Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 813 Science Knows No Borders, Scientists Have Borders: Site Selection for Nuclear Test Islan

The research encountered more than one problem.

Jiang Wenjin, head of the nuclear physics research group, continued:

"The second challenge is that the controllability of uranium nuclear fission is difficult to grasp. Through experiments, we have observed that uranium nuclear fission releases neutrons, which then bombard other uranium nuclei, triggering a chain reaction. However, we cannot precisely control the number of neutrons released."

"Sometimes there are too many neutrons, the fission reaction will accelerate rapidly, the temperature and pressure will rise instantly, and there is a risk of runaway explosion; sometimes there are too few neutrons, the chain reaction cannot be sustained, and fission will stop quickly."

“We tried using cadmium sheets as control rods to absorb excess neutrons, but the absorption efficiency of cadmium sheets is difficult to control precisely. Even slight adjustments can cause the fission reaction to become unbalanced. We have not yet found a suitable control rod material and control method, so we cannot establish a stable and controllable fission model.”

Cadmium tablets, absorption bars?

Fang Wen understood what Jiang Wenjin was saying.

In future memories, will the two atomic bombs dropped by the United States use this kind of thing?

It seems not.

By the way, Jiang Wenjin is researching the controllability of nuclear fission reactions, which is the power generation principle of future nuclear power plants.

The atomic bomb, in fact, should be considered a side effect product, which is uncontrollable. It is precisely because of its uncontrollability that it caused enormous destructive power.

He didn't immediately share his understanding, but waited for Jiang Wenjin to finish speaking.

Jiang Wenjin continued.

"The third challenge is that the measurement and calculation of fission energy have a huge deviation."

He picked up the large notebook on the table and opened it.

“We measured the energy released during fission using instruments, but found that the actual measured value was far from the theoretical calculation value. Sometimes the actual energy was only half of the theoretical value, and sometimes it exceeded the theoretical value. The deviation was completely irregular.”

"This makes it impossible for us to accurately grasp the energy output law of fission reaction, and also makes it impossible to judge whether the current fission model is reasonable. If the energy measurement is inaccurate, the subsequent weapon design and yield calculation will be seriously affected, and may even lead to the deviation of the entire research direction."

"Are you done talking?" Fang Wen asked.

“I’m done,” Jiang Wenjin replied.

"Alright, come to my office. There are some things we can talk about more easily there."

Immediately afterwards, Jiang Wenjin followed Fang Wen out of the laboratory and into Fang Wen's office on the third floor of the main building of the research institute.

Outside the office, Lu Zexuan, the director of the research institute, came over carrying a thermos and handed it to Gong Xiuneng.

He glanced at the closed door and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong with the general manager? Why is he so busy as soon as he gets back?"

Gong Xiuneng recalled the words of the old Taoist priest at the Hanging Temple of Hengshan Mountain and knew that the things the boss was discussing inside were of great importance. So he pretended to be puzzled and said, "That's how the general manager is. You know that."

"Okay, I'll go downstairs then." Lu Zexuan went out carrying the empty water bottle.

Gong Xiu brewed the tea, knocked on the door and entered, giving Fang Wen and Jiang Wenjin each a cup, then went out, closed the door, and stood guard at the entrance.

Fang Wen looked at Jiang Wenjin and spoke.

"Wenjin, I understand your and your team's research approach."

"You have devoted yourselves to deriving formulas and repeatedly debugging equipment, all in an effort to build a stable, controllable, and cyclical nuclear fission reaction model."

"That's right. Once the controllable chain fission is fully formed, it can be transformed into an endless source of energy in the future, which can help industrial innovation and people's livelihood. For the entire human civilization, it is a huge leap forward. I admire this long-term vision and scientific research spirit."

Jiang Wenjin felt a sense of satisfaction at being recognized: "General Manager, this is exactly the direction we all adhere to. The power of the nuclear force is vast and mighty, but if it cannot be controlled, it will become violent and disorderly, causing disaster. Only by controlling its proportions and restraining its power can this great force benefit the world."

Fang Wen nodded: "That makes sense, and looking ahead, it will definitely be the right thing to do."

He suddenly changed the subject.

"But you must see the current situation clearly, and see the era we live in. Today, war is raging, the land is broken, the Japanese invaders have trampled across China, and millions of our compatriots are suffering in misery."

"Given our current conditions, we lack precision detection instruments, high-end metrology equipment, rudimentary purification processes, and a large amount of measured data on basic theories."

"Given the current level of industrial technology and scientific research conditions, it is too difficult, almost a pipe dream, to lock down the neutron floating law, precisely control the fission rate, and build a long-term stable and controllable reactor in a short period of time."

Jiang Wenjin was taken aback upon hearing this, and agreed, saying, "What the general manager said is absolutely true. We have repeatedly adjusted the cadmium control rod and calculated neutron loss and energy fluctuations, but instrument errors cannot be avoided, the purity of raw materials varies, and many theoretical deductions can only remain on paper in the end, with limitations in practical application. Controlled fission is indeed a long and arduous road."

