Me and my country

Chapter 4 The Eve
Director: Guan Hu

Screenwriter: Guan Hu, Ge Rui, Zhang Ke, Liu Pei
Subtitle: Beijing, September 1949, 9
On the eve of the founding ceremony

[-]. Riwai Courtyard in Xianyukou Hutong

A black and white lens of an old-fashioned film camera sweeps across the courtyard walls of ancient hutongs in Beijing.

The viewfinder scans the bullet holes and bloodstains on the courtyard wall, the confiscated sniper rifles, grenades and other weapons, the Taiwanese secret agents and the Italian priest kneeling on the ground.

The Italian priest prayed in a low voice: Dear Lord, merciful God, please forgive me!
The off-screen Russian commentary of the Soviet military reporter: This is an alley called Xianyukou, where a battle has just ended.Obviously, the spy's goal was the founding ceremony two kilometers away.We believe that there are many of their accomplices.What happened in Moscow before seems to have hidden hidden dangers...

The camera panned over Zhao Pengfei, the person in charge of the ceremony design, who came in a hurry.

Zhao Pengfei: Excuse me, excuse me, Zhao Pengfei from the Construction Bureau.

The angry director of the Public Security Bureau faced the public security personnel in front of him.

Director: I have been hiding here for at least two months. Do you have eyes for food?The important task of the country, be very careful, look, it is still under the nose! (to the filming Soviet journalists) Stop!
Soviet journalists went elsewhere to film.

Director: For tomorrow's grand ceremony, we will immediately inform you that the square will be completely sealed off within a radius of two kilometers, and we will investigate again!No one is allowed to enter without my order!If there is any problem again, kill yourself!

Subordinates: Please rest assured, the central column of the public security will act immediately to ensure that the grand ceremony is safe.

[-]. Outside Tiananmen Square in front of Wumen Gate

Zhao Pengfei and others rode in a hurry, and everyone was talking.

Staff A: What a surprise, there are at least three or four thousand spies in Beijing...

Staff member B: Yes, I heard that even Boss Nie's dark green Pierka was shot.Don't dare to have any accidents in the celebration, the last flag-raising test has not been done yet!
Ahead, there was a loud noise.

Staff A: What happened in front?
Tiananmen Square was heavily guarded, and the scaffolding for repairing Tiananmen Square began to be dismantled and removed, and cordons were pulled up one after another.

Military trucks came one after another, jumped off the soldiers of the Central Guard Corps loaded with live ammunition, and ran to Lie Gang.

Many staff were stopped by soldiers, and the two sides are negotiating.

Zhao Pengfei and others turned to Tiananmen Square, but were also stopped by the guards.

Zhao Pengfei: Comrade, we belong to the Construction Bureau, let us go in.

Soldier: No one is allowed to enter without orders from superiors!

Zhao Pengfei: I am the person in charge of the ceremony, we need to check the process again!
Soldier: It's useless to tell me, I'm following the orders of my superiors!No one is allowed to enter without orders from superiors!
Zhao Pengfei: When can I enter?
Soldier: Wait for the superior to lift the ban!
Subtitles: 3 p.m.

Martial law in Tiananmen Square

[-]. Inside/outside the Ceremony Division Office of the Forbidden City

Minister Zhang Zhixiang walked forward with the guard Lao Du, and the voice of the Ceremony Department reporting work came.

Su Fan (voice-over), captain of the choreographer team: The layout of Tiananmen Square is nearing completion. According to Comrade Enlai's instructions, the eight red palace lanterns have also been installed.

Zhong Ling, Chief of the Layout Section (voiceover): The two giant slogans on the tower have been completed, and the 17-character super banner "The Founding Ceremony of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China" can also be completed in the evening.

Architect Zhong Han (voiceover): The base of the flagpole and the white marble balustrade have all been built.

In the room, Zhao Pengfei held a long gun and stared at the crowd as they paced back and forth, while the heads of various departments reported their work nervously.

Zhao Pengfei: I don't have time to revise it, so make sure it's safe?
Everyone answered in the affirmative: Nothing will go wrong!
Zhao Pengfei: What about the national flag?Artificial group?
Lao Fang, the leader of the artificial team: The artificial team is stepping up training, ready to check and accept at any time, to ensure that... nothing goes wrong!
Zhao Pengfei: Decoration department?
Lin Zhiyuan: The electric device raises the flag... I can't guarantee that it will be safe!
Lao Fang, the leader of the artificial team, took a look at Lin Zhiyuan, and everyone was shocked.

