Becoming an Emperor Starting from the World of The Wandering Earth

Murphy didn't answer immediately, but clapped his hands again.

The servants came in again, this time carrying tablets, one for each of them.

"Everyone, please look at this."

Murphy picked up the tablet in front of him, tapped a few times, and then turned the screen towards the crowd.

The screen displays a map marked with numerous red and green markers.

"The red ones are the energy facilities that UEG is still operating," Murphy said, tracing his finger across the map. "The green ones are small sites that have been abandoned or marginalized."

Murphy zoomed in on the map and pointed to the green markers around Houston.

"Everyone, this is what I need your help with."

"On behalf of everyone, I would like to apply for the transfer of these abandoned energy facilities in these peripheral areas, as well as those small private sites that are struggling and on the verge of bankruptcy, to our management."

Sophia paused for a moment, "Take over? What's the use of this junk? It's all outdated equipment, high maintenance costs, low output, even UEG doesn't want to touch it..."

She paused suddenly before she finished speaking, and then a look of realization appeared on her face.

"Yes, Aunt Sophia, just as you think."

Without needing to say more, everyone instantly understood.

Murphy's actions, to put it bluntly, were an attempt to get something for nothing.

UEG is now focusing almost entirely on major projects such as planetary engines and the Ark space station, which are of paramount importance to the survival of human civilization.

As for people's livelihood, we do pay attention to it, after all, we can't let everyone starve to death and rebel.

They are lenient in some ways, especially when it comes to minor, insignificant matters, often turning a blind eye to them.

Texas is a sparsely populated country, and many small energy sites built in the early years, such as community energy storage stations, small wind farms, and emergency power points converted from abandoned mines, are scattered throughout the country.

Once the planetary engine project was launched, UEG's resources and policies immediately shifted, leaving these piecemeal gadgets in an awkward position.

It is inefficient, troublesome to maintain, and the output cannot keep up with the consumption.

The authorities are too lazy to manage it, and can't manage it all, so many things just hang there half-dead, or are simply abandoned.

But "abandoned" does not mean "useless".

Especially in these days when energy is becoming increasingly precious, even a small amount is still valuable.

Even a small, still-functioning energy storage station, even if it can only provide lighting for a few dozen households for a few hours each day, is still a real source of energy.

With energy, the nearby communities struggling to survive can barely stay afloat, preventing them from falling completely into darkness and chaos.

In order to maintain a semblance of stability and to uphold the rhetoric of "free market economy," the UEG occasionally allocates small subsidies to these marginal sites that are still barely operating, under the guise of "maintaining basic livelihood supplies" or "encouraging local energy self-sufficiency."

This amount of money may not be much, but for those struggling small private business owners, it could be the lifeline to keep them afloat.

However, for UEG's massive bureaucratic system, this amount of money is not even a drop in the ocean; the procedures involved in issuing the funds may be more expensive than the money itself.

Murphy had his eye on this loophole.

He doesn't need these sites to actually create much value.

All he needs to do is obtain the right to manage or take over these sites, nominally to take over the mess, relieve UEG's burdens, maintain local energy supply, and protect people's livelihoods.

Once he has a written authorization document, he can openly ask UEG for subsidies.

Make up a few excuses: old equipment needs maintenance, spare parts need to be purchased to ensure community energy security... As long as you write a nice report and Owen and Sofia pull some strings inside, the subsidy can be approved.

This is a variation of the free market economy in an apocalyptic world.

It appears that UEG has maintained stability, the local area has obtained energy, and Murphy has received the money.

On the surface it's a win-win-win situation, but in reality, Murphy wins twice.

And among the people present, who wasn't a shrewd individual? Who didn't know what Murphy was up to?

Murphy's factory has a complete production line and its technical strength is among the best in private enterprises.

Those devices that UEG considers "old and broken" are disassembled by him. He refurbishes the usable parts and installs them into his own products, or sells them directly on the black market as second-hand spare parts.

What can't be used, melt it down and use it as raw material; that costs money.

What's even better is that these sites often occupy prime locations, some near highways, others with inherent defensive structures. With a little modification, they can be transformed into supply depots, secret warehouses, or even… outposts for future shelters.

Use the subsidies that UEG might provide to revitalize the junk that UEG doesn't want, and then turn that junk into your own assets and shield.

This in-and-out process was absolutely perfect.

Sofia tapped her fingers lightly on the edge of the tablet, her eyes gleaming as she looked at the green markers on the map.

She is in charge of power transmission and dispatch, and these edge sites are theoretically all under the jurisdiction of her system.

By manipulating the system, some "poorly managed and on the verge of bankruptcy" sites could be transferred to Mo's Energy, which is willing and able to maintain their operation. This would be perfectly logical procedurally and could even be considered an achievement of hers.

After all, Betty had previously tried to nationalize the country, but her proposal was rejected. Now, she has solved the problem herself.

It may be small, but don't worry about it; it's passable anyway.

Mia had similar thoughts.

As the coordinator of the Office of Energy Affairs, her authority lies in these "coordination" tasks.

It is reasonable to facilitate several trusteeship agreements that are "beneficial to ensuring local energy security and reducing the burden on UEG".

Thomas and Irving exchanged a glance, both seeing the same thing in each other's eyes.

This is a very low-risk endeavor, but the potential rewards could be substantial.

Murphy's acquisition of these sites strengthens his organization, which only benefits them.

Moreover, the procedures are handled through their channels, and every benefit Murphy gains from this will be inextricably linked to them.

Murphy, that kid, certainly didn't disappoint them.

He has a big appetite, a quick mind, and, most importantly, a wild approach.

It's inconvenient for them to do these dirty and tiring jobs themselves, so having someone else do the work is just what's best for them.

Seeing that everyone was interested, Murphy immediately put in even more effort.

"And look," Murphy said, zooming in on the map and pointing to several adjacent green markers southeast of Houston.

"For example, these few are strategically located on major transportation routes between several industrial zones. If we can control these stations, it's like driving nails into those routes. It's not a big deal normally, but what if one day..."

Murphy didn't continue, but just smiled faintly at everyone.

[PS: Thank you to "Confused in the River of Time" for the monthly pass; here's a chapter for you.]