Chapter Eighteen: The Technological Siege
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The first phase of the Zero-Carbon City project was a successful pilot operation, earning the Shen Group extensive global media coverage and the title of "Founders of the City of the Future." However, an international tech giant named "Tianheng Energy" chose this moment to make a high-profile announcement, claiming they had mastered a core technology capable of "completely revolutionizing the new energy landscape" and would bring it to market shortly.
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The Arrival of a Challenge
In the Shen Group’s conference room, a screen played the live stream of Tianheng Energy’s press conference. Aaron Baker, the Chief Technology Officer of Tianheng Energy, stood on stage and confidently announced to the world:
"Our new 'Hydrogen-Nuclear Fusion Battery' has completed all necessary preparations for commercialization. This technology will increase the storage and usage efficiency of new energy by over 200% while reducing costs by 50%."
The global media was in an uproar; the landscape of the new energy industry seemed to be facing another major upheaval.
"If their technology is real, our Zero-Carbon City could be completely rendered obsolete," Zhao Ming said, a trace of anxiety in his voice.
"Their technology has yet to be verified by the market," Xu Yunchuan said calmly. "There is a massive chasm between the laboratory and the market. We still have time."
Shen Qingwan asked, "But if they truly succeed, our project will become outdated overnight. Yunchuan, what do you intend to do?"
Xu Yunchuan looked out the window and said in a deep voice, "Find the source of their core technology and get to the truth."
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The Technical Mystery of Tianheng Energy
Although Tianheng Energy had launched their new technology with great fanfare, they refused to disclose technical details or demonstrate any practical applications. This aroused Xu Yunchuan's suspicion.
"This feels like a sophisticated piece of technical hype," Xu Yunchuan noted. "But we cannot underestimate their capabilities."
Through his business intelligence team, Xu Yunchuan discovered that Tianheng Energy’s R&D was primarily concentrated at the "Hurst Laboratory" in Europe.
"Hurst Laboratory?" Zhao Ming frowned. "That is one of the largest private research institutions in Europe, backed by significant capital and extremely strict information security."
"Even the most closed fortress has a breach," Xu Yunchuan said. "I will go to Europe myself to see whether their technology is real or fake."
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Deep into Hurst
A few days later, Xu Yunchuan and Ling Yun traveled to Hurst Laboratory. They applied for a tour under the guise of a visiting delegation from a new energy firm, but were turned away.
"It seems they do not welcome outsiders," Ling Yun whispered.
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"That is only natural," Xu Yunchuan smiled slightly. "We need to find another way in."
Through European business partners, they located a contract engineer from the lab named Karl Rosen. Disgruntled with the institution due to a salary dispute, he was willing to provide some internal information.
"Their new hydrogen-nuclear fusion battery hasn't even finished commercial verification," Karl revealed. "It is currently stuck in the small-scale experimental phase, and many technical challenges remain unsolved."
"As I thought, they are bluffing," Ling Yun sneered.
"But they do possess some key technology," Karl continued. "And the lab has recently received a massive influx of funding from a mysterious foundation."
"A mysterious foundation?" Xu Yunchuan’s gaze sharpened. "Are these the remnants of the Deep Blue Alliance?"
"Very likely," Karl nodded. "I also heard they plan to hold a public demonstration next month and have invited global media to attend."
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Uncovering the Truth
After returning to the country, Xu Yunchuan immediately convened an emergency meeting.
"Tianheng Energy's technology is immature, but their marketing has already successfully captured global attention," Xu Yunchuan said. "We must expose the truth about their technology before their public demonstration."
"What can we do?" Shen Qingwan asked.
"First, we must accelerate the second phase of the Zero-Carbon City project to capture more market share and media attention. Second, we need to find more internal data from Hurst Laboratory to expose their technical flaws."
Zhao Ming added, "I can contact some European media outlets and have them scrutinize the authenticity of this demonstration."
"Good," Xu Yunchuan nodded. "We cannot let them deceive the world with fake technology."
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Public Opinion Counterattack
Over the following weeks, the Shen Group intensified its promotion of the Zero-Carbon City project, showcasing multiple successful case studies that sparked global discussion. Simultaneously, several European media outlets began questioning the authenticity of Tianheng Energy's technology, demanding they release more experimental data.
Feeling the pressure, Tianheng Energy was forced to release partial technical documents prematurely. However, after a swift analysis by the Shen Group’s technical team, it was discovered that these documents contained clear evidence of data fabrication.
"They are covering up the truth," Zhao Ming said. "But this is our opportunity."
Xu Yunchuan made a decisive move: on the day of Tianheng Energy’s demonstration, he would release an analysis report on the technical challenges of hydrogen-nuclear fusion batteries, exposing their inherent flaws.
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The Decisive Demonstration Day
Tianheng Energy's demonstration event kicked off under the global spotlight. Hundreds of media outlets and industry experts gathered in the massive venue, waiting to witness the so-called "technological revolution."
However, during the critical experimental showcase, technical malfunctions occurred repeatedly, and the equipment even suffered a minor explosion while in operation.
Uproar ensued!
Simultaneously, the technical analysis report released by the Shen Group was frantically reposted by major media outlets, pinpointing the core technical issues of the hydrogen-nuclear fusion battery and pushing Tianheng Energy into the eye of a public opinion storm.
"It's a scam!"
"They are deceiving global consumers!"
"Tianheng Energy must provide an explanation!"
The public outcry caused Tianheng Energy's stock price to collapse instantly, and international regulatory agencies announced they would intervene with an investigation.
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True Victory
A few days later, it was revealed that Tianheng Energy had repeatedly forged data during their R&D process, their technology could not be commercialized, and their management resigned one after another, leaving the company on the brink of total collapse.
Meanwhile, the Shen Group’s Zero-Carbon City project officially entered its third phase, becoming the benchmark for the global new energy sector.
On an early winter morning, Xu Yunchuan stood at the core control center of the Zero-Carbon City, looking out at the clean streets and blue sky in the distance. He reflected:
"This is not just a victory of technology; it is a victory of conviction."
Shen Qingwan walked to his side and smiled, "Yunchuan, we did it."
"But this is not the end," Xu Yunchuan said slowly. "There are even greater challenges waiting for us in the future."