Lin Zhiyuan took out his pocket watch and looked at it: There are still 6 hours until the acceptance inspection at 14:100 tomorrow, but the square has been closed, so I have no way to test it again and again.Besides, the electric flag-raising is the first time in China. Scientifically speaking, no one can say that there is [-]% certainty...

Zhao Pengfei gritted his teeth: It's about this time, why don't you tell me this?Acceptance at 6 o'clock tomorrow morning, if something goes wrong, I don't need to kill you, right?
Lin Zhiyuan: There are still ways.

Zhao Pengfei: What method?
Lin Zhiyuan fell into deep thought, recalling...

(A) Inside/Outside of Prince Kung’s Mansion

Caption: September 9

Lin Zhiyuan carefully pondered the charts and calculated the data.

字幕翻动着：9月16日9月17日……9月22日

Lin Zhiyuan (voiceover): How can we ensure that the electric flag raising is safe?I thought about it for half a month and worked on it for half a month.I'm going to rebuild an identical flag raising device according to the ratio of one-third and try it again and again. This one is not wrong, and that one is definitely not a problem.Just say the flagpole, the square flagpole is 22.5 meters, it is connected by 4...

Lin Zhiyuan cuts and welds the flagpole.

Caption: September 9

Lin Zhiyuan (voice-over): We have found the 7.5-meter flagpole according to the scale, sawed it off, and then welded it to achieve complete consistency.

(B) Inside/Outside of Prince Kung’s Mansion

Caption: September 9

Lin Zhiyuan took the manuscript and criticized Liang Changshou: How can the transmission efficiency be calculated according to [-]%?It's going to be a big deal.

Lin Zhiyuan worked hard to build Tiananmen Square in the yard, stretch the wires, carefully place the connection ports, and carefully connect the devices.

Lin Zhiyuan (voiceover): From the power center of the Forbidden City to the 0.9 km below the flagpole of the square, there are three rings and seven connection points.Tiananmen, we scaled down to one-third.Same wires, same materials, same loops and connection points, same switches and devices.Among other things, we need to find scaled down flags and shortened national anthems.

(C) Prince Gong’s Mansion Riwai

Caption: September 9

On the top of the erected building, Lin Zhiyuan, who suffers from fear of heights, was trembling.

Lin Zhiyuan: What are you doing?Flashy, but in the right way.

Liang Changshou walked over carrying the cabinet with difficulty.

Liang Changshou: Aren't you afraid of heights?Come down now.

Lin Zhiyuan: Afraid of heights? 28 years of revolution, 2000 million sacrifices in exchange for the red flag, what can we do?There are only four words we can do - be foolproof.

Back in the Ritual Office, Lin Zhiyuan was still in deep thought.

Zhao Pengfei: What method?
Outside the window, Zhang Zhixiang and Lao Du strode over.

Minister Zhang walked to the next door: Did the scholar shoot?Enough anger!The artificial group Laofang, and the arrangement of Kelin Zhiyuan come out!
Promenade next door.

Zhang Zhixiang to Lao Fang: At 6 o'clock, I will personally check and accept. If there is any problem with Lin Zhiyuan, even if it is extremely small, it will be replaced by you. Be prepared!
Lao Fang: Yes!

Lao Fang smiled triumphantly at Lin Zhiyuan and left.

Zhang Zhixiang: Lin Zhiyuan, come here.

Lin Zhiyuan walked over excitedly.

Zhang Zhixiang: Zhiyuan, I have another task here, which is to convey the decision of the military region: your review has passed.When the flag is raised, you will stand behind Chairman Mao to ensure that Chairman Mao presses the flag-raising button smoothly.

Lin Zhiyuan didn't react for a while.

Zhang Zhixiang: You are well aware of the weight of this honor. The whole world is watching us.

Lin Zhiyuan became excited.

Zhang Zhixiang: Old Du!

Lao Du: Yes!

Zhang Zhixiang: This is the most experienced security officer in Siye, and he cooperates with you in all your work before dawn!
Lin Zhiyuan: Zhiyuan will devote himself to the great event of founding a country!

Lin Zhiyuan clasped his fists to salute Lao Du, and Lao Du returned with a military salute.

Subtitle: 9:30, September 16
There are still 13 hours and 50 minutes before acceptance

[-]. Inside/outside of Prince Gong’s Mansion at dusk

The ground and walls of the courtyard are full of route maps recorded in chalk, and the small Tiananmen Square and the square, which are simply built with tables and chairs, have begun to take shape.

Indoors, a Tiananmen Square flag-raising circuit diagram is pasted on the wall, and the calculated data is clear and complex.

Lao Du observed that in the courtyard, Lin Zhiyuan was struggling to weld the flagpole blocking device while chattering.