"Therefore, we need to take two approaches."

Fang Wen looked at Jiang Wenjin with sharp eyes.

"Controlled nuclear fission is a long-term research project that will never be abandoned. I will continue to invest funds, scour the world for equipment, and supply high-purity raw materials, giving you enough time to slowly refine and break through, so as to plant the seeds of a leap forward in civilization for postwar China."

He paused for a moment.

"But now, we don't have time to wait for the long process of technological accumulation. The most urgent task right now is to end the invasion, defeat the Japanese invaders, and stop this bloody war that has stained our land."

"Therefore, what I need at this stage is not controlled nuclear fission, but to turn to the study of uncontrollable chain reactions."

Jiang Wenjin was startled and looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with astonishment.

"The neutron runaway, reaction surge, and instantaneous energy overload that you have been avoiding are exactly what we need at this stage."

Fang Wen spoke in a cold tone, revealing a revolutionary research direction.

"Reactors need balancing, buffering, and rate control to maintain stability, but weapons do not."

"What we need to do is compress the high-concentration fission feedstock to a critical state, remove all neutron confinement devices, abandon cadmium rod checks and expend the slowing buffer, and detonate a chain of fission in an extremely short instant."

"Let neutrons multiply exponentially, tear apart thousands of uranium nuclei simultaneously, and unleash a massive amount of energy in an instant. Not seeking stable endurance, but only seeking the ultimate destructive power to destroy the world in an instant."

Jiang Wenjin's pupils dilated, his expression solemn, and he subconsciously said, "Uncontrolled fission has boundless power. Once it takes shape, it will become a world-destroying weapon. If abused, it will cause immense suffering to the people and endless troubles."

In response, Fang Wen said in a very calm tone: "I can distinguish between good and evil, and I can uphold my bottom line. Even if it is accomplished, this thing will never be used on the homeland of China, nor will it harm innocent civilians. It will only be aimed at the culprits who launched the invasion. Conventional guns, cannons, warplanes, and tanks have been locked in a tug-of-war for years and still cannot completely defeat the Japanese army. Only this kind of absolute suppressive power can end the war with thunderous force, force the invaders to bow their heads and sue for peace, and bring peace to the whole land in the shortest possible time."

A long silence fell over the office.

Jiang Wenjin rested her hands on her knees, head bowed, her mind churning with conflicting emotions and struggles.

During his years of academic pursuits, he firmly believed that science should benefit all living beings and rejected weapons of mass destruction.

However, as a Chinese scholar who witnessed the loss of his homeland and the suffering of his compatriots, he could not deny that in the face of brutal war, the ultimate force was the only shortcut to stop the war as quickly as possible.

On one hand, there was the scientific conscience and the bottom line of humanity; on the other hand, there was the national crisis and the suffering of the people. The long-term ideal of a controlled reactor clashed fiercely with the wartime necessity of an uncontrollable nuclear explosion.

At this point, Fang Wen added, "Science knows no borders, but scientists do have national boundaries. Can you understand that?"

Jiang Wenjin's body trembled. These words were like a thunderbolt, instantly shattering the last hesitation and entanglement in his heart.

To talk about the progress of civilization a hundred years from now while ignoring the current national crisis is to put the cart before the horse.

He raised his head, the struggle in his eyes fading away, replaced by a heavy and resolute determination.

"General Manager, I understand. I was too fixated on book theories and ignored the realities of the chaotic world we live in."

"We will continue to study controlled nuclear fission in the long term, but for now, we are immediately adjusting our core direction, abandoning neutron counterbalancing and slowing down the process, and focusing all our efforts on uncontrolled chain fission, aiming for extreme destructive power to develop the ultimate weapon to deter powerful enemies."

Fang Wen smiled; this was exactly what he wanted.

"It's good that you understand. Let's talk about the nuclear test. Once the project progresses to the testing phase, you know that uncontrolled fission experiments are a thousand times more dangerous. The base in northern Myanmar is densely populated, and if the experiment goes out of control, the consequences will be unimaginable. Moreover, the Japanese intelligence network is spread throughout Southeast Asia. If the nuclear secrets are leaked, the Japanese will definitely seize them in a frenzy."

Jiang Wenjin's expression hardened, and he immediately realized the key hidden danger: "You are right, northern Myanmar must not be used as a nuclear test site. It is best to use a secluded and isolated site, where no one can spy on us or detect us, so that even if the experiment produces shock and radiation, it will not affect any civilized areas."

This is precisely the biggest weakness of the current nuclear weapons program.

Nuclear research in various countries after World War II.

The United States selected a deserted, uninhabited area and subsequently moved its nuclear tests to isolated islands in the Pacific Ocean, conducting 67 tests in the Marshall Islands.

France conducted all of its subsequent nuclear tests in the offshore atolls of French Polynesia.

A remote island, far from the mainland, off-flying routes, and isolated from human habitation, is the only optimal solution for nuclear testing.

“I’ll handle this,” Fang Wen replied.

