Chapter 246: Better Early Than Late

In fact, this was not the first time Wang Qi Zhi had suggested this.

When the Restoration Center was first established and preparing for the World Heritage Application, he had already urged Lin Sicheng this way.

When the iron Cultural Relics protection project was initiated, he urged him again.

The third time was after the Zhang Anshi Tomb grave robbery case, but Lin Sicheng kept saying: Beijing certainly must be visited, but it is a bit early now, so Wang Qi Zhi let it go.

Half a year later, the old matter was brought up again, leaving Lin Sicheng somewhat bewildered.

Wang Qi Zhi sighed: "It is because you are growing too fast!"

Once he arrived in Shanxi, Lin Sicheng was like a wild horse off its tether, unstoppable.

Just look at these past three months; how much has he accomplished?

Not to mention anything else, just the Jiaomei site alone is enough to make brother provinces green with envy. It is only because he has been here for too short a time; had he stayed a bit longer, the Shanxi Cultural Relics Bureau would certainly have had to award him an advanced achievement medal.

Wang Qi Zhi had always been thinking: Since Lin Sicheng has the talent and the ability, why not go to a bigger stage to display them?

It just so happened that during this trip to Beijing, he was given a hint by an old leader, making this thought of Wang Qi Zhi's even stronger: as the old saying goes, people climb to higher places, and water flows to lower ones.

He felt that this current opportunity was quite good.

Lin Sicheng, however, shook his head.

"Teacher, let's wait another two years. I need to settle down a bit more..."

This phrase again?

Wang Qi Zhi thought for a moment: "It is not asking you to abandon Xijing; rest assured, it won't turn into a mess."

Lin Sicheng shook his head again: "It is not because of that!"

For a scientific research institution, the weight of management ranks at most third. The key lies in the gold content of the projects and the research capability of the team.

Besides, with Grandfather holding the fort and the school helping out, management is not a problem at all.

The existing projects are proceeding step by step; applying for World Heritage status, registering patents, and cooperating with schools and the government are all being done as they should.

Even if he changed locations, it would just be starting over and switching tracks.

Wang Qi Zhi looked puzzled: "Then why?"

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment: "Teacher, in a place like Beijing, having ability and connections alone is probably not enough!"

Having ability and connections is still not enough?

Wang Qi Zhi's eyes widened, but the words reached his lips and he swallowed them back.

It seems... it really might not be enough?

If it were a second-generation heir like him, it wouldn't matter. It would just be arranging an idle position to collect a salary.

But if Lin Sicheng goes, he is going to make a name for himself.

Without a lineage or credentials, in a martial arts novel, Lin Sicheng would be that lone, wandering cultivator with no sect or faction.

Without paying respects to the local powers, trying to establish a sect on one's own—forget about it, there isn't even a crack in the door...

As these thoughts turned, Wang Qi Zhi grimaced as if he had a toothache: "Who taught you that?"

"I learned it from books!"

"Heh~"

The teacher and student hid in a corner, whispering to each other as if no one else were around.

The meeting was still being chaired by Ren Xinbo, who was eloquent and methodical.

This included the discovery process of the site, the excavation workflow, what major discoveries were made, as well as the analysis and inferences regarding the formation process of the culture, the cultural remains, and the underground strata.

At first it was fine, but upon hearing that the local agencies had already finished excavating the upper cultural layer, the group of experts froze, and their brows all furrowed.

From the discovery of the site until now, it has only been half a month, right?

If following normal procedures, for a site with such a high level and such obvious signs of civilization, the preliminary preparation work alone would take one to two months.

One must conduct literature research, perform on-site surveys, and even more importantly, analyze plans and formulate strategies.

This time, the Cultural Relics Bureau even brought the most advanced technological exploration equipment, prepared to show off their skills. As it turned out, the local Archaeology Team not only cleared the surface layer but even finished excavating the first layer?

And it only took half a month?

This is no longer just hasty or reckless; this is a crime.

It is no exaggeration: if this were any unit from Beijing, the experts would have long since started slamming tables and cursing.

After all, they only have a professional guidance relationship with the local side, not direct management, so the group of experts could only endure it for now.

It wasn't enough to get angry, but they still had to ask about it.

"Division Chief Ren, isn't this a bit too rushed?"

"It is indeed a bit fast, but it is already the end of June. In another half month, it will be the rainy season in Hejin. According to the weather forecast, this year's precipitation will far exceed previous years, and it will last for two months.

Also, because the site is near the Jianhe (Zhemayu), every year at this time, the Guduo South Terrace experiences floods, landslides, and other phenomena, which will certainly be more severe this year. Therefore, considering the risk of irreversible damage caused by disasters, the Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau and the Archaeological Institute decided to uncover the layers in advance..."

Oh, then it really was a Rescue Excavation.