Lin Zhiyuan: This is a small-scale experiment I conducted for the electric flag-raising device in the square at a ratio of one-third. Once the square is closed, now you understand the importance of the previous experiment, right?Too many hidden faults cannot be revealed at all. From the button to the square flagpole point, the connecting line in the middle is 527 meters.The bearings, motors, flagpoles, and welding in the middle must all be exactly the same. The national flag and national anthem set on the 27th, but how many times have the square experiments been done?Four times, four times.There is no room for chance in science.Details, details, details...

Lao Du: I think you are just wasting your time. If you have that time, you should go to the scene to investigate and investigate.

Lin Zhiyuan: On-site investigation?I don't have your skills to go in, so I want you to go.

Old Du looked at the motor with great interest: What is yours?
Lin Zhiyuan: Hey, you don't understand electricity, so don't make trouble.

Lao Du: Do you think the electricity is a stream of air or a stream of water?
Lao Du went to touch the motor, was shocked and screamed.

Lao Du: How long have you been messing around with this bunch of crap?
Caption: September 9

Lin Zhiyuan and Liang Changshou are folding the national flag.

Lin Zhiyuan: I have some skills.

Liang Changshou: Once the national flag was determined, all the red silks in Beijing were empty. Do you know how I found it?

Lin Zhiyuan shook his head, Liang Changshou recalled——

Liang Changshou was sitting on the roof, holding a loudspeaker and shouting: Neighbors, whoever has extra red silk, please help.The ceremony is about to begin, and we are in urgent need of red silk.

At night, under the spotlight, there are red cloth and white cloth for flagpole covers in the tray.

Lin Zhiyuan stared closely at the scale on the platform scale, and moved the weight from left to right.

Lin Zhiyuan: The real red flag is five meters long, three meters three wide, and has a total weight of 1120 grams. There is still a surplus of five stars...the only yellow silk and satin is missing...

Subtitle: Morning of September 9

A gentle woman handed a bundle to Lin Zhiyuan, opened it, and it was a beautifully wrapped yellow brocade.

Liang Changshou: Sister-in-law, isn’t this the bottom of the box at home?
Next to it, Lin Zhiyuan picked up the scissors and cut.

Lin Zhiyuan: As long as the national flag can stop smoothly under the action of the blocking device on the top of the flagpole, the experiment will be considered a success.

Lao Du picked up a metal ball, which was snatched by Lin Zhiyuan.

Lin Zhiyuan: If you don't understand, don't move around, okay?This is the blocking device of the flagpole. It is very important to raise the flag, but it is more important to stop it steadily.Everything is ready, only the national anthem is missing.

Liang Changshou ran in frantically holding a wire recorder.

Liang Changshou: I got it!The tape recorder, "The Internationale", and the recorded "March of the Volunteers".

Lin Zhiyuan: Great!
Lin Zhiyuan looked at the tape recorder, excitedly clasped his fists at Liang Changshou, and Liang Changshou returned the salute.

[-]. Inside/Outside of Prince Kung’s Mansion

Lin Zhiyuan and Liang Changshou struggled to erect a flagpole in the center of the courtyard.

Lin Zhiyuan: Prepare the national flag, I will play music.

Beside him, Lao Du was talking on the phone: Got it, Chief...

The speed of the machine was unstable, sometimes fast and sometimes slow, and the sound changed. Lin Zhiyuan pinched the watch and kept testing.

Lao Du: I have good news for you. The chief has given us permission to enter the square.

Lin Zhiyuan ignored it completely: it was different every time, and this speed was too unstable.

Lao Du: Where are you going?

Lin Zhiyuan: I am looking for music.

Lao Du: What kind of music are we looking for? Didn’t I tell you, the chief has already granted us permission to enter the square.

Lin Zhiyuan: What are you doing in the square?You can't find the root of the problem, you can't find the hidden danger, and it's useless to go to the square a hundred times.

Lao Du: Going to the square for field investigation is of course much better than here.

Lin Zhiyuan: What I am looking for now is exactly the same music, do you understand?
Old Du squeezed Lin Zhiyuan: I said, why don't you eat oil and salt?
Lin Zhiyuan: Pay attention to your behavior.

Lao Du: What happened to my behavior?
Lin Zhiyuan: I said looking for music, am I wrong?

Lao Du: How can you find exactly the same?If you want to follow your theory, the flagpole is the same, the time is the same, and the place is the same, do I need 2 people to watch you?

Lin Zhiyuan: Yes.

Lao Du: Okay, I'll find it for you now.Come!

