Volume 1: The Dragon in the Abyss
Chapter 7: Provincial Capital's Game
VII. Boardroom Warfare
[Part 1: Provincial Capital - Contrast of Two Worlds]
Provincial Electric Power Company headquarters, located in the city's most prosperous CBD core.
A 43-story glass curtain wall building, glinting with cold metallic luster in sunlight. On the exterior facade, four gilded characters "State Grid" gleamed at ten meters high. Surrounding luxury shops, five-star hotels, international conference centers—air filled with coffee and perfume scents.
Chen Yang and Lin Xiao stood at the building entrance, both appearing somewhat out of place.
Chen Yang wore a brand-new suit—Old Zhang had forced it on him, saying "can't wear work clothes to Provincial HQ." But the suit clearly didn't fit, sleeves slightly long, tie not quite standard. His skin appeared dark from years of sun exposure, calloused hands visible when shaking hands.
Lin Xiao's business attire was proper, but she carried a huge backpack containing laptop, backup batteries, cables, demonstration equipment... heavy as a stone. She insisted on carrying it herself, not letting Xiao Li help, saying "this is my combat gear."
"Ready?" Chen Yang asked.
"Yeah." Lin Xiao inhaled deeply. "Though honestly, I prefer mountain meetings. At least there's no AC chill there."
Chen Yang smiled: "Let's go. What must come will come."
The elevator ascent was like crossing from one world to another.
First floor lobby—security, reception, visitors, everyone hurrying, expressions serious. Twentieth floor, office area—cubicles densely packed with employees, keyboard tapping rising and falling. Thirty-fifth floor, conference level—thick carpet in corridors, walls hung with past leaders' photos and award certificates.
Elevator doors opened, forty-first floor.
Executive level. Faint sandalwood scent in the air, corridor's end a double rosewood door bearing a copper plaque: "Conference Room One."
"Chen Yang, Lin Xiao, you're here." Deputy Director Wang's secretary waited at the door. "Meeting starts at nine, ten minutes left. Go in and prepare equipment."
Pushing the door open, the conference room's luxury momentarily stunned Lin Xiao.
A large conference room accommodating fifty people. Center: a ten-meter-long conference table, rosewood material, polished and waxed, reflecting images. Walls mounted three huge electronic screens, extremely high resolution, currently displaying "Intelligent Inspection Technology Route Review Meeting" title. Above: intelligent lighting system, adjustable color temperature and brightness.
One side of the conference table already had a complete equipment setup—Deputy Director Wang's team's display system. Lin Xiao counted at least five latest drone models, three large screens, a VR demo setup, plus thick stacks of technical documentation.
On their side, just one laptop and one pair of AR glasses.
"Feels like David versus Goliath." Lin Xiao whispered.
"Difference is, this time David may not win." Chen Yang said. "But at least we'll show them stones can fly far."
[Part 2: Opening - Power's Display]
Nine o'clock sharp, conference room door opened again.
Deputy Director Wang led. In his fifties, tall build, impeccable suit, hair meticulously combed, face wearing standard professional smile. Following him, Provincial HQ executives—Technical Department Director, Safety Supervision Director, HR Director, plus several faces Chen Yang didn't recognize.
Last to enter, a white-haired elderly man. Simple white shirt and black pants, but everyone seeing him instinctively straightened their backs.
"Chief Engineer Zhou." Deputy Director Wang said respectfully. "You're here."
Chief Engineer Zhou nodded, sitting at the table's head. His gaze swept the room, pausing two seconds on Chen Yang before moving on.
Lin Xiao whispered to Chen Yang: "Who's Chief Engineer Zhou?"
"Zhou Mingyuan, Provincial HQ's Chief Engineer." Chen Yang said. "Old-generation electrical expert, personally designed several ultra-high voltage lines. Legend says he started as a lineman, broke two ribs falling from a tower, but climbed back up the next day after stitches."
Lin Xiao's heart tightened. If this Chief Engineer Zhou also supported Deputy Director Wang, their situation would be even harder.
