348: Throw money at it

Tian Ming glanced at Zhao Hai and asked, "How is the company's capital situation now?"

"Mr. Lu, our capital amount has reached over seventy percent of the entire base's total value, and currently, the system's settlement amount is still growing," Zhao Hai respectfully replied.

"Hmm, are there any internet-related startups that we've invested in?" Tian Ming asked.

Zhao Hai pondered for a moment and said, "There are two. One is 700,000 for a forty percent stake, and the other is 900,000 for a forty-five percent stake."

"Notify their Person in charge to merge them, then add more investment and cooperate to build a community for us."

Zhao Hai was startled and asked, somewhat puzzled, "Mr. Lu, why is that?"

"The base's civilian online community is about to open. To avoid occupying Number Three's computing power, some servers need to be independent. Let them explore an operational profit model, and we will provide financial support in the early stages."

"Yes, Mr. Lu," Zhao Hai nodded, speaking respectfully.

Tian Ming's actions were basically equivalent to doing public welfare. Many things within the base were free; electricity and water, for example, had basic free quotas. This ensured everyone's basic needs. If the online community and devices were also free, then it would be equivalent to public welfare.

"I will have Number Three develop a comprehensive APP as the main information portal. Your subordinate companies can act as developers and call public interfaces, just like the internet worked before. However, there aren't many advertisers in the base who will throw money at you. So, you need to explore your own profit models."

After hearing Tian Ming's plan, Zhao Hai couldn't help but fall into deep thought: "Mr. Lu, if that's the case, then this investment will be wasted. How can anyone do business that doesn't make money?"

Tian Ming smiled indifferently and said, "You can't say that. There are many things in the base that don't make money. If no one did them, wouldn't everyone starve?"

"Then what do you mean?"

Tian Ming said, "Use subsidies to create a batch of internet companies, let them grow wildly for a period, and then optimize them once they mature. Automation in the base is already trending, so we need to find something for those who don't have work to do!"

Zhao Hai roughly understood and nodded, saying, "Alright, I will issue an announcement in the company's name and go back to hold a high-level meeting to discuss the specific details and the amount of funds to be allocated. Mr. Lu, do you have any restrictions on this?"

Tian Ming shook his head and said, "No restrictions, but the money cannot be spent indiscriminately. Once invested, I need to see output and impact, understand?"

Zhao Hai nodded slightly and said, "Understood, I'll go back and prepare now."

Tian Ming nodded: "Go!"

Zhao Hai bowed respectfully and turned to leave the research center.

Tian Ming's intention was to cultivate a group of competitive internet companies through investment and support, providing more employment opportunities and entertainment for the residents within the base. What he had to do was to ensure that these funds could be effectively utilized to promote the progress and development of the projects.

Whatever the base lacked, Tian Ming's company's investment direction would lean towards it. If all the money was in his hands, it would be quite terrifying, because if wealth was too concentrated, then the base would definitely have problems.

Money needs to flow to create value. Offline, many people have been deprived of job opportunities by robots, so Tian Ming's original intention was to create money-making opportunities online. If a large number of members within the base were poor, the base would definitely be unstable.

A base of over 2 million people is equivalent to a medium-sized society, and the method of wealth distribution is generally based on ability. Tian Ming's investment company, with its large amount of capital, can change the overall wealth structure of the entire group.

But direct cash handouts are the most foolish way; giving money also has a method. After the online community is established, new professions will emerge, such as errands, temporary tasks, entertainment, and various other demands, all of which can be released.

By creating an online community, Tian Ming hoped to foster various new professions and opportunities, thereby benefiting more grassroots personnel in the base. The wealth flow formed by this interactive self-service is like spring rain, capable of benefiting everyone and making the entire social structure healthier and more stable.

Some principles are simple on the surface; many people know about buying low and selling high, but truly profitable merchants have been rare throughout history. Among them, methods, approaches, and vision are extremely important.

In the long run, although facing the threat of war from the corpse race, engaging in such an online community seems a bit like neglecting proper duties. However, from the perspective of an ordinary person, they only care about their immediate meager possessions. If life is full of hardship, how can one talk about collective consciousness, let alone a sense of responsibility?

Xiao Xiao, floating beside him, had fallen asleep at some point. Tian Ming looked at his daughter's sweet and lovely sleeping posture, a happy smile gracing his lips.

"Number Two, take the little master home and let her rest!"

"Yes, Master!" Number Two respectfully replied, sending Xiao Xiao back home.

Tian Ming took the phone sample in his hand and went to the warehouse. Over two million phones were quickly replicated. Number Three remotely installed all the phone systems and immediately notified the Comprehensive Management Department to come and transport them for distribution.

The phones were directly bound to identity IDs and were distributed for free. Only when everyone had a certain surplus would Tian Ming consider charging service fees, involving everyone in this economic cycle.

After finishing all this, as he just came out of the warehouse, a seventeen or eighteen-year-old young man, covered in blood, rushed towards Tian Ming, followed by two or three members of the Enforcement Team.

"Stop, don't run!"

Tian Ming frowned and immediately acted, a carbon fiber quickly formed, tying the young man into a zongzi. Due to inertia, the young man fell directly to the ground.

The members of the Enforcement Team quickly rushed over and pinned the young man to the ground. Several enforcement officers saluted after seeing Tian Ming.

"Mr. Lu, why are you here?"

Tian Ming glanced at the young man struggling on the ground and frowned, asking, "What crime did he commit?"

"Involved in trafficking Superpower Potions for profit and forging virtual ID cards!" the enforcement officer said.

The young man, covered in blood, angrily retorted, "Bullshit! What evidence do you have? You catch a thief with the goods, and you catch an adulterer with the pair. Does your Enforcement Team have no law? Can you convict someone based solely on someone else's word?"

"If you haven't committed a crime, why can't you cooperate with our investigation?"

"I'll run if I want to, is it any of your business? You don't go kill zombies, but you stare at us unarmed ordinary people, bah! Damn it..."