Lin Zhiyuan: Don't do this to me.

Old Du: You come to me, you!
Lao Du dragged Lin Zhiyuan away.

Lin Zhiyuan was locked into the room by Lao Du and slammed the door frantically.

Lin Zhiyuan: You don't believe me, but you can't believe in science.I don't want music anymore, can I just pinch the watch and airlift?

Liang Changshou: Ah, the national anthem is not used for raising the national flag?

Lin Zhiyuan: I asked you to cooperate with my work. Is this how you cooperate with my work?
Lao Du told Liang Changshou: Don't look at it, you can't let him out, this is a military order!

Liang Changshou was in a dilemma.

Lin Zhiyuan patted on the window: Du, do you think that what rose up was just a piece of red cloth?Delayed raising the flag, are you worthy of the 2000 million compatriots who died?
After listening to Lin Zhiyuan's words, Lao Du hesitated.

Sixth, the street outside

Lao Du is riding a bicycle in alleys and streets...

The lights and festoons on the road, the smiling and excited people seemed to have nothing to do with him.

Subtitle: 9:30, September 18
There are still 11 hours and 43 minutes before acceptance

[-]. Outside of Prince Gong’s Mansion at night

Lin Zhiyuan has been released by Liang Changshou.

Liang Changshou: Now, I have violated the military order.

Lin Zhiyuan: There is a problem with the electric flag-raising device, which is the biggest violation of military orders.Raise the flag!
Someone was watching furtively from the roof.

Lin Zhiyuan: Get ready, start!
Lin Zhiyuan counted down loudly, pressed the button nervously, and the national flag was raised slowly.

Listening to the ticking of the pocket watch, Lin Zhiyuan chanted: 18, 17, 16, 15...

The national flag was raised halfway to the flagpole, and suddenly the courtyard was pitch black and the power was cut off.

Lin Zhiyuan: Here we go again, where is the generator?

[-]. In the auditorium of the compound of the Artillery Command of the North China Military Region of Huangsi at night

During the national anthem, the conductor is leading the rehearsal of the military band.

At the door, Commander-in-Chief Luo Lang: Borrow someone? The "March of the Volunteers", which was set on the 27th, will be used as the national anthem. Three military bands, more than 200 people, I will use the main tune and an octave bass to accompany it.

Lao Du: Lao Luo, you have more than 200 people, how many of you can die with me?
Luo Lang: You don't understand music theory, so I don't care about you!
Old Du: If the flag on my side cannot be raised, you will be blowing it for nothing, will you be blowing it for nothing?Listen to me first, can three people do it?
Luo Lang: Find Chairman Mao!

Lao Du: How about two?

Luo Lang: How about buying cabbage?
Lao Du: One head office, right?

Luo Lang's expression softened.

[-]. Outdoors at night in the backyard of the compound of the Artillery Headquarters of the North China Military Region of Huangsi
In the corner, a trumpet player was playing the national anthem. Old Du Xunsheng came to him and listened with a pocket watch in his hand.

At the end of the song, Lao Du: 48 seconds, a second is not bad!

The trumpet player who was playing the alarm clock saw him stop, looking lonely.

Trumpeter: What's the use? It's also a substitute.

Lao Du: I will give you a job that is not a substitute—raise the flag!
When the trumpet player heard the words, his eyes lit up!
[-]. Outside of Prince Gong’s Mansion at night

Lin Zhiyuan and Liang Changshou carried the generator.

Liang Changshou: Why is there always a power outage?
Lin Zhiyuan raised his head and looked at the national flag: This is because too many people have sacrificed, God lowered the flag at half-staff to pay tribute!
Liang Changshou: How about two generators tomorrow?
Lin Zhiyuan: Are both sets broken?Even if it is three or four, there is still a chance.

Liang Changshou: What about the artificial group, can you support it?
Lin Zhiyuan stared at him: artificial group?Lao Fang?He wished we could do a good job.That person has a small mind, just a little bit.

There was a loud laugh, and Lao Fang showed his head on the roof.

Old Fang: You are a poor scholar who speaks ill of people behind your back. My old Fang has been lying here watching you all night.But, to be honest, raising the flag is still your electric prestige!Well, let me help you, the country is glorious!Come in!
Suddenly there were several more flag-raisers in the courtyard, smiling shyly.

Old Fang: Xiaolei Xiaojia, you two stay here and make sure they raise the flag smoothly!
Flag-raiser: Yes!
In the alley by the side door, Lao Fang left and met with Lao Du and the trumpeter who came over.

Lao Fang: It’s up to you, Lao Du!

Lao Du was stunned for a moment and didn't understand.

