Becoming an Emperor Starting from the World of The Wandering Earth

From 2044 to 2058, it's only a little over ten years at most.

This is just the beginning of a long journey that spans a thousand years.

But for individuals caught in the middle, struggling to survive, every day could be their last.

So tonight's party, he has to convince Irving and the others.

Irving, Sofia, and Thomas are the big shots in Texas, wielding real power over energy, electricity, and even local security.

They agreed to come tonight partly because of his father's past relationship and his usual filial piety.

On the other hand, it was also because he acted sensibly at the summit today, proposing a "win-win" solution by increasing taxes.

But that's not enough.

Murphy wanted more than just them to continue voting against similar proposals in the future, or to get some leeway in certain approval processes.

He needs deeper cooperation, and he needs to leverage their networks of power and resources to pave the way for his "radical plans," even if it's just by opening a small crack.

For example, under the guise of community energy stability pilot projects or wartime mutual employment assistance projects, he could seek tacit approval or even small subsidies to legally expand the scope of relief and organize those receiving relief into trainees, community maintenance workers, and other forms.

For example, he could leverage Sofia's connections in the power transmission system to secure some non-critical energy quotas for his planned small vertical farms or synthetic protein workshops.

For example, through Thomas's connections within the Department of Public Safety...

I glanced at the time; there was still some time before the banquet started.

This was enough for him to think carefully about how to talk to Irving and his old foxes about the future that night.

Of course, it needs to be packaged in a way that they can understand and are interested in.

..............................

At 7:30 p.m., the small banquet hall at Oak Estate, which retains its pre-war appearance, was softly lit.

The logs in the fireplace were burning brightly, dispelling the damp chill that kept seeping in from the outside.

A brand-new silk tablecloth covered the long dining table, and the silver cutlery reflected a cool light under the lamp.

The table was laden with a dazzling array of dishes.

Most people probably can't imagine that while they're worrying about their next meal, there are people who can enjoy caviar and king crab.

Even these dishes on the table are considered low-class.

At this moment, Murphy had changed into a more composed dark gray suit and was standing at the door ready to greet the arriving soldiers.

"Uncle Owen, it's so great that you could come." As a black car stopped, Murphy immediately went up to shake hands with Owen as he got out of the car.

"You're making it so formal, kid." Owen patted Murphy's arm, glanced at the room's furnishings, and nodded slightly. "The environment is nice, much better than those cold, impersonal conference rooms in the Capitol."

"Please come in if you like."

Next to enter were Sofia and Thomas, who appeared to have arrived together by car.

Murphy greeted them warmly in return.

"Uncle Thomas, thank you for your support today. I hope security didn't cause you any trouble?" Murphy asked as he led the way.

Upon hearing Murphy's words, Thomas shook his head with a smile, "It's my duty, but the commotion you caused today was quite something."

"I was forced into it," Murphy said with a wry smile, shaking his head. "When I saw that child, I simply couldn't pretend I didn't see him."

Sofia adjusted her glasses and chimed in, "That's true, public opinion is very favorable for you right now. However, Valen won't let this go so easily."

"I understand," Murphy nodded, "which is why we need the support of all you uncles and aunts even more."

One by one, more than ten members of parliament who had voted against or expressed ambiguity at the meeting during the day arrived.

Murphy had dealt with most of these people before, or at least had some polite exchanges with them.

He could accurately call out the surname and job title of everyone, and when shaking hands and talking, his eyes were focused, and almost everyone could feel Murphy's respect.

The dinner then began in a relaxed atmosphere.

The waiter served the dishes, and the guests began to chat in hushed tones. Murphy wandered around, interjecting whenever he felt like it, adding fuel to the fire of the conversation without appearing overly dominant.

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

Seeing that the time was right, Murphy gently tapped his wine glass, drawing everyone's attention to him.

Murphy stood up, raised his glass, and scanned the room with his gaze.

"First of all, thank you all again for taking the time to attend tonight. Without your upholding of justice at this meeting, we small businesses would probably have lost our place. This toast is to your vision and responsibility."

Everyone raised their glasses and took a sip.

Murphy did not sit down immediately, but continued to stand, though the smile on his face faded slightly.

"However, as Ms. Warren said, the crisis is far from over. The shadow of the solar helium flash looms over everyone, and UEG's resource allocation will increasingly tilt toward planetary engines and a few key areas. Private entities like us will only see our living space squeezed further."

After a pause, Murphy discreetly observed everyone's reactions before continuing to speak.

"Going it alone, each of us is like a small boat in a vast ocean, which may be capsized by the next wave at any time. Therefore, I have a preliminary idea and would like to ask for your guidance."

Murphy put down his glass, placed his hands on the edge of the table, and leaned forward slightly.

"Could we form a mutual aid association? Or, more precisely, a business collaboration alliance based on shared interests and practical needs?"

The room fell silent instantly upon hearing this, with everyone's eyes fixed on Murphy, wondering what he was going to say.

"This mutual aid association will not challenge the authority of UEG, nor will it touch the core red lines of the Mountain Moving Project. Its purpose is simple: to stick together and strengthen our ability to withstand risks. Specifically, we can try to achieve limited sharing of resources, intelligence, and even technology internally."

"For example, when a member company's energy quota faces a temporary reduction due to a sudden review, other members can provide appropriate assistance without affecting their own interests."

Murphy's gaze slowly swept over Thomas, as well as several other councilors in charge of local security or resource allocation.

"For example, regarding real-time information on ground security, as we all know, the situation is chaotic right now. If we can share information, having more eyes and ears can help us avoid some unnecessary incidents."

"I know this sounds a bit unconventional. But these are extraordinary times, and federal rules and regulations sometimes seem too rigid and sluggish when it comes to survival. We don't need a huge organization; we just need a small circle based on trust, flexible and pragmatic."

After speaking, Murphy sat down, giving everyone time to process and think.