At the very least, they had to determine the general scope of the site and the structure of the cultural layers, and implement effective protective measures.

Suddenly, the experts' anger dissipated by more than half.

Division Chief Sun of the Archaeological Management Division thought for a moment: "Division Chief Ren, which units were responsible for the guidance and construction at that time?"

"Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, Cultural Heritage Institute, Shaanxi Academy of Archaeology Tian Ye Research Institute, Archaeological Institute, and Xida Cultural Relics and Museology College!"

Tsk, not bad, they have almost gathered all the top archaeological units from both Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces?

"Who is the specific Person in Charge?"

Ren Xinbo glanced at Lin Sicheng, who was huddled in the corner, and recited like he was reading from a book:

"Special Invited Expert of the Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau, Honorary Consultant of the Provincial Archaeological Institute, Special Appointed Engineer of the Provincial Department of Industry, Person in Charge of the Northwest University Key Laboratory, Person in Charge of the Cultural Relics Restoration Center, Teacher Lin Sicheng..."

Good heavens, look at this pile of titles?

It was such a long string that the experts, assuming he was just a big shot invited from the Xida Cultural Relics and Museology College, didn't even pay attention to the last sentence.

Then he felt suspicious again: with so many titles, it's impossible to be unknown. But the name Lin Sicheng, it feels like I haven't really heard of it?

They all had roughly similar thoughts, yet they overlooked the most important point: since he was invited over from Xida, why does Division Chief Ren not address him as Professor, but as Teacher?

Secretly suspicious, Ren Xinbo smiled again: "The time is indeed a bit short, but the entire process was carried out in strict accordance with the site excavation procedures: there was preliminary investigation, site analysis, and a systematic plan was made, only after which were personnel organized to begin the excavation..."

"Of course, it was indeed a bit rushed, and furthermore, the technical strength was limited, so there are certainly omissions and shortcomings. I ask the leaders and Experts to provide guidance and corrections..."

Treating it as just a routine remedy, Division Chief Sun did not express an opinion. The Expert group, too, had similar thoughts: from start to finish it was only half a month, how perfect a plan and program could you have possibly made?

Nine times out of ten, it was planned while digging, or perhaps the plan was even made after the fact. It's hard to say, this report might have just been thrown together in the last two days.

Thinking this to himself, Sun Jiamu opened the materials in front of him.

The first page was the title, "Rescue Excavation Plan for the Neolithic Site on the South Taidi of Guduo Village, Hejin, and the Prevention Plan for the Rainy Season Flash Flood Period."

The second page was the table of contents, and the third page was the literature survey: the discovery background of sites in the same belt, same region, and of the same type, the specific Information and relevance of each site, and the cultural positioning of this site.

Looking only at this, one could only say it was standard and basically had no difficulty: list an outline, find two Data Clerks, and fill it in line by line.

Flipping further down, the fourth page was field investigation and exploration.

For example, observing the terrain, using gully edges and cross-sections to find clues of ruins. Or physical drilling, using equipment like the Luoyang Shovel and Probe Rod to take soil samples and analyze the soil layers.

Still feel it's standard?

Just as this thought was turning, a line of text caught his eye, and Sun Jiamu was stunned for a moment: Drone Aerial Photography, Geological Radar, and Geomagnetic Detection?

Not bad, not bad.

Radar and geomagnetic are one thing, they've been used for many years. But combining Drone Aerial Photography for archaeological mapping, synchronizing the positioning of the site's scope, and analyzing the site's structure—counting across the whole country, there aren't many who know how to use it.

Looking carefully again: there are mapping charts, aerial photographs, and even more detailed underground detection data, showing that they really do know how, and really have done it, which further indicates that this report was not patched together at the last minute.

Secretly praising him, Sun Jiamu continued to flip down.

But just as he flipped to the fifth page and saw the line of the title at the very top, Division Chief Sun was suddenly stunned.

What is this, RTK System positioning measurement?

Looking carefully again, that's right, it is these words, marked clearly and plainly. Could his eyes have been playing tricks on him?

He took another look, and subconsciously raised his head, only to find that the several Experts to his left and right all had the same expression as him: astonishment, suspicion, and disbelief.

According to their understanding, the people present, including the leaders and Experts from the Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau, the Archaeological Institute, and the Tian Ye Research Institute, and even the professors from Xida, if you asked them what RTK is, they would absolutely stare blankly: what is this thing?

Because this technology has only been introduced to the country for a few years, and for the time being, only the energy and geological departments are using it, such as for oil exploration or geological disaster monitoring, and they don't even dare to use it much.

To put it bluntly: this is GPS Satellite Positioning Technology, and whether it's the satellites or the system, they are all rented from the Americans.

Last year, the National Cultural Heritage Administration only tentatively introduced two sets, and after studying them for a year, they hadn't even had a chance to break them in.

