unfriendly. He was an extreme anarchist and extremely disgusted with politics, so he was opposed to both the Nationalist Party and the Communist Party. Moreover, he often spread his anarchist views in class and did not allow his students to care about politics. As for joining a party, it was even more something he could not tolerate. Hu Weidong originally admired him, but soon became intolerant and rebuked him directly, "You want absolute freedom for yourself, but you don't give your students the same freedom! Such tyranny is outrageous, no matter how well you teach, what qualifications do you have to educate people?"
Bei Xingbei's character is actually not bad, he's just stubborn and has a bad temper. Upon hearing this, he was also moved, but his bad temper and habits can't be changed overnight. In the end, Hu Weidong had no choice but to let him focus on scientific research, and exempted him from teaching. China may lack university teachers, but it doesn't need someone like him. This naturally made Bei Xingbei extremely angry. Although he agreed to lead a small group to conduct wireless research out of love for his country and science, he wouldn't give Hu Weidong a good face personally...
No matter what, after getting these scientists, Hu Weidong was still genuinely happy. Perhaps the Arsenal would not get much help in the short term, but many important research results such as penicillin and radar that he remembered were likely to be realized ahead of time, and this would make an immeasurable great contribution to the future war of resistance and even China's future...
Note 1: As Wu Jianxiong was the most famous in later generations, and also a key figure in the US "Manhattan Project", Hu Weidong attached great importance to him, even more than those few big scientists who are now renowned at home and abroad.
