Then came the shouts of the announcer，“Success！Success！For the first time on the Liaoning, a wholly Chinese-designed and-produced military aircraft has successfully landed on our aircraft carrier.”
For the rest of the day, all conversations were on the topic of the Liaoning and its fighter jet. As I was a naval officer, people came to me one after another, to express their interest and congratulations.
I would have never expected that, at daybreak on the next day as I listened again to the morning news, it was reported that Luo Yang, the Chief Field Commander of the trial flight of China's J-15 fighter jets had passed away. J-15 fighter jets?Weren't those the aircraft used during yesterday's successful landing?Luo Yang?Wasn't he the father of those“eagles”?！I saw Luo Yang on the screen as he left the aircraft carrier yesterday, an image of complete exhaustion, held together only by a little smile.It left with me a deep and profound impression.Our“eagles”had lost their“father”.From then on, I would never forget the name Luo Yang.
On the 11th of December, I received a call from Sun Dequan, the Head of the Chinese Writers Association's Department, who asked me，“The Association is preparing a group interview concerning Luo Yang to be held at Shenyang. Would you like to be involved?”Without thinking, I opened my mouth and said，“Yes！”So, due to my naval connection with Luo Yang's development of the carrier-based fighter jets, and as a naval writer myself, I joined as the lead oflour group interview.
Due to weather related delays, our flight was late, and at dark all of us finally arrived to Shenyang Taoxian Airport on the afternoon of the 12th. We were greeted by a frozen world of snow and silver ice.Entering the city by car, I realized that taxis lined the roadsides, and as we drove past I could see that in front of each one, banners were being rolled out with messaged such as：“Luo Yang, the pride of Shenyang！”
Nine people attended the group interview, and all admitted they had never before set foot on the strange space of an aviation. That night before during a coordination meeting, we were all asked to sign a confidentiality agreement, making the interview at once even more mysterious and sacred.
Apart from as a civilian flying on commercial aircrafts during business trips, I had almost no understanding of the world of aviation, and couldn't even describe the difference between“aviation”and“aerospace”.
After a few days of intensive interviews, I had seen almost every corner of the Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute and Shenyang Corporation Headquarters. The whole experience had left me feeling stunned.The aviation industry had been of such crucial importance to national economic development and defense construction, and indeed our aircraft carrier had become the hope of the common people.In September of 2012，the first aircraft carrier was officially delivered to the Chinese Navy with the world watching on, and only after a few short months, using our own design and production we successfully landed a carrier-based plane on the ship, lifting the national excitement again to new levels.As a representative oflour aviation personnel, and as a model of modern intellect, Luo Yang leads and now leaves behind a team of unsung heroes that had created outstanding contributions to the nation.
Just as China Aviation Industry Group Chairman Lin Zuoming has said，“There is simply no way to praise him（Luo Yang）enough.”Returning from Shenyang back to Beijing, I wrote a 10，000-characters report, titled The Tragedy of Luo Yang which was published in both The Peoples Naval News and The Journal of Art and Literature, to dedicate respect to the soul of Luo Yang.
It is said that all that could be written about Luo Yang has now been finished.
But as the days go on we continue to dig deeper, Luo Yang's exhausted image and tragic little smile continue to come back in my mind, and I still concern myself over him, to the point that it becomes an indescribable obsession. Accordingly, I made a request to the Chinese Writers Association to write a book for Luo Yang.
Friends have asked me with some concern，“Luo Yang?Is he really worth so much of your time and effort?”After many years writing on single themes and using unique angles, I am usually content that I have provided enough of an explanation in my works.
A commentator has once said that for every generation there will always exist issues that cause much pain and anxiety. When embodied together as the greatest issues oflour time, they could be referred to by a common theme, as“the urgency of the times”.The people and events that take place within these themes not only influence people's lives, they change the relationships between us, they deeply affect the social atmosphere, our moral consciousness and behaviour, and even are able to alter the whole course of history.If, due to ignorance, fear or conceit a writer of that time neglects the themes of the time, then this is a dereliction of duty and a failure.
Luo Yang's spirit was a driving force oftenergy, surging forward on the tide oflour generation, and I believe that Luo Yang embodies this“urgency oflour times”. How could I neglect him or hold conceit?Moreover how could I disregard, or even escape him！
Therefore, I once again turned to walk in the footsteps of Luo Yang.
Investigative writing requires both feet to“walk”towards the subject. Whether or not I am able to write a good story for Luo Yang that captures his life, requires the initial task of proper interviewing.From December of last year until March of this year, I“walked”through Luo Yang's Old School, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, through China Aviation Industry Group, the parental group of his unit, through Luo Yang's workplace, the Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute, and through Shenyang Aircraft Corporation Ltd.
Searching one by one for people that had connected with Luo Yang, I held 70 to 80 detailed and thorough interviews. In addition, I wrote one by one on all“crucial”aspects of the story；the esoteric and complicated designs, as well as production processes with all of the strange and incomprehensible terminologies of the aviation industry.Most importantly though, it was essential that I quickly“walked”into the very spirit of aviation, to comprehensively feel and understand the emotions of Luo Yang.
My correspondents were also caught up with my“strict”reporting attitude. The head of Shenyang Aircraft Corporation's Publicity Department said to me，“Over the past few days many media reporters have come here to conduct interviews, but most stay for two to three days and then leave；a few came to shoot footage, and three seminars have been held where some watched video information, but they leave after a few days too.You have been the only writer that has ceaselessly searched for people to speak with.Morning, noon and night are still at it, and you have found many things that even we did not know, digging to the bottom of everything.As of this moment, I am finally convinced about you.”