With the agreement reached, the two concluded their private talks.

Upon returning to the research institute, Jiang Wenjin immediately convened all nuclear physics team members, formally issued a research shift order, sealed off experimental data related to the controllable reactor, and concentrated all efforts on tackling the three core directions of uranium enrichment, critical compression, and uncontrolled chain detonation.

Fang Wen left the research institute, boarded an experimental long-range private seaplane, and flew south into the vast Indian Ocean.

They searched in the southern Indian Ocean, avoiding all merchant shipping routes, colonial outposts, and island settlements.

After several days of sailing, he finally found an uninhabited atoll in the deep sea of ​​the southern Indian Ocean that perfectly met all his needs.

Fang Wen slowly descended the altitude, the fighter jet skimming low over the island, overlooking the entire landscape.

(Unnamed atoll in the southern Indian Ocean)

This isolated atoll, far from all modern sea routes, was never set foot on by European colonists, Japanese reconnaissance ships, or fishing boats from the South Seas.

The entire island consists of a main atoll and several scattered small reefs and islets, isolated in the vast blue sea.

There is a small hill on the west side of the atoll, which is the largest piece of land.

Fang Wen maneuvered the fighter jet to land slowly on the calm surface of the lagoon and headed towards the small hill.

As the plane approached, it was blocked by reefs and could not get closer. Fang Wen then asked Gong Xiuneng to lower the anchor and inflate the inflatable raft.

Afterwards, Fang Wen took Gong Xiuneng and rowed ashore in a rubber raft.

We walked across the beach paved with coral fragments and began an on-site exploration of the island.

The vegetation on the hill is not lush, consisting mainly of low, drought-resistant tropical shrubs, and flocks of seabirds rise and fall and call out among the mudflats and reefs.

The island has a limited biodiversity, consisting only of small terrestrial mammals, native insects, and seabirds; there are no large predators, and no trace of human activity.

The mountain is composed of volcanic rock from a volcanic eruption and can be hollowed out to serve as a laboratory and residential area.

The atoll is surrounded by a huge natural lagoon with calm waters and suitable depth. The waves are completely blocked by the surrounding coral reefs, making it an excellent sea airport.

However, the atoll is surrounded by numerous reefs, and the water is too deep for large ships to approach.

Scattered around the atoll are six or seven isolated small reefs and islands that rise above the sea, separated by several nautical miles. They are open and barren, with no vegetation to cover them, and can be divided into independent experimental areas for separate detonation tests, criticality tests and weapon test explosions.

After the complete exploration was finished, Fang Wenxin finalized the plan.

This unnamed atoll in the southern Indian Ocean will become Taishan's first secret nuclear weapons testing base.

Without further delay, he boarded the plane and returned via the same route, successfully landing at Yangon Port Airport.

Upon landing, he immediately mobilized all engineering materials, building materials, engineering machinery, moisture-proof and anti-corrosion materials, and temporary barracks components under the Taishan Group and moved them all into the cargo hold of the group's semi-aircraft carrier.

With everything prepared, Fang Wen led the construction team and security personnel onto the ship and directed the semi-aircraft carrier to sail towards the isolated island in the southern Indian Ocean.

When approaching the atoll area, large cargo ships cannot get close to the shore due to the dense reefs around them and can only anchor in the deep waters at a distance.

More than ten transport ships were unloaded from the semi-aircraft carrier and loaded building materials, equipment, food, fresh water and protective supplies in batches. With the help of the gentle sea breeze and ocean currents, they shuttled back and forth and transported all the supplies smoothly into the inner lagoon wharf.

After two consecutive days of loading, unloading, and transfer, a massive amount of construction materials were safely unloaded and sorted for storage.

Fang Wen left behind the engineering and security teams to begin work immediately.

The primary tasks were to clear the mudflats, set up temporary camps, and repair the makeshift docks, while simultaneously excavating the western mountainside to excavate the foundation underground works.

Before leaving, he set a rotation rule: the team left behind would build on the spot for a period of one month, and after one month he would sail away again to deliver supplies and replace the rotating personnel. The island coordinates would be strictly sealed off, and no one was allowed to leave the island or record the terrain without permission, so as to eliminate any possibility of leakage.

With arrangements made, the semi-carrier departed the atoll and returned to Yangon.

On the isolated island, construction began. From this moment on, this uninhabited, desolate island hidden in the southern Indian Ocean quietly bore the top-secret mission of rewriting the course of World War II.

With the island base on the initial construction track, the final piece of the puzzle for the nuclear weapons program was left in the preparation phase.

That is high-purity uranium ore resources.

The highest-grade and most uranium-rich known ore veins in the world during World War II were located in the Shinkolobwe mining area in the Belgian Congo in Africa.

Its uranium concentration far exceeds that of all mines in Europe and America, making it the most essential and necessary raw material for forging the world-destroying weapon.

Therefore, Fang Wen's next step will be to travel to the Congo and acquire all the high-quality ore from this mining area. (End of Chapter)