National Tide 1980.

Ning Weimin's accurate judgment made Zhao Chunshu nod repeatedly as if he had found a kindred spirit, and his expression became more and more solemn.

"...So recently, Ishii convened a high-level executive meeting. At the meeting, he not only used the pretext of a financial crisis to ask all members to weather the storm together, but also tried to use this matter to cause trouble for me. In order to amass wealth, Ishii issued a new rule requiring all direct subordinates of the Inagawa-kai, except for a limited number of high-ranking officials, to contribute an additional ten million to five million yen per month on top of the existing amount, depending on their position and the size of the organization. At the same time, in order to ensure that this matter is implemented as he wishes, he also specifically assigned me to be responsible for supervising everyone to pay the amount on time. If anyone objects or fails to pay on time, I will have to bear the corresponding responsibility."

"Wow, what a brilliant plan to kill two birds with one stone! The abacus beads are about to fall into someone's face."

Ning Weimin couldn't help but interject again, expressing his indignation on behalf of Zhao Chunshu.

"They're clearly using you as a pawn to send you on this thankless task. You won't fall for Ishii's trick, will you?"

"Of course I know Ishii's sinister intentions. Especially now that the Japanese economy is so sluggish, even large corporations are drastically cutting their entertainment expenses, and the service industry is the first to be hit. In this environment, our methods of extorting protection money are also greatly negatively affected. For the Inagawa-kai's executives, this is already a very difficult time, and Ishii is asking everyone to pay extra fees to help him cover his books. How can we possibly collect the money smoothly? Of course, I don't want to jump into this fire pit. But..."

At this point, Zhao Chunshu suddenly changed the subject, first downing the wine in his glass in one gulp, followed by a deep sigh.

"...As the second-in-command of the Inagawa-kai, I have an inescapable responsibility regarding the serious financial crisis it faces. I simply cannot stand idly by. Moreover, Ishii's deliberate exclusion of me and some others from the list of those required to pay extra is itself setting us against the rest. No matter what I do, those who are required to pay extra money will be dissatisfied with me. And most importantly, the first chairman entrusted his son, Inagawa Hirohiro, to me and Ishii on his deathbed, asking us to ensure that his son would succeed him as the third-generation head of the Inagawa-kai upon reaching adulthood. For many years, I have enjoyed the privileges of my superior position within the Inagawa-kai and benefited greatly from them. From a moral standpoint, I also need to hand over a financially sound Inagawa-kai to Inagawa Hirohiro to fulfill my trust. If I do nothing now and let the Inagawa-kai go bankrupt, then while Ishii will certainly bear the main responsibility, I will inevitably share the blame with him. Ishii calculated this precisely, which is why he is playing dirty with me, betting that I cannot stand idly by."

"That's a difficult situation. You're not only being put on the spot, but you're also being morally blackmailed."

Ning Weimin could fully understand Zhao Chunshu's predicament and couldn't help but sigh for his situation.

Perhaps because of the influence of movies and TV dramas, many people believe that the underworld is very loyal and that once you have a boss protecting you, you will have no worries about food and clothing.

But this idea is a complete joke.

Don't be fooled by the fact that many big shots claim to be organizations that value loyalty and righteousness. In reality, most of them are just scum who are driven by their own selfish desires.

In fact, the law of the jungle, where big fish eat small fish, is the most prevalent in this circle.

Most bosses have a habit and hobby of "living off their subordinates" and being supported by them.

So once you take this crooked path, not to mention the underlings have to risk their arms, legs, and even their lives to make a living.

Even those like Hong Hanyi and Zhao Chunshu, who have risen to their current positions, still have to be constantly on guard against being swallowed up by bigger fish than themselves, or even being stabbed in the back by so-called "own people".

Just like the Japanese film "Outrage" that Ning Weimin watched in his previous life.

Takeshi Kitano vividly portrayed the sinister and treacherous nature of this industry in this film.

Of course, there are good people in this circle, but those who know how to repay kindness like Zhao Chunshu, and those who keep their word like Hong Hanyi, are too few and far between.

Moreover, facts have repeatedly proven that evil is the true nature of this circle, and all talk of benevolence and morality is nothing more than a tool to bind opponents and control subordinates.

If you actually believe it, then you're in big trouble.

Zhao Chunshu is principled and trustworthy, which earns him respect, but conversely, he may also be at a disadvantage when faced with critical life-or-death moments.