This time coming to Shanxi, they brought one set, preparing to try it out and test its performance. By the way, they wanted to let the local cultural relics and archaeological systems see it.

As it turns out, they were already using it?

Looking at the data again: carrier phase, base station coordinates, solution data, positioning range... it shows that they not only know how to use it, but they use it extremely skillfully.

Truly, the feeling it gave Division Chief Sun and the several Experts was: they seemed like primitive people who had just discovered how to make fire by drilling wood. But suddenly, a gorilla ran out and showed them how to use a lighter?

For a moment, they looked at each other, and the expressions of the group were as if they had seen a ghost...

"RTK?" Sun Jiamu took a sharp breath, "Division Chief Ren, where did you get it?"

As for exactly where he got it, Ren Xinbo didn't know either; he only knew that Lin Sicheng had gotten it.

Just as he was about to speak, Lin Sicheng raised his hand: "The equipment was borrowed from Shaanxi!"

That's not right... where would Shaanxi get this thing?

If it were introduced by the Shaanxi Cultural Relics Bureau, they would definitely have to report it to the National Cultural Heritage Administration first, and they would certainly know.

Besides, if you just introduce it but don't know how to use it, what's the point?

"It's not the Cultural Relics Bureau, it was borrowed from the Forestry and Grassland Bureau!"

Lin Sicheng explained, "At the end of last year, the State Council issued a notice that the fifth national giant panda census will be conducted this year. At the beginning of the year, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration shipped two sets to the Shaanxi Forestry and Grassland Bureau, but the census won't start until September, so we borrowed them to use for a while..."

Division Chief Sun and the several Experts looked at each other; aren't the provinces with giant pandas just Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu?

And Qinling has the most.

The National Forestry and Grassland Administration did indeed start using this system to monitor rare wild animals a few years ago. But the problem is, the equipment cost for this system alone is over 200,000 US dollars, and adding training costs, it doubles.

And it must be operated by professional Technicians, which means if you want to borrow it, you have to borrow the people along with the machine. Can the Shaanxi Forestry and Grassland Bureau just lend it out like that?

Secondly, although it is the same system, is looking for giant pandas the same concept as looking for a site?

That thing is alive, it moves, it runs, and it lives on the surface. But a site is buried deep underground; it's not the same theoretical technology at all. How do you position it, how do you calculate it?

No matter how they thought about it, it seemed impossible. The Group Leader of the exploration team looked suspicious: "Where did you hire the Experts from?"

"When we borrowed the equipment, we asked the Technicians from the Forestry and Grassland Bureau to provide guidance!"

"Finding pandas is no problem, but to say you're using this equipment for archaeology?" The Group Leader shook his head firmly: "They wouldn't know how!"

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment: "The equipment comes with a manual, the data is written quite comprehensively, and when changing the application scenario, you just need to adjust the parameters!"

What did you say?

How is it as simple as eating and drinking?

The Group Leader looked stunned, and behind him, several Technicians sitting in the middle row gritted their teeth: it's that easy?

If it were that simple, could we have studied it for a year?

Division Chief Sun paused and narrowed his eyes: "What is your surname, young man?"

"Hello Department Head Wu, hello Division Chief Sun, hello teachers!" Lin Sicheng stood up and bowed slightly: "My name is Lin Sicheng."

Hmm, why does this name sound so familiar?

Hiss... wait?

Isn't this the person who was just introduced, the one with a whole bunch of titles?

The one who uncovered the surface and finished excavating the upper cultural layer in just half a month, isn't it him?

A group of Experts turned their heads in unison, all looking stunned: this face, this appearance... haha, how old is this kid?

Looking again at the Project Plan Report in his hand, the Person in Charge column was filled with three glaring characters: Lin Sicheng.

For a moment, more than a dozen pairs of eyes stared straight ahead, both astonished and suspicious: No way... has the local Cultural Relics system gone mad?

There were too many doubts; Sun Jiamu did not know what to ask.

He flipped further back: the technical survey only took one day?

Was that enough time to debug the system and the machines?

Likewise, the research also took one day, and drafting the plan and excavation scheme still only took one day. Three days of preliminary preparation, then marking the squares on the morning of the fourth day, and starting to scrape the surface in the afternoon?

If it were him, even if he were faster, even if he were in a rush, the preliminary preparation would still take at least a week or so.

Therefore, Sun Jiamu was extremely suspicious of the excavation quality of the upper layers of the ruins.

It was not a lack of respect, but rather that it did not conform to common sense.

Looking again at Lin Sicheng's age, his suspicion grew even stronger. Division Chief Sun closed the report: "Department Head, why don't we go take a look at the site first!"

Wu Hui nodded.

Having traveled so far, this was what they came to do; they would have to see it sooner or later, and seeing it sooner was better than seeing it later.

One after another, they stood up, and the group swarmed out of the Village Committee.