Deputy Director Wang cleared his throat—meeting officially beginning.
"Leaders, colleagues, we convene this review meeting to determine our province's electrical inspection technology route for the next five years." He opened the PPT, first page a shocking photo—a lineman's fatal fall from a tower.
"Past decade, our province had 17 fatal high-altitude work accidents, 42 severe injury accidents. Each number represents a shattered family." Deputy Director Wang's voice was heavy and powerful. "As administrators, we must ask ourselves: in today's technologically advanced era, should we still let flesh and blood bear such risks?"
He switched to the next page, comparative data:
Manual Inspection vs Drone Inspection
Cost:
Manual: ¥1.5M/year (labor+insurance+training)
Drone: ¥800K/year (equipment depreciation+maintenance)
Efficiency:
Manual: Average 3 days/cycle (weather-dependent)
Drone: Average 0.5 days/cycle (all-weather)
Safety:
Manual: High risk (3.2% annual accident rate)
Drone: Zero risk (equipment replaceable)
"Data doesn't lie." Deputy Director Wang surveyed the room. "Drone inspection far exceeds manual inspection across cost, efficiency, safety dimensions. Then what reason do we have to continue letting employees risk their lives?"
Conference room silent.
Deputy Director Wang's logic was flawless, data indeed persuasive. Even Lin Xiao had to admit, from a purely rational perspective, fully automated drones were indeed the superior choice.
"Of course." Deputy Director Wang's tone shifted. "I know some will say manual inspection has experiential advantages, irreplaceable intuition and judgment machines lack. So today, I specifically invited representatives of this view—Comrade Chen Yang and Engineer Lin Xiao. They've brought a so-called 'Guardian System,' supposedly enabling perfect human-machine collaboration."
He smiled at them: "So please demonstrate whether this system is truly as excellent as you claim."
[Part 3: Lin Xiao's Counterattack - Data's Other Side]
Lin Xiao stood, walking to the projector. Her hands trembled slightly—not from nervousness, but anger.
She inhaled deeply, opening her PPT.
"Deputy Director Wang is right—data doesn't lie." Lin Xiao's voice was calm. "But data can be selectively presented."
She switched to the first page:
Director Wang showed: ideal state comparison
I'm showing: real environment performance
Drone Inspection Failure Cases (Past Year):
1. Cloud Temple station (drones unable to operate in blizzard)
2. Towers #22-26 dense forest (drone vision failed, missed critical hazards)
3. Strong magnetic interference zone (drones collectively lost control, manual intervention required)
Total: 23 missions drones couldn't complete
Success rate: Only 73% (not claimed 95%)
Conference room murmured.
"This data exists in Provincial HQ's fault recording system." Lin Xiao continued. "I can provide complete accident report numbers. Deputy Director Wang, why didn't you mention these in your PPT?"
Deputy Director Wang's expression changed slightly.
Lin Xiao didn't give him response time, switching directly to the next page:
"Guardian System doesn't aim to replace drones, but to fill drones' shortcomings."
She played a video—Zhaxi's test footage at Tower #14. System warned 3 seconds ahead of wind speed change, Zhaxi successfully avoided danger.
"This is AI learning from Chen Yang's 5,000 hours of work data, forming a risk warning model. 89% accuracy, 0.5-second average advance warning. This 0.5 seconds, in critical moments, is the difference between life and death."
She switched pages, showing path optimization comparison:
"Left is AI-planned path, right is Chen Yang's actual choice. 91% overlap. What does this prove? That AI has learned experiences old-generation linemen summarized with their lives. Moreover, these experiences can be passed down, not lost when personnel retire."
Lin Xiao paused, surveying the room:
"Deputy Director Wang says we shouldn't let flesh and blood take risks. I completely agree. But the question is—is completely eliminating manual work truly safe?"
