As a journalist, although I have never interviewed Wang Ji, a researcher at the College of Computer Science of the National University of Defense Technology, in person, his noble soul and selfless dedication have left me deeply moved.
Einstein, in his eulogy for Marie Curie, said: "The measure of the greatness of a first-rate person for the age and the course of history lies perhaps even more in their moral character than in their purely intellectual achievements." As a "Model of the Era" (时代楷模), Wang Ji carries his own stories, his own character, and his own power to move people — he is a person who can awaken others. This is the power of a role model, the magnetism of an exemplar.
Wang Ji is known as the "wheelchair scientist." What makes him precious is that he holds his spear in defense of the nation (执戟以卫社稷). He has devoted himself to research on highly reliable software (高可信软件), forging a "security weapon" for informatized warfare (信息化战争), training more than 120 master's and doctoral students for the national defense science and technology enterprise, and at the age of 55 receiving the First Prize of the Military Science and Technology Progress Award. His resolve to serve the nation through scientific research has never wavered, and its results have continued to manifest.
Wang Ji has been commended as a "National Model of Self-Improvement" (全国自强模范). His strength lies in never giving up. Though he tragically lost both legs and was then diagnosed with uremia at the age of 51, his mind never stopped thinking creatively and his hands never stopped writing code.
Having achieved such abundant results, and facing such physical conditions, Wang Ji did not "lie flat" (躺平), nor did he "enjoy life" — instead, he chose to be a scientist in the mold of Luo Jianfu, chose to carry forward the "Galaxy Spirit" (银河精神), and chose to honor his commitments to the Party, the nation, and the military with "highly reliable faith" (高可信的信仰).
This inevitably brings to mind another resolute soldier — Lin Junde, the "Outstanding Scientist Who Dedicated Himself to the National Defense Science and Technology Enterprise."
Lin Junde was both a general and a soldier. He was content with solitude and found joy in hardship, standing guard at Lop Nur for 52 years, leading research personnel in breaking through multiple core and critical technologies, and making outstanding contributions to forging the Republic's nuclear shield.
In May 2012, Lin Junde was diagnosed with late-stage cholangiocarcinoma. During his hospitalization, the words he repeated most often were "I want to work." When people urged him repeatedly to rest for a while, he shook his head again and again, saying: "I cannot rest — once I lie down, I won't be able to get up again." In the final eight days of his life, he still raced against time, working selflessly. After Lin Junde's death, officers and soldiers of a certain base offered this couplet in his memory: "A life of fortitude, toiling in obscurity to accomplish earth-shaking deeds; a lifetime of simplicity, willing to be a person who buries their name and hides their identity."
Lin Junde and Wang Ji are both persons written in capital letters. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out that "a model itself is a kind of political force." Scientists like Wang Ji — their political force lies in awakening and inspiring others through noble character, concrete action, and outstanding contributions. It can be said that they themselves are visible philosophy, living guides to values.
Chen Junwu, a recipient of the "July 1st Medal" (七一勋章), is also a scientist. He never enjoyed a moment of leisure throughout his life, and he has never regretted serving the nation through science and technology. Chen Junwu has a formula for measuring his own worth: "If in one's lifetime contribution exceeds what one takes, life is brilliant; if contribution equals what one takes, life is ordinary; if contribution is less than what one takes, life is dim."
I believe that scientists like Wang Ji deeply understand this formula for measuring one's own worth. Throughout their lives they have held fast to their original aspirations, kept their mission firmly in mind, and devoted themselves with unwavering dedication — and so their lives shine with dazzling brilliance, forging themselves into persons who can awaken others.
"A good role model is like a bell that calls people together." At present, the effort to achieve the centenary goal of army-building (建军一百年奋斗目标) has entered a critical period; the layout of the 15th Five-Year Plan is advancing and its construction is fully underway; tasks of shaping the situation through struggle (斗争塑势), capability building, and training and war preparation are intertwined and advancing in parallel — making it all the more necessary for models to demonstrate and exemplars to lead, continuously igniting the enthusiasm and drive of officers and soldiers to strive to build a centenary army and advance toward a first-class strong military. Let us learn from scientists like Wang Ji, use their exemplary deeds to awaken our own souls, passion, and fighting spirit, reinvigorate the mental energy (精气神) to get things done and forge new ground, actively and proactively contribute our youth, wisdom, and strength to the cause of building a strong military, and write a brilliant chapter in our military lives.