Because he has too many concerns, there are some things he disdains to do, which often becomes his biggest weakness.

"I understand your predicament. You must be caught in a dilemma, hesitant to act, but if I may be frank, it's difficult for you to have a win-win situation. You'll have to lose something, whether it's fame or fortune. But I still suggest you don't let your opponent get their way. If you know there's a trap ahead, why jump in? If it were me, I would be willing to pay a painful price rather than fall for it. The key is not to be led by the nose."

To be honest, Ning Weimin genuinely sympathized with Zhao Chunshu, which is why he overstepped his bounds and said a few more words.

Fortunately, Zhao Chunshu was not pedantic, and his suggestion was immediately appreciated by Zhao Chunshu.

“Mr. Ning, you’re right, that’s what I think too. I definitely won’t do this. If I do it badly, I’ll have to bear the infamy and face Ishii’s suppression. If I do it well, I’ll offend many people and Ishii will become even more wary of me. Either way, there’s no good outcome. So I’ve made up my mind, even if it costs me dearly, I won’t give in. To be honest, I’m prepared to retire gracefully and leave the Inagawa-kai. To get Ishii to let me go, I’ll even pay a fine to avoid trouble and voluntarily hand over all my territories and businesses in Tokyo. I suppose Ishii, who is currently worried about his debts, will accept this condition and won’t force me to do this dirty work for him anymore.”

"What? You want to withdraw from the Inagawa-kai and hand over all your territory and businesses in Tokyo? This... isn't that a bit too much of a price to pay? I think your terms could be reconsidered, and their expectations shouldn't be that high."

Zhao Chunshu's words did indeed startle Ning Weimin.

It's important to know that although the Inagawa-kai is the second largest Yakuza organization in Japan, though it is overshadowed by the Yamaguchi-gumi, the Inagawa-kai's main sphere of influence is in Tokyo.

Tokyo is a tempting place for loan sharks, sex shops, smuggling, adult videos, money laundering, underground gambling, and the construction industry.

Given Zhao Chunshu's exceptional position, he must have access to the best resources in Tokyo. He probably wouldn't have to do anything each month for a lot of benefits to fall into his hands.

Now he actually wants to hand it all over; he's really willing to do that.

To be honest, Ning Weimin truly admired this decisiveness.

He certainly believed that this act of paying to avoid trouble would allow Zhao Chunshu to make a timely exit while preserving his reputation in the underworld. However, he also thought that Ishii might not necessarily want to force Zhao Chunshu to his death, and that the price could still be negotiated.

Giving everything away like this seems like a huge loss; if you really regret it, it will be difficult to get it back.

Moreover, severing ties with the Inagawa-kai means losing its most important protective shield.

How could a seasoned veteran like Zhao Chunshu not have enemies?

What if someone retaliates against him?
Unexpectedly, Zhao Chunshu had his own ideas and firmly reaffirmed his stance. "Yes, I've really thought it through, and it has to be this way. To be honest, I'm not only disgusted by the internal strife within the Inagawa-kai, but I also don't want to risk fighting against external enemies anymore. After all, you're not a江湖人 (jianghu person, a person of the martial arts world), and the current situation is extremely dangerous. If things go wrong, major cities across Japan could soon descend into chaos..."

"Major trouble? External enemies?" Ning Weimin's eyes widened. "What do you mean? Does this mean... there will be gang warfare?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean. And I'm sure it will happen."

Zhao Chunshu's eyes gleamed with experienced wisdom. "The logic is simple: a poor economic situation will affect the income of the service industry. This is a major social trend that no one can change. Undoubtedly, other gangs will also face the same predicament of reduced income as the Inagawa-kai. How to solve this problem? Historically, there's only one way—underworld warfare. Just like the internal oppression within the Inagawa-kai, large gangs will also set their sights on other gangs' territories. Therefore, a gang war aimed at annexation will soon erupt. Friction will certainly begin at the branch and grassroots levels, but it will eventually escalate into a full-scale war. The core battlefield will be where the most lucrative opportunities lie. Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya—all major cities will be like this."

"Is it really that serious? Japan has been peaceful for so many years. Is it possible that social order will suddenly collapse?" Ning Weimin thought for a moment. Although he agreed with Zhao Chunshu's logic, he still thought it was a bit of an exaggeration.

But Zhao Chunshu's words once again convinced him with hard-core logic.