She opened the final PPT page, a flowchart:
Fully Automated Drone System's Single Point Failure Risks:
If: Communication system fails → Drones lose connection → Cannot operate
If: Battery tech limitations → Insufficient endurance → Cannot complete remote missions
If: Extreme weather → Sensors fail → Cannot accurately judge
If: Algorithm loopholes → Misjudge faults → Trigger larger accidents
While Human-Machine Collaboration System:
Humans → Provide experience and emergency decisions
AI → Provide data support and safety warnings
Double safeguards, mutual backup
"Therefore." Lin Xiao's voice grew firm. "Guardian System isn't regressing but advancing. We're not returning to purely manual eras, but creating a new era of human-technology symbiosis."
Conference room quiet for seconds.
Then Chief Engineer Zhou spoke: "Engineer Lin, your system's cost?"
"40% lower than purely manual, 15% higher than fully automated drones." Lin Xiao answered honestly. "But highest reliability."
"Training cycle?"
"For experienced linemen, two weeks to master. For novices, three months."
Chief Engineer Zhou nodded, not continuing. But his expression revealed no attitude.
[Part 4: Chen Yang's Demonstration - Unquantifiable Value]
Deputy Director Wang stood: "Engineer Lin spoke well. But one problem—your system still needs people. Meaning risks still exist."
He looked at Chen Yang: "Comrade Chen Yang, I've reviewed your file. You're one of our province's best linemen—excellent skills, rich experience. But answer me one question—can you guarantee you'll never make mistakes?"
Chen Yang stood, calmly saying: "No."
"Can you guarantee novices you train will reach your level?"
"Also no."
"Then you..."
"But I can guarantee." Chen Yang interrupted Deputy Director Wang. "When machines fail, I can go. When algorithms err, I can judge. When everyone says 'impossible,' I can try."
He walked to the conference table, extracting something from his backpack—the snow-crushed fiber optic junction from Cloud Temple mission.
"This is Cloud Temple station's fault component." Chen Yang said. "When the blizzard hit, all drones lost connection. If we hadn't climbed, three counties' communications would have been paralyzed for at least three days. Hospitals couldn't make emergency calls, traffic police command systems unusable, citizens couldn't even call police."
He placed the junction on the conference table, heavy metal impact particularly clear in the quiet room.
"Deputy Director Wang, you're right—data doesn't lie. But data doesn't save lives either." Chen Yang looked into Deputy Director Wang's eyes. "That Cloud Temple night, if we'd waited for drone signal recovery, it might have taken three days. But if during those three days someone missed emergency treatment due to communication failure, whose responsibility would that be?"
Deputy Director Wang fell silent.
Chen Yang turned to Chief Engineer Zhou: "Chief Engineer Zhou, I heard you were also a lineman when young. You should know some things machines can't do. Not because technology isn't advanced enough, but because—machines have no sense of responsibility, no sense of mission, won't give everything in critical moments."
Chief Engineer Zhou's eyes flickered.
"I don't oppose technological progress." Chen Yang continued. "In fact, the Guardian System was developed by Engineer Lin and me. We believe technology can make work safer, more efficient. But we also believe completely eliminating human participation is dangerous obsession."
He paused: "Because the grid isn't just equipment and data—the grid is people. Thousands of household lights, hospital operating tables, children's homework notebooks. Protecting the grid isn't just technical work but conscientious work."
Another silence in the conference room.
This silence longer, heavier.
[Part 5: Chief Engineer Zhou's Ruling - Unexpected Outcome]
Chief Engineer Zhou stood, walking to the window. Back to everyone, gazing at the city outside.
"I'm sixty-three this year." He suddenly spoke, voice low. "Forty years in electrical work. Started as a lineman, climbed step by step to Chief Engineer. Towers I've climbed, at least a thousand."
He turned, gaze sweeping each person present:
"I've seen too many accidents. People blown off towers by sudden gusts, people electrocuted to death by a loose screw, people falling from fatigue. Every time, I'd think—if there'd been better equipment, stricter protocols, would they not have died?"
His voice choked slightly: "So I support technological innovation. I support drones, robots, AI. Any technology reducing casualties, I support."
Deputy Director Wang smiled.