The trumpeter looked at the dilapidated courtyard wall.

Lao Du: Why don't you go in?

Trumpeter: Right here?Although I am a substitute, I am also the marching band trumpeter!You asked me to play the national anthem here?

Lao Du: You used to be a student, right?I used to be a student, but now I am a soldier, and a soldier has to obey orders.do you know?Everything that happened here today is a preparation for raising the flag tomorrow.People all over the world are looking at this flag!
A gentle woman came and looked in from the door, but Lao Du stopped her.

Lao Du: What are you doing?

The woman still has to go in.

Lao Du: What are you doing?

The woman hesitated: Lao Lin hasn't been home for a month.

The woman gave Lao Du a burden: this is his favorite donkey roll.I won't go in and bother him.

Old Du: Lin Zhiyuan?
Woman: Yes.

Lao Du: Look at his awareness!
Trumpeter: I am from the Department of Western Languages ​​of Peking University, and I understand the truth, sir!
Subtitle: 10:1, September 1
There are still 4 hours and 17 minutes before acceptance

[-]. Inside/outside of Prince Gong’s Mansion at night

The old generator blew and quivered, and the yard lights came on.

Lin Zhiyuan excitedly shook the trumpeter's hand: great, great.

Lin Zhiyuan wanted to pat Lao Du on the shoulder, hesitated, and hugged Lao Du.

Lin Zhiyuan: Okay, finally everything is ready, then we are going to...

The trumpeter and the flag-raiser were engrossed, and Lao Du watched nervously.

Lin Zhiyuan: Prepare, start!
Lin Zhiyuan counted down again, pressed the button, the trumpeter played the national anthem, and the flag raiser was always ready.

The red flag is slowly rising amidst the sound of bugles.

Lin Zhiyuan listened to the pocket watch with his ears fixed on the rising red flag.

Finally, the music ended, and the red flag happened to rise to the top——

Suddenly, Hongqi broke through the top device, and the metal ball fell down.

Everyone froze in place, and there was no sound for a while.

The generator stopped and the yard was once again darkened.

Liang Changshou picked up the blocking ball and ran over: the blocking ball was broken.

Lin Zhiyuan seemed completely depressed.

Subtitle: 10:1, September 2
There are still 3 hours and 49 minutes before acceptance

In the yard, Liang Changshou and others have already brought down the flagpole and are checking the blocking device of the flagpole.

Old Du came up: what's going on?

Liang Changshou: The blocking ball made of this material will be brittle and broken after a long time of rusting.As an emergency method, three rare metals, zinc, chromium, and nickel, must be added to the alloy to make it into steel.

Lao Du: It's about this time, where can I find it?

Liang Changshou thought about it, and suddenly ran up to the roof with a "boom".

Lao Du raised his head and pondered, walked to the main room, and shook the phone: Help me connect with Wu Kehua, commander of the 41st Army...

On the roof, Liang Changshou shouted with a loudspeaker: Neighbors, we urgently need zinc, chromium, and nickel.Anyone who has semiconductor radios, cupronickel, or related metal items, please send them over as soon as possible.For the founding ceremony, please everyone.

Inside, Lao Du walked in and looked at the sad man in the corner.

Lao Du: Lost so easily?

Lin Zhiyuan: The material of the blocking device is the same as that of the flagpole in the square. I dare not take the risk, and it is too late to change it.

Lao Du: I reported the situation to the old head of the four fields. Now, brothers from a battalion are looking for zinc, nickel and so on all over the city... I think recruiting is more difficult than difficult...

Lin Zhiyuan looked at Lao Du blankly.

In the yard, there was silence. Everyone looked at Liang Changshou, who was listless there, and muttered.

Flag-raiser: No one cares about us, let’s try our luck at 6 o’clock in the morning...just go to Tiananmen Square and press the button to find out.

Lao Du got up and went out: If there is a problem at 6 o'clock in the morning, all your hard work will be in vain!This is the first national flag of New China, and nothing can go wrong. (To Liang Changshou) You understand this better than me, right?
Liang Changshou: No one comes, what can I do?
An old man came in with an oil lamp, holding a copper pipe pot (timidly): Comrade, is it the ceremony preparation office?Do you think my pipe and pot can be used?
Liang Changshou rushed over, grabbed it, and rubbed it with his sleeve.

Liang Changshou: Sir, this is copper, we can't use it.

Uncle: Oh, use it if you can.

Someone came in again and asked: Comrade, this is the preparation office for the grand ceremony, right?Comrade, where is this donated?

Old Du (happily): Inside, inside...

A chef held up a spoon: Comrade, look at my spoon!

