Chasing Peng Jiamu (A Long-form Memoir by Ye Yonglie)

Author: Ye Yonglie
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: On April 13, 2006, news from Xinjiang became a sensation across the national media: a dried-up corpse was discovered near Kukuduk in Lop Nur, suspected to be the remains of Peng Jiaomu. Thus, the famous Shanghai scientist Peng Jiaomu, who disappeared in Lop Nur 26 years ago, once again drew public attention. On June 17, 1980, after the Shanghai scientist Peng Jiaomu disappeared in the deep Gobi Desert of Xinjiang at Kukuduk, Ye Yonglie also joined the search for Peng Jiaomu. With special approval from Qian Xuesen, then Deputy Director of the National Defense Science Commission and a renowned scientist, he became the only writer, besides a reporter from Xinhua News Agency's Xinjiang branch, permitted to enter Lop Nur for the search. Talking about the dried-up corpse suspected to be Peng Jiaomu's remains, Ye Yonglie stated that 26 years later, from a certain perspective, whether the corpse was indeed Peng Jiaomu's remains has become less important. "26 years later, I still hope to publish this book. Today, the purpose of pursuing Peng Jiaomu is more important than reminding people not to forget his spirit and rekindling the memory of people's dedication to science and the frontier in those years. Today, in the wave of developing the western region, it is even more necessary to emphasize Peng Jiaomu's spirit." 26 years ago, the Shanghai scientist Peng Jiaomu disappeared unexpectedly while leading a team into the Lop Desert for exploration, drawing nationwide attention. The famous writer Ye Yonglie, with special approval from Qian Xuesen, then Deputy Director of the National Defense Science Commission and a renowned scientist, entered the highly guarded nuclear base—the 21st Base at that time. As the only writer permitted to enter this restricted area, Ye Yonglie conducted arduous and tense tracking and interviews, obtaining rich and comprehensive first-hand materials. With the passage of time, some of these materials have become harder to access, and reviewing them today makes them even more precious. Due to the complex international and domestic situation at the time, this well-documented long-form work, despite its thorough research, was repeatedly reviewed and ultimately never published. Now, with the discovery of a dried-up corpse suspected to be Peng Jiaomu's remains near Kukuduk in Lop Nur, people once again remember this familiar name, and various rumors and speculations arise. Meanwhile, Ye Yonglie's work, supplemented and revised with new materials, has finally been published to comfort the departed and provide a credible answer to the public.