But Chief Engineer Zhou's next words froze his smile:
"However." Chief Engineer Zhou emphasized. "I've also seen other situations. 2008 ice disaster, when all modern equipment failed, it was people, linemen like Chen Yang, in negative thirty-degree storms, using the most primitive methods, bit by bit chipping ice, preserving the grid."
He walked to Chen Yang: "Little Chen, extend your hands."
Chen Yang froze, extending both hands.
Chief Engineer Zhou grasped them, carefully examining the calluses: "These hands can't be trained by technology. They need time, tempering, walking death's edge repeatedly."
He released, looking at everyone:
"Therefore, my opinion is—"
Everyone in the conference room held their breath.
"Both solutions approved."
Deputy Director Wang startled: "Chief Engineer, you mean..."
"In cities and plains, comprehensively promote drone inspection." Chief Engineer Zhou said. "Those areas have simple terrain, stable climate—drone advantages fully utilized."
"But in mountains, high altitudes, extreme climates, promote Guardian System." He looked at Lin Xiao and Chen Yang. "Human-machine collaboration, double safeguards."
He paused: "Moreover, I require all newly hired linemen undergo traditional skill training. Not expecting everyone to reach Chen Yang's level, but at least learn basic climbing, emergency response. Because who knows when machines will fail—then what saves lives is still people."
Deputy Director Wang wanted to speak but finally just nodded: "I understand."
Chief Engineer Zhou turned to Chen Yang and Lin Xiao: "Your Guardian System—Provincial HQ will invest in continued refinement. Also, Chen Yang, I hope you'll participate in writing an 'Extreme Environment Operation Protocols.' Systematize your experience into inheritable knowledge."
Chen Yang bowed deeply: "Thank you, Chief Engineer Zhou."
"Don't thank me." Chief Engineer Zhou smiled. "You earned it yourselves."
[Part 6: After Adjournment - Victory's Bitterness]
After the meeting, Chen Yang and Lin Xiao exited the building.
Sunlight glaring, Lin Xiao squinted, suddenly smiling: "We won?"
"Sort of." Chen Yang said. "At least the Guardian System survived."
"But you're unhappy?"
Chen Yang fell silent briefly: "I'm thinking, maybe Deputy Director Wang is right. Maybe someday technology truly can completely replace manual work. Then people like me will be useless."
"That day is still far." Lin Xiao said.
"But it will come." Chen Yang looked skyward. "But it's okay. As long as before that day arrives, we can protect the grid one more day, protect a few more people—that's enough."
Lin Xiao watched his profile, suddenly feeling this person possessed something special—not heroism's grandeur but a craftsman's tranquility. He knew he'd eventually be eliminated by the era, yet still chose to shine brightest before elimination.
"Chen Yang." Lin Xiao suddenly said. "Let's return to the mountains."
"Hm?"
"Provincial capital's too noisy." Lin Xiao smiled. "I still prefer mountains. Wind, clouds, conductors where you can run free."
Chen Yang also smiled: "Okay. Home."
They walked toward the parking lot.
They didn't know on the 41st floor, Chief Engineer Zhou stood at the window, watching their retreating figures.
"Chief Engineer, do you truly believe human-machine collaboration can last?" his secretary asked.
"Don't know." Chief Engineer Zhou said. "But at least we gave traditional skills a chance. And..."
He paused: "I can see that young man didn't come to preserve his job. He genuinely loves this work. Such people deserve protection."
"But Deputy Director Wang won't give up easily." The secretary reminded.
"I know." Chief Engineer Zhou sighed. "But this is their generation's battle. What I can do is buy them time."
He turned from the window, voice low:
"Hope that time can be a bit longer."
Next Chapter Preview:
Chapter 8: "Return to Routine" - Chen Yang and Lin Xiao return to mountains with their "victory," beginning Guardian System promotion. But they quickly discover a huge gap between ideals and reality. Young linemen's resistance to the new system, old generation's adherence to tradition, plus Deputy Director Wang's covert obstruction...