Lao Du: Ask them.

Many people came in from the backyard one after another. Lao Du followed them out and found that the alley was full of people. There were teachers holding gold-rimmed glasses, opera actors who had not unloaded their clothes holding a big knife, and soldiers with broken legs holding a knife. Take the bullet casings, a child holds up a few Yuan Datou...

The old man in a long robe and mandarin jacket held a box, opened it, and there were two gold bars inside!

All of a sudden lights came on, calls came, lights illuminated all kinds of people, all kinds of objects.

Everyone had the joy of the founding of New China and the pride of having done their part for the ceremony.

Infected by everyone, Lin Zhiyuan gradually got up and walked out, looking at everyone gratefully, with tears in his eyes.

In the background, the yard is full of people, Lao Du maintains order, and Liang Changshou chooses the objects sent by everyone.

Liang Changshou: Everyone, don't worry, come one by one.

A woman holding a child is holding a longevity lock: This is the child's longevity lock, and it is said that she will be strong when she is young.

Someone hurried over with something in their hands and took away the blanket covering it. It turned out to be a precious radio.

An intellectual came forward with a sample: mine is useful. I am a professor of chemistry at Tsinghua University. This is the only sample left in our chemistry laboratory - chromium.

Liang Changshou bowed to him excitedly, and Lin Zhiyuan looked at everyone gratefully.

Foreground smelting furnace, all kinds of carefully selected metals, Lin Zhiyuan melted those suitable objects with smelting equipment, the molten steel gradually flowed into the mold, and transformed into a spherical shape.

The door suddenly opened, and the old lady with little feet rushed in with the picket team.

Picket team leader: From the Beijing picket team.There are so many people at night, what's the situation?

Lao Du: I am from the 41st Army and I am preparing for the flag raising tomorrow.

Picket Team Leader: We just came from Tiananmen Square, something happened there...

Lin Zhiyuan was shocked: What happened?
Picket Captain: I heard the flag was involved.

[-]. Streets heading towards Tiananmen / Outside Prince Gong’s Mansion at night

Lin Zhiyuan, Lao Du, and Liang Changshou drove all the way to Tiananmen in the small bus of the picket team.

Along the way, some parades have already marched towards Tiananmen Square, and some student groups are singing songs.

Prince Gong's Mansion compound.Lin Zhiyuan packed a full set of welding equipment into the toolbox, and the metal ball was rapidly cooled.

Lin Zhiyuan (voice-over): We must hurry up and climb up the flagpole, and replace it with a new blocking device by gas welding to ensure that when the flag is raised, no matter what the wind conditions, the flag will not lose control.

Subtitle: 10:1, September 5
57 minutes before acceptance
[-]. Police cordon in front of Tiananmen Square / Outside Prince Gong’s Mansion at night

The jeep moved on.

Prince Gong's Mansion compound.Lin Zhiyuan packed the cooled metal balls in a bag and carried them on his back. He carried complicated welding equipment and masks on his back, and it was difficult for him to walk.

Picket Team Leader: There is a car at my door.

Lin Zhiyuan (voice-over): The welding device is actually the craft of a curium bowl. At least two people are needed, and only one person can be on the flagpole. Only I can weld here, but it’s too late, too late...

The jeep was stopped at the second cordon.

The leader of the picket team got off the car: Comrade, we are from the Beijing picket team.There's an emergency inside and we have to get in right away.

Lao Du jumped out of the car and showed his ID: Comrade, we are from the Security Department of the 41st Army.Now there is such a situation that there is a problem with the electric flag-raising device in the square. We are responsible for overhauling it, and all the equipment is on the car.

Soldier: I'm sorry comrade, in order to ensure the smooth progress of the founding ceremony, no vehicles are allowed to enter!

Lao Du: I know, but now the equipment is in the car.

Unable to bear it, Lin Zhiyuan simply jumped out of the car, and ran towards the square with all his equipment on his back.It's getting windy.

Lao Du, Liang Changshou and the captain of the picket team chased after him, and everyone ran.

Everyone ran wildly all the way, even though they were exhausted, they still gritted their teeth and persisted.

Lin Zhiyuan (voice-over): In a few hours, it will be the founding ceremony, and Chairman Mao will personally press this electric device.At that time, there will be 20 people in the square watching, [-] million compatriots in the whole country watching, and people all over the world watching.At this momentous moment in history, despite being extremely careful, something went wrong.After so many tests, why did something happen before the acceptance?If something went wrong when Chairman Mao pressed the button, the consequences... I dare not think about it!History has given me this kind of favor, and I have the opportunity to stand at the node of historical change. No matter what, I must ensure that the first national flag of New China will be raised smoothly!
[-]. Outside the left gate of Tiananmen at night

Lin Zhiyuan was stopped again by soldiers from the Central Column of the Public Security Bureau.