I answered half-jokingly：“Investigative writing requires the least skill！We are incapable of fiction, and do not dare to imagine, and can only write the truth. Without a bit of digging, I wouldn't have anything to write about at all！”
Through a large number of interviews, and by carefully surveying Chinese aviation history（the China Aviation Industry Academicians Series），I gradually came to understand that, in order to catch up and surpass the most advanced world standards, generations of aviation workers have worked their fingers to the bone through selfless dedication. Luo Yang was never alone.“Luo Yang”represents these efforts；those countless sons and daughters oflour country whom, like Luo Yang himself, through brilliance, without complaint nor regret, through persistence and sacrifice have made our grand nation, which proudly stands in the world despite generations of suffering.
When undertaking investigative writing, we always hope for a story, as with a story there is a beginning.
When writing on heroes, we strive to find both the light of glory and the shortcomings too. The light glory reflects the spirit, and in fact the shortcomings serve to show that the heroes are also real.But through the actual interviews I undertook, the most perplexing thing I found was that most people told me that“Luo Yang doesn't have a story”，and that“Luo Yang doesn't have any shortcomings.”Slowly I came to the realization that the quiet and plain Luo Yang's that I was to write about, with his“no story”and“no shortcomings”，was more real and credible.
Investigative writing is a kind of creative documentation, where the life of the writing is in the“truth”. But what is the“truth”?Is everything that you see and hear the“truth”?And how a complicated society is able to mask the real sensory perceptions of truth！As with all of the information on Luo Yang, however much of it does really belong to a hero, we must carefully inspect it.We must not make mistakes, even if they cause only a slight deviation in detail, as they may give rise to incorrectly“harming”the figure oflour writing.
During the first draft of Son of the Nation, I had originally written this concerning Yang Shengjie, whom had given Luo Yang a gift in order to help her grandson's job prospects：
“Luo Yang, this is for your trouble……Take this 20，000 RMB，”said Yang Shengjie, taking an envelope from his pocket.
Luo Yan's facial expression changed, as he said，“What is this for?”
Yang Shengjie hesitated，“This, is not for you, it is to give to the staff you instruct……”
“Master Yang, deep in your heart, do you think I would compromise myself for 20，000 RMB?”Luo Yang said with a stern expression, then turning and getting into his car, closing the door with the bang and driving away.
I sent the first draft to Luo Yang's wife Wang Xili, and asked if she could provide feedback. After a few days, she told me by phone，“Teacher Huang, how is it that Master Yang explained to you such a situation?Is it to emphasize that‘Luo Yang was upset by the gift, so got into his car, slammed the door shut and drove off?'”I thought for a minute, then replied，“In fact no, it was just to say that Luo Yang did not accept the money.I thought myself that this event had hurt Luo Yang's self-esteem, and so he got into his car, slammed the door shut and drove off.It was through this description that I was trying to reflect Luo Yang's unhappy state”.
Wang Xili said，“This would not have occurred. Based on my years of understanding, even if Luo Yang was unhappy, he would have controlled his own emotions, and put himself in the position of the elderly person, acknowledging this as Yang Shengjie's action of last resort.Here, the most he would have said would be，‘You are an elderly person, and you needn't be like this'.He certainly would not have slammed the car door and drove off.This is because Luo Yang fears causing the embarrassment ofielderly people, and is afraid to damage the pride of others.Luo Yang is always considerate of others—This is Luo Yang！”I said that I understood.
Therefore, I carefully amended this section to
“Luo Yang, thank you so much……Take this 20，000 RMB……”said Yang Shengjie, taking an envelope from his pocket.
Luo Yan's facial expression changed, as he said，“What is this for?”
Yang Shengjie hesitated，“This, is not for you, it is to give to the staff you instruct……”
“Master Yang, you really shouldn't……”said Luo Yang. He felt uncomfortable, but said no more for fear of embarrassing the elderly man.Luo Yang hurried to his car, and not forgetting to roll down the window, waved to the old man from inside as he left.
As I have said before, investigative writing is an art that“dances in shackles”.
I have engaged in over 30 years of investigative writing, and interviewed countless people in that time. I deliberately choose to write about Luo Yang because I have felt the urge and the full motivation to carry out this book.Writing about Luo Yang has been a transcendental process of my own meditations：he has lived a life in such a reassured and calm style in a world of superficial desires, and he has always been looking beyond material gains and secular values.Luo Yang's career in aviation as his life-long faith, is indeed the career oflour nation and our people's destiny.A man with faith will always live a purified life with more meaning.Everything seems small when looking on top of a great mountain and Luo Yang had proved himself to be such a great mountain.
I would like to thank the China's Writers Association for trusting me with such a great theme.
Thanks to the China Aviation Industry Corporation, the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, and the Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute for their support.
Thanks to the Liaoning Provincial Party Committee Publicity Department, and to the Spring Arts Publishing House for entrusting Luo Yang to myself.
And thanks to my many teachers and friends in the field of literature, for reading the first draft and providing affirmation and valuable amendments.
When the manuscript finally came out I exhaled a deep breath, though finding that my heart was still full with the excitement and emotion of Luo Yang. Through the work of Son of the Nation, I offer my reverence as the recollections of cherished memories, though these collections are but the spirit of the man！
August 2013，Dashu
Completed in Beijing Naval Residential Compound
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