National Tide 1980.

In late 1990, a TV series adapted from a literary work, "Fortress Besieged," became a hit in mainland China.

This domestic TV series, which aired shortly after "Aspiration" and had a similar sensational effect, made many people in the Republic start to ponder and savor this maxim: love, marriage, career, and even everything in life are like a "besieged city," with those outside wanting to get in and those inside wanting to get out.

This principle is like an invisible thread.

One end of the story connects not only the people of the Republic who are struggling to make a living, but also the turbulent changes deep within the Tokyo underworld.

In the final days before the New Year, Zhao Chunshu, the chief advisor of the Inagawa-kai, made a decision that shocked the entire Tokyo underworld.

This veteran leader, who had become sworn brothers with Inagawa Seisho, the founder of the Inagawa-kai, and had been a member of the Inagawa-kai since its founding in Shizuoka, was about to completely withdraw from Japan's second-largest yakuza organization, which he had devoted half his life to, along with his only disciple, Nakamura Go.

In order to reintegrate into mainstream society and start living the life of an ordinary person again.

Zhao Chunshu not only decided to hand over all the gang assets under his name, but also handed over the Hakoya family, the "private offering family" he had fought bloody battles for, to the Inagawa-kai as a "penalty" for his own and his 103 subordinates to "redeem" themselves, with a total value of a staggering 3 billion yen.

Without a doubt, for him, the dangerous underworld was the "walled city" that had trapped him for half his life.

Now, regardless of whether others understand, this old man, who has been involved in the underworld for thirty years, is determined to retire from the criminal world and bid farewell to the days of violence.

And this news, like a spark carried by a whirlwind, spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys of Tokyo overnight.

Within the special circle of the Yakuza, the discussion about this matter almost drowned out the bustling traffic on the streets of Tokyo.

…………

With only three days left until New Year's Eve, at an izakaya in Kabukicho that frequently caters to Yakuza.

The steam from the miso soup mingled with the smoke from cheap cigarettes, swirling with the murmurs of conversation throughout the room. Almost everyone was talking about Zhao Chunshu and Nakamura Go's remarkable feat from years past.

"Have you all heard? Just these past few days, a veteran of the Inagawa-kai and his followers have completely withdrawn from the society..."

A young henchman in a black leather jacket slammed his glass onto the tatami mat, spilling the liquor onto his shoes, but he didn't seem to care.

He wanted to attract his deskmate's attention and also wanted to find out more about this surprising news.

“Ah, I’ve heard about it too. You’re talking about that Chinese guy from the Inagawa-kai, right? He’s not only a founding member of the Inagawa-kai, but I heard he was also a strong contender for the chairmanship back then,” one of his companions chimed in.

The young man became even more curious. "Isn't this person very powerful? Why would he resign? And he even handed over his own private family property, leaving nothing behind! Did he offend the chairman? Is this a punitive measure?"

The other bald man at the table, Yamazaki, chuckled and pushed the grilled saury bones in his bowl aside.

"Haha, your argument is laughable. You call this punishment? Do you think it's so easy for the Yakuza to sever ties with the past? It requires rituals that are either punitive or expressions of resolve, the most representative of which is the finger-cutting ritual. In the past, anyone who wanted to leave the organization had to cut off at least three fingers from their left or right hand. On the one hand, this expressed their resolute separation from the organization and their elders, and on the other hand, it showed their remorse through self-mutilation, apologizing for abandoning the organization and their brothers and breaking their promises. They could leave unscathed by handing over their assets and money. That's hardly punishment; it's clearly an unfair privilege!"

At this point, the bald man expressed his particular dissatisfaction and contempt for the Inagawa-kai.

"Pah! What second largest yakuza organization! I think they're all lawless, cowardly, and greedy bastards. They can do such despicable things, aren't they afraid of being laughed at? Hmph, once this precedent is set, it won't be long before the Inagawa-kai becomes a second-rate gang. Such an organization has no future. It's not even as good as our Matsuba-kai."

His companion joined in the mockery.

"That's normal. He's getting old! I heard that the cadre who resigned is almost sixty years old, and he's got a musty vibe right down to his bones. I think he's made enough money and become a coward, which is why he's running away with his tail between his legs!"

However, to their surprise, the owner of the izakaya (Japanese pub) voiced his objection at this moment.

The owner, who was busy in the kitchen, leaned over the counter towards the group that was mocking the Inagawa-kai.

I guess I'm quite familiar with them, so I'm not afraid they won't like what I'm saying, and I offer my reminders without any hesitation.