Soldiers: No one is allowed near the flagpole without special permission!
Lin Zhiyuan looked at the flagpole in the distance, a group of people headed by Zhao Pengfei surrounded the flagpole, and the blocking device was broken, just like the test.

The two brothers of the Ma family, who were playing tricks on the overpass, were climbing and taking down the national flag.

Zhao Pengfei was looking up anxiously.

In desperation, Lin Zhiyuan shouted: Zhao Pengfei!
Zhao Pengfei turned his head.

[-]. The night outside the flagpole up and down

Everyone came to the flagpole.

Lin Zhiyuan looked at the towering flagpole, hesitated, and began to wear climbing iron shoes.

Brother Ma: It's too windy up there, it's not safe for you to bring so many things.

Lin Zhiyuan ignored him, and Lao Du stepped forward to help, stuffing a piece of donkey into his mouth and rolling.

Lao Du: Don't be nervous, just don't look down!It's over, go back to the house to see my wife, she is not easy!Here, the donkey rolls!

Lin Zhiyuan looked at him, bit the donkey and rolled, nodded slightly.

The Ma brothers took the lead in climbing up the flagpole, tied the rope, and threw it down. Lao Du, Liang Changshou, Zhao Pengfei, the leader of the picket team and others grabbed them respectively.

Picket Team Leader: The ones behind, hurry up!
Zhao Pengfei: Young man, are you tied up?
Brother Ma: Don’t worry about Tianqiao’s craftsmanship!

Lin Zhiyuan began to climb tremblingly alone.

Lin Zhiyuan, who was afraid of heights, was sweating profusely and trembling all over.He gritted his teeth and tried to crawl a little bit.

The people below were divided into three groups and struggled to hold on to the big rope. Lao Du and Liang Changshou gritted their teeth and exerted their full strength, Zhao Pengfei exerted their full strength, and the Ma brothers exerted their full strength...

The wind was getting stronger and stronger, and the top of the flagpole was shaking violently. Lin Zhiyuan couldn't help crying out in horror and dared not move.

Zhao Pengfei: Why did you stop?Then climb!

Lao Du: It's almost 6 o'clock!

Liang Changshou: Don't look down, you won't be afraid if you keep looking up.

Lin Zhiyuan summoned up his courage: Don't worry, there is no problem.

Finally, Lin Zhiyuan climbed to the top of the pole in sweat, and while shaking, he took out the equipment and lit the fire.

He tried to calm down, took out the welding torch, and re-soldered the blocking device—the metal ball.

In the night sky, the welding torch spewed out dots of flame.

Lin Zhiyuan's sweaty face flickered in the firelight, and he seemed not so scared anymore.

Below, everyone was watching him quietly, and Minister Zhang rushed to join the crowd pulling the rope and looked up at him.

Welding is complete.

Lao Du looked at him from below, smiled, and raised his fists.Lin Zhiyuan also smiled and gave him a military salute.

Lin Zhiyuan, who was exhausted physically and mentally, looked back, the east began to turn white, and Tiananmen Square stood tall.

He took out his pocket watch, and the hands were about to point to 6 o'clock.

他将怀表放在耳边，伴随着嘀嗒声，他轻声倒数着：10、9、8、7、6……

[-]. Tiananmen Rostrum inside/outside

Subtitle: 10:1, September 15
The ocean-like red flag is flying, the red flag is still a red flag!

Lin Boqu's voice came: Vice Chairman Zhu De, Vice Chairman Liu Shaoqi, Vice Chairman Soong Ching Ling, Vice Chairman Li Jishen, Vice Chairman Zhang Lan, and Vice Chairman Gao Gang are invited to take their seats...

In the room of the gate tower, Lin Zhiyuan waited nervously for the ceremony to start together with other staff members.

The noise came: Chairman Mao is here, Chairman Mao is here!
The sound of footsteps and noise gradually approached, and everyone became excited.

Lin Zhiyuan walked out amid everyone's pushing and shoving, and Lin Boqu's voice came again: Chairman Mao of the Central People's Government please speak!

The gate opened, and the figures of Chairman Mao and others finally appeared on the Tiananmen Gate tower, attracting everyone's attention.

From a distance, Lin Zhiyuan watched the chairman's back excitedly.

Chairman Mao: The Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China was established today!

The crowd rejoiced, and Lin Zhiyuan was in a trance like a dream.