"Don't think that Japanese society is very stable. There haven't been many serious crimes in the past decade because the Japanese economy has been booming. Everyone is making money, so who would want to fight and kill? Naturally, everyone is peaceful and focused on enjoying life. But things are different now. The economy is declining, and the good days are gone. If you want to continue living comfortably, you have to break the balance and devour others. What is the Yakuza? The Yakuza are man-eating wolves. When they are full, they may not be dangerous, but when they are hungry, they will bare their fangs and kill any living thing they can eat."

"Ishii hasn't revealed his war intentions yet, firstly to focus on handling internal affairs, and secondly to divert attention and quell the anger of his subordinates when they are being exploited to the point of exhaustion. Moreover, the Inagawa-kai is not without rivals. The Yamaguchi-gumi and Sumiyoshi-kai are both opponents that deserve serious attention."

"As for my old bones, I'm no longer suited to participate in such intense warfare. If I continue to hold a high position, I might not even survive the first round of intimidating assassinations. And my disciples and subordinates, their lives have already suffered enough. I really don't want them to lose their lives or become crippled in vain. So, completely withdrawing from the Inagawa-kai and leaving Tokyo, this place of trouble, is my best choice, and the sooner the better."

Ning Weimin finally understood at this moment.

Zhao Chunshu truly lived up to his reputation as a seasoned veteran. He understood the changing landscape of the Japanese underworld far better than I did, and was far more experienced in it.

It's truly remarkable that someone his age can maintain such a clear mind.

“I see, that explains why you made that choice. Considering this risk, I agree with your decision. I truly admire your decisiveness.”

However, Ning Weimin couldn't help but worry about Zhao Chunshu's future. "But once you leave Tokyo and break away from the Inagawa-kai, can you really stay out of it? You still have so many subordinates with you. What are your plans for the future?"

This is what Zhao Chunshu said about these issues.

"In Chiba Prefecture, I also have a small organization called 'Hakoya Ichiban' (Hakoya Family). I acquired it by chance in the 1950s. As long as I hand over my main interests in Tokyo, the Inagawa-kai should allow me to retain this force for self-defense. Moreover, Chiba Prefecture is not like Tokyo; there's not much money to be made here, so there will be far fewer underworld conflicts. In Narita City, there are only two or three small gangs. As long as we don't provoke the big gangs, I think we can stay here and weather the storm without any major incidents."

At this point, Zhao Chunshu poured Ning Weimin another glass of wine.

Then he pushed the wine glass towards Ning Weimin, clasped his hands together on his knees, straightened his back unconsciously, and bowed deeply as if he had made some kind of decision.

"Mr. Ning, after all that I've said, I just wanted you to understand that I really need your help right now. Chiba Prefecture is too small. After leaving Tokyo with over a hundred men, I'm afraid it will be difficult to support them through protection money and loan companies. I don't want to engage in any more illegal activities, so I urgently need to find a legitimate business that can support my subordinates. I know you gave Xia excellent advice, not only helping her avoid losses from the stock market crash but also helping her open a parking lot, where they made a fortune together. So please, I beg you to help us out and give us some advice. What kind of business would be suitable for us?"

His humble attitude in seeking knowledge inspired his disciple, Nakamura Go, to follow suit.

The master and disciple, one after the other, actually bowed deeply, immediately praising Ning Weimin as a savior.

To be honest, this is what you call being unable to refuse such kindness.

In this situation, Ning Weimin was naturally inclined to help and repay Zhao Chunshu's debt of gratitude.

Even if there wasn't one, out of consideration for face, Ning Weimin had to give a reason.

Otherwise, given the other party's respect, he would have been truly embarrassed and would have felt guilty.

However, the problem now is that Ning Weimin really doesn't know much about Chiba Prefecture and Zhao Chunshu's ways of making a living in the local area.

As the saying goes, "No investigation, no right to speak." He can't just spout nonsense.

After a brief silence, Ning Weimin first helped the master and apprentice to their feet, then posed a series of questions, “Mr. Zhao, I understand your basic needs. But these things can’t be rushed. I need to understand some relevant information before I can make a plan for you. For example, what specific businesses do you own in Chiba Prefecture? How much debt do you currently have? What are your approximate monthly income and expenses? Also, after leaving the Inagawa-kai, how much liquid capital do you have available?”

These questions are certainly reasonable.

Zhao Chunshu and Nakamura Go exchanged a glance and nodded to each other. (End of Chapter)