"Hey you guys, don't shout so loudly. If the Inagawa-kai hears you, it'll be troublesome. Besides, that resigning executive is quite prestigious. He's one of the few Chinese executives who holds a high position in the Japanese yakuza. He has many friends in the underworld. The peaceful coexistence between the Inagawa-kai and the Sumiyoshi-kai over the years is thanks to his mediation. And I also know that Ando Noboru, a former Kamikaze pilot and the once-famous Ando-gumi chairman, is also an old friend of his. He even presided over the ceremony when Ando Noboru disbanded his gang after being released from prison. Come to think of it, from his perspective, wanting to retire at his age shouldn't be wrong, right? Especially since he handed over so many assets, even from..." From a financial perspective, he also contributed to the Inagawa-kai. I've heard there are seven or eight bars in Kabukicho and Roppongi alone, four loan shark companies, as well as strip clubs, love hotels, and underground casinos. Compared to that, what use are a few fingers to the organization? Can't you guys stop being so pathetic? This is how the world is. Being in the underworld isn't just about violence. If you have money, friends, and seniority, you can do whatever you want. Talking about this now is useless; it'll be useful when you're old and have billions in assets. Then, even if you want to leave the organization, the chairman of the Matsuba-kai certainly won't make things difficult for you.”

Sure enough, the boss's words immediately silenced the several Yakuza who had drunk quite a bit.

The henchman in the black leather jacket, however, remained curious. He leaned closer to the counter and continued to ask the owner, "Really? That guy is willing to hand over so many assets? How will he support himself after he leaves the organization? Is it really true that he has no connection with the Inagawa-kai anymore?"

The boss replied, "This is leaving the guild, of course it's fine. How will he live? He can only rely on himself. Just like an ordinary person retiring, is that even a question? However, I heard that besides more than twenty brothers insisting on staying with the Inagawa-kai and switching to another group, he also took a hundred subordinates with him. I think he'll probably do some legitimate business, like opening a shop or a restaurant or something. Otherwise, how will he support so many people?"

The bald man spat again disdainfully, "An utterly foolish choice. I really don't know if this idiot even has a brain. He'd rather be a high-ranking member of an organization than an ordinary person. And he could have just left on his own, but he took so many people with him. Does he really think being a legitimate person is so easy? Especially in this day and age."

As he spoke, he grabbed the bottle and poured the liquor into his bowl. "Let's make a bet. I think this guy will go bankrupt in less than six months..."

The bald man's words caused his companions to burst into laughter. This time, even the boss could only shake his head and remain silent.

Even he felt that Zhao Chunshu's future was not very bright, so naturally he wouldn't gamble with the bald man.

...At this very moment, in the office at the headquarters of the Inagawa-kai.

Chairman Takamasa Ishii slammed the month's financial statements onto his large desk with a loud crash, scattering the papers all over the floor.

He paced back and forth, stepping on the reports, his crocodile-skin shoes crumpling the pages, and couldn't help but shout angrily at the subordinate who brought him the reports.

"Another deficit! Damn it, the bank is pressing us for loan repayments. If we don't pay by next week, our shops in Shinjuku will be seized. What's going on? Haven't you collected the increased monthly contribution amount I asked for?"

Just then, a short man entered the room and was grazed by a flying teacup, which hit him against the wall, splashing scalding tea all over his neck.

He straightened up abruptly, bowed his head, and said, "Reporting to the Chairman, I've come to report the results of my investigation. Zhao Chunshu has been very well-behaved these past few days, spending time with his family and visiting temples. Nakamura Gou is with him too; it seems they're preparing for the New Year. Most of their people are on holiday. Only a few have rented several houses in Taito Ward, Shibuya Ward, and Shinjuku Ward, and are cleaning them. It seems they really are going to open a shop, but strangely, none of them are in any bustling or busy areas..."

Upon hearing this, Ishii suddenly stopped and his eyes darted around.

"Renting a place to open a shop? And not even in a downtown area? That's so strange..."

He then asked his subordinates, "What commonalities or unique features do these places share?"

The short man shook his head. "No, if I had to say, there are temples all around here."

Ishii remained noncommittal, but his voice was as cold as ice.

"Zhao Chunshu is a veteran cadre; he's an expert in all the money-making methods of the underworld organization. You think... he's not playing some kind of trick on me? This old guy is cunning and shrewd, so eager to leave the organization. Could he be planning to do something lucrative behind my back? Like smuggling or dealing in contraband..."

Faced with his greeting, the short man dared not utter a sound.

After thinking about it seriously for a long time, he finally said, "Chairman, I don't think it's likely. If it's smuggling or contraband, the most important thing is to find a safe warehouse near the port first. Zhao Chunshu only found a shop, and the space is not big. It looks like a small shop with a space of 20 or 30 square meters, at most a convenience store or coffee shop. There is not much space to store the goods..."