Lin Boqu: Chairman Mao please raise the flag!Chairman Mao please raise the national flag!

The chairman turned around to look for the button, Lin Zhiyuan suddenly came to his senses, and walked behind the chairman very resolutely (in a low voice): press the button and turn it around, chairman!

Chairman Mao solemnly turned the button, the national anthem was played, gun salutes were fired, and the five-star red flag was slowly raised.

Everyone watched this scene solemnly, and someone sang softly.

Finally, the five-star red flag rose steadily to the top of the flagpole, fluttering with the wind.

At this time, Lin Zhiyuan was staring at the five-star red flag fluttering in the wind.He couldn't hold back anymore, and wept softly.

In the apse of the Forbidden City, Lin Zhiyuan walked alone on the quiet corridor, smiling happily.

After a long pause, he suddenly jumped up high and smiled like a child.

Director's Notes on the Founding Ceremony: "Eve"

From childhood to adulthood, the concept of "motherland" in the minds of our generation should be the red flags all over the sky, the battle against foreign humiliation, the images of heroes, the endless treasures of great rivers and mountains, or the loud and clear voices on the field. The national anthem, the sound of the crowd, and so on, made up of these big, strong elements...

At the beginning of 2019, a task of shooting a film about the concept of "motherland" came to me. At that time, I really realized how difficult it is to realize this concept concretely.If all these big and powerful elements are put on the screen as before, it shouldn't be the task of our generation!

The anxiety in my heart, only I know...

Fortunately, when I was nearly middle-aged, I once had a chance to have physical contact with my father, which is rare for a Chinese-style father and son!At that time, when I carried my 93-year-old father on my back, I suddenly felt that he was so light, so light that I couldn't believe that it was the strong father who swung my arms when I was a child...

Time has unknowingly taken away the only bond that maintains our emotions - life, at that moment, my heart is the softest...

At that time, I really got to know my father, and learned about his life journey when he ran away from his hometown at the age of 14, followed Luo Ronghuan's 115th division and fought across the country, narrowly escaped death, and finally had the opportunity to come to Beijing to participate in the founding ceremony...

I dare not say it is magnificent, but they must have completely different emotions from our generation for the land where they grew up. I am sure...

Later, I returned to my hometown to participate in a ceremony to pay homage to my ancestors.That morning, the eyes were full of unfamiliar and simple faces of the villagers. They were faces with shy and friendly smiles that had been exposed to the sun for a long time, with rough skin.Although I don't know each other, the feeling of "friendship" at the moment of meeting is unprecedented for me, and it will linger in the days to come, no matter what...

Film preparations begin.Most of the current crews are composed of a group of "post-90s" young people. It is hard for me to believe that they would empathize with our state of mind when "sitting next to a high grain pile and listening to my mother tell about the past".The generation gap is normal, the growth environment is different, and the thinking should be different!
In fact, in my spare time, I was also curious about how they felt about the land where I was born and raised. Most of the answers I got were vague. Sometimes they would face me and give me a little incomprehensible smile.

So don't make delusions, just assign tasks!
However, I was wrong...

This year, a particularly popular video was circulated on the Internet. It was a scene where a symphony orchestra suddenly appeared at the Capital Airport and played the song "My Motherland and Me".From the crazy biography of the children, I learned about the reaction of the people present that day. The sudden shock of the soul and the sincere emotion came out of every Chinese involuntarily from the bottom of their hearts.Seeing the tears-filled faces of ordinary people, we "old guys" couldn't help but were all moved!
That day, a little girl who is usually lazy "post-95" was secretly watching this video in the corner. When I turned around, I was surprised to find that the child was already in tears.Facing my gaze, she not only didn't have any embarrassment, but also wiped away her tears and smiled...

The dialogue is simple: "Why are you crying?" "Of course, I am also Chinese. Are you not crying?"

The shooting is approaching, and the concept of "motherland" is still difficult for me to grasp, but I know that she is not only a hazy impression, but also a deep-rooted detail.She changes every day, at least for me today, it is more the smell of my mother's shirt and hair, my father's rough and strong palm, the applause of my classmates, the silent persistence of my comrades in arms, and the various shapes of people on the street. The back view, or the way the children laughed at the most difficult time...

Too many subtle elements build up the water and soil in our lives. I am very glad that I grew up in such a group, with the same black hair, the same black eyes, speaking the same language, and people helping each other to overcome all difficulties. Risk until today...

Recalling a sentence that Deng Gong once said: "I am the son of the Chinese people, and I love my motherland and people deeply."

I think we are all...

Guan Hu
April 2019

(End of this chapter)