Chapter 100: Launching Promotion, Pre-sale

If this plan succeeds, it will completely reshape social structure and lead Yanhuang Guo and all of humanity into an unprecedented form of civilization.

But if it fails, the consequences will be equally severe.

"This model is highly feasible, but the risk is equally huge."

Luo Rui Xiang finally spoke, breaking the silence.

Zhang Yunfeng took over the conversation, "The key lies in the transition period: how to ensure the value generated by robots can be smoothly transferred to ordinary people, rather than being snatched by capital."

"Therefore, the state must take strong leadership."

Qin Hao seized the conversation.

"From production, pricing, distribution to later supervision, every link must not go wrong."

"Early-stage robots must be uniformly manufactured and managed by the state and authorized state-owned and private enterprises."

Luo Rui Xiang slowly stood up and paced in the living room.

"Moreover, every detail requires a large expert team to repeatedly argue; economics, society, law… all aspects must be considered."

"We can conduct trial runs while improving; technological development cannot stop, production lines cannot stop, and mass production of robots must be put on the agenda."

Zhang Yunfeng added.

Luo Rui Xiang nodded firmly, a hint of resolve appearing on his face.

"Good! That's how we'll do it! I will report it upward, have people coordinate national resources, and build robot production lines as quickly as possible."

"Enterprises like Xia Teng Heavy Industry and Xingchen Intelligence that have obtained the technology must also be fully mobilized!"

With an order issued, the entire industrial machinery of Yanhuang Guo was instantly activated.

Those authorized enterprises went all out.

They gathered the top engineers and technicians, cooperating with experts sent by the state, and day and night built one highly automated production line after another.

The gleaming metal robotic arms, the precise and complex conveyor belts, all foretold the imminent birth of mighty "steel legions."

Meanwhile, a closed-door meeting that would determine the future of several billion people was being held in the capital.

The atmosphere in the meeting room was solemn; besides Luo Rui Xiang and Zhang Yunfeng, there were also heads of a dozen key departments such as the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Social Security.

"Everyone has seen the draft of the one-person-one-robot model."

Luo Rui Xiang looked around at everyone, "Today's purpose is to finalize all details, which concerns the nation's future."

The head of the Ministry of Finance spoke first:

"This subsidy amount is a bit high. If it covers all adult citizens nationwide, the fiscal pressure would be enormous."

At this moment, an economics expert raised his hand to speak:

"So we should first implement it in stages, with focus. I suggest the first-stage coverage should precisely target the group of manual laborers most impacted."

"For example, assembly line workers, construction workers, truck drivers, delivery personnel, etc."

"I agree." Zhang Yunfeng nodded.

"Our goal is to solve the unemployment problem that technological progress may bring, not to give welfare to everyone."

"High-income groups mainly engaged in mental labor, such as doctors, lawyers, and financial practitioners, are temporarily not within the policy's coverage."

"Then how should the robot's price be set? Giving them away for free is unrealistic, but if the price is too high, the target group cannot afford them."

"I think it should be sold at only 30% above cost, with the state providing long-term interest-free loans."

"Citizens only need to pay a small down payment to own a robot."

"Subsequent loan repayments can be made from the wages earned by the robot's work."

Someone voiced their opinion.

"How can we prevent someone from exploiting loopholes to hoard robots?"

"Isn't this easy to solve? Certainly it should be real-name purchase, one person one robot, bound for life to the ID. The income generated by the robot would be directly deposited into the individual's linked bank account, supervised by the national banking system."

"Corporate labor costs will greatly decrease; how should the wage standard they pay be set? We can't let companies exploit endlessly."

"I think we should follow the current wage distribution, and adjust later according to specific circumstances."

……

As one question after another was raised, they were each answered in turn.

Thus the meeting lasted three days.

Finally, a red-header document hundreds of pages thick, titled "On Promoting the Intelligent Labor Transformation Plan," was officially issued.

On the day the news was released, the entire Yanhuang Guo seemed to be pressed pause, then instantly boiled over.

The anchor of the News Broadcast delivered the policy's core content with an unprecedented solemn tone.

"To respond to the social structural changes brought by the new round of technological revolution, and to ensure all citizens share the fruits of development, after study by the nation's highest leadership collective,"

"we will gradually implement the "one person, one robot" labor substitution plan nationwide."

"The initial pilot targets manual labor practitioners in manufacturing, construction, logistics, etc."

"Eligible citizens may apply to purchase an intelligent work robot at a subsidized price and enjoy long-term interest-free loan support from the state."

"Citizens will act as robot owners, sign labor contracts with employing enterprises, and the earned wages will be directly deposited into their personal accounts."

As soon as this news came out, the internet exploded.

"Am I seeing things? The state and companies are issuing robots to work instead of me? I can just lie back and collect money?"

"Don't dream, upstairs! You have to buy it! Though the price is still reasonable, and there's also an interest-free loan, it's almost like getting it for free!"

"Holy crap! My dad has been a fitter for thirty years; last month he was still worried the factory would automate and he'd lose his job."

"Now it's great—just let the robot go to work, and my dad can collect money at home!"

"Everyone, did you see? Starting tomorrow at 9 a. m., you can pre-order on the websites of state-owned enterprises and authorized companies! Brothers, set your alarms—this is the moment to change your fate!"

Countless families, countless ordinary workers, at this moment felt the immense care from the state.

They perhaps do not understand what is called social structural transformation,

Also doesn't understand liberation of productive forces.

But they understood one sentence:

【From now on, I won't have to work like an ox or horse; let robots replace me.】

On the other hand, some white-collar workers and middle-class people felt a sense of loss and confusion.

"Why don't we have it? We also have to pay mortgages and car loans!"

"This isn't fair! Why only give it to manual laborers?"

"What's the rush? The document says it will be implemented gradually. This is to prevent social turmoil, first stabilize the basics."

"We office workers haven't yet reached the point of being completely replaced by robots."

"That's right, and how could intellectual laborers be replaced by robots? Then would the country's technology still develop? So we don't need to worry."

……

In the public discourse, voices of support, questioning, and discussion intertwined, forming an unprecedented social trend.

The next morning at nine o'clock exactly.

Countless people stood before their phones and computers, refreshing the pre-sale page.

In a rented house in the urban village, twenty-five-year-old delivery guy Li Ming stared fixedly at his phone screen.

He had been delivering parcels for five years, braving wind and rain every day, covered in injuries and illnesses, yet had saved only a few tens of thousands of yuan.

When he saw the pre-sale price and loan policy for the "Work Robot," his hands began to tremble.

The price shown above was 200,000 yuan, which isn't very expensive.

When the countdown reached zero.

Li Ming quickly pressed the red "Pre-order Now" button.

【Order submitted successfully, your number Work Robot has been pre-ordered successfully, expected delivery within one month, please wait patiently.】

Looking at the prompt on his phone, Li Ming's eye sockets instantly turned red.