Ishii clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white. "Hmm, what you said makes sense. But for some reason, I just don't think Zhao Chunshu's withdrawal is that simple. I don't believe his nonsense. When has Zhao Chunshu ever been a coward? Back then, he dared to break through police lines to seize territory. He even dared to fire a gun in front of the police station. A man like that will still be a tiger even in his old age. I don't believe he'd want to live a mediocre, cowardly, and law-abiding life. Here's what we'll do: send a few more people to him, and put his key subordinates under 24-hour surveillance. Observe them for a month before making any decisions..."

However, the short man didn't dare agree. Instead, he gave a wry smile. "Chairman, if that's the case, I'll have to allocate most of my team's personnel. That will definitely affect our business. Moreover, there's an unexpected situation I need to report to you. Today, when I went to investigate the rental properties of Zhao Chunshu's subordinates, I unexpectedly discovered members of the Yamaguchi-gumi in our territory in Odaiba. I'm worried they might be here to provoke trouble..."

"What? The Yamaguchi-gumi?" Ishii exclaimed in surprise. "At a time like this? Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm quite sure, and I also know that it's a small family from a branch of the Yamaguchi-gumi, called the Kamizawa family. There were more than twenty of them. That's why I felt they came with ill intentions. Isn't that how it usually goes? They first send unimportant people to cause trouble to test the waters. If it goes smoothly, the other party can push their luck. If it doesn't go smoothly, the Yamaguchi-gumi can deny it at any time."

Ishii was startled, perhaps because things had been really going badly for him lately, and his anger suddenly erupted.

He kicked over the chair next to him, which slammed against the wall with a loud thud. "Damn it, you damn Yamaguchi-gumi! You dare to covet my territory!"

He paced back and forth a few times, panting heavily, then suddenly waved his hand and made a new decision. "In that case, put Zhao Chunshu aside for now and have the current people keep a close eye on him. The Yamaguchi-gumi matter is important and must be dealt with first! Get rid of those people! Tell them that the Inagawa Association doesn't welcome them. If they don't want to, let them all sleep in Tokyo Bay. It will take the Yamaguchi-gumi at least several months to find them."

"Okay, I understand." The short man bowed. "Please rest assured, Chairman, I will definitely do things as you wish. I will leave no trace."

…………

Meanwhile, in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's conference room, fluorescent lights made everyone's faces appear pale.

Young police officer Yoshida slammed Zhao Chunshu's photo onto the blackboard, chalk dust falling everywhere. "According to our informant, the conflict between Zhao Chunshu and Ishii escalated six months ago. Ishii, facing a budget deficit, wanted to extort more funds from his subordinates, which Zhao Chunshu refused. Furthermore, Ishii has always been wary of Zhao Chunshu's prestige and fears being replaced. Therefore, I think their conflict is likely to erupt completely because of this. We can exploit this to accelerate the infighting within the Inagawa-kai..."

The old police officer, Sato, sitting in the corner, puffed out a cigarette, the smoke blurring his features. He stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray, making a hissing sound.

"That's it? Yoshida, you're too green."

He stood up, walked to the blackboard, and tapped Zhao Chunshu's photo with his finger. "Don't even consider him. I just received news that Zhao Chunshu has already left the gang. He took most of his subordinates with him and handed over all the gang's assets. So even if the Inagawa Gang is fighting internally, it has nothing to do with him. Let's change our observation target. Also, I feel that the major gangs in Tokyo have been getting restless lately. Many people's behavior has gone too far. There's only one reason: the income of yakuza organizations has also decreased! They've started to do anything for money! Preventing a war among yakuza organizations is our next key target."

Yoshida's face flushed red with anxiety. "Is this true? This person actually withdrew? When did this happen?"

“Just the day before yesterday,” the veteran police officer Sato replied.

"Isn't the Koyakuza supposed to be unable to leave the organization at will? What gives him the right to leave? Did Ishii just agree to it like that?"

"Fool, just because he is one of the founders of the Inagawa-kai, just because he returned billions of yen of gang assets to Ishii."

Sato took out a document from the drawer, which was a list of assets that Zhao Chunshu had returned. "Except for a hot spring hotel in Chiba Prefecture, which he sold or gave away to a Chinese man named Ning Weimin, everything else was handed over to the Inagawa-kai. That old fox Zhao Chunshu had already sensed the danger and made his plans."

"A Chinese person? Should we investigate this Chinese person?"

"No need, it's probably just normal business dealings between them. My investigation shows that Zhao Chunshu and this Chinese man had no prior connection. Zhao Chunshu has already started renting a shop and is looking for someone to help him register a funeral supplies store. The supply contract was drafted with that Chinese man. There's nothing suspicious about it. It's probably because this Chinese man doesn't know who Zhao Chunshu is that he dared to cooperate with him..."

Veteran officer Sato shook his head, his tone full of helplessness. "Remember this, this guy is the truly clever one. He escaped at the most dangerous moment. He'll never have to face legal risks or worry about losing his life again. Otherwise, in a few months, he'd probably either die in a gang fight or be in jail. He's lucky." (End of Chapter)