National Tide 1980.

Kumagai Gumi, one of Japan's top five construction companies, focuses its core business on building and civil engineering services, covering the entire chain of public facilities such as highways, railways, airports, and water supply systems.

From preliminary analysis and scheme design to engineering construction and post-construction supervision, it possesses top-notch qualifications.

Building on this foundation, the company has further expanded its business scope, not only engaging in the manufacturing and sales of building materials and engineering machinery, but also delving into areas such as residential development, commercial complex construction, and real estate sales and leasing, thus forming a diversified industrial layout.

This company, which can be described as a century-old enterprise, is headquartered in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, and registered in Fukui City. It is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section (stock code: 1861) and has a strong foundation.

Its history can be traced back to January 1898, when stonemason Santaro Kumagai took on the order to build waterways for the Yoshinori Power Plant, which became the origin of the Kumagai Gumi.

In January 1938, the company was reorganized into a joint-stock company.

After the war, the Kumagai-gumi officially established a construction department, and with its outstanding capabilities, it participated in the construction of landmark projects such as the Kurobe River Fourth Power Station and the Ōmachi Tunnel, thus establishing its position in the industry.

As it has developed, its business has gradually expanded overseas, with a presence in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, North America and other regions.

In the latter half of the 80s, Kumagai Gumi set its sights on the Chinese market, which had a population of one billion.

Attracted by the favorable policies for attracting investment during the reform and opening up of the People's Republic of China, the company used its port branch as a springboard to officially enter the mainland and carry out direct investment business, while actively undertaking high-end construction projects.

In Beijing alone, the Kumagai Group's presence is significant: not only did they invest in and build the Kowloon Amusement Park at the Ming Tombs Reservoir, but they also undertook the construction of the Jingguang Center and the renovation of the Wangfujing Hotel. With these high-quality projects, they successfully established a solid political and business relationship with the Beijing Municipal Government.

It is obvious that the Kumagai Group has extremely strong strength and background, and is not even in the same league as the combined strength of Japan and China.

The former is a large multinational corporation with a focus on the construction industry and diversified operations, while the latter is merely a medium-sized business management company with limited scale.

More importantly, Kumagai Gumi has always been dedicated to cultivating the Chinese mainland market, with a particular emphasis on project development in Beijing. After all, Beijing is the capital of China, and its commercial market scale and the cultivation of stakeholders hold irreplaceable significance.

That is why, when Sugimoto Yuichi and Sato Kenta of the Japan-China General Association took the initiative to visit the head of Kumagai Gumi's China company and offered the Beijing Amusement Park as a "gift" to transfer shares, the other party was immediately interested.

To be precise, this was a "gift from heaven" that they simply couldn't refuse.

The benefits are obvious: the Beijing amusement park, built only three years ago, is in a period of rising profitability.

The Japanese-Chinese General Association could deceive the district government with the excuse of "losses," but it couldn't fool Kumagai Gumi, who is also deeply involved in the amusement and construction industries.

They could see at a glance that this was a true "golden goose" that could continuously lay golden eggs; such a high-quality, readily available asset was simply hard to find on ordinary days.

Once the Kumagai Gumi acquires the 60% stake held by the combined Japanese and Chinese companies, they can enjoy the profits directly without having to invest in preliminary preparations.

What the Kumagai group could not ignore was that Sugimoto and Sato's seductive words hit their sore spot.

At that time, Kowloon Amusement Park, operated by Kumagai Gumi, had been operating in a remote location and its visitor traffic had consistently fallen short of expectations since its opening, making its business performance far from ideal.

What truly convinced them to intervene was the Longtan Lake Aquarium project that Ning Weimin was pushing forward.

It's worth noting that the core theme of the aquarium built by Ning Weimin is "The Crystal Palace of the Dragon King of the East Sea," using Chinese mythology as a selling point.

Kumagai Gumi's Kowloon Amusement Park also uses the Chinese dragon as its core symbol, following an Eastern mythology-based entertainment route. Both belong to the cultural tourism and entertainment sector and share a highly overlapping core theme, inevitably leading to direct competition for customers in the future.

More importantly, the aquarium is located near the Beijing Amusement Park, a geographically superior location to Kowloon Amusement Park, which means it directly faces the core tourist groups of Beijing and the surrounding area.

Once Ning Weimin's aquarium is completed and put into operation, its novel experiential format and profound cultural essence will inevitably divert a large number of tourists interested in Eastern mythology themes, further exacerbating the already poor business situation of Kowloon Amusement Park.

For the Kumagai Group, Ning Weimin's aquarium has become a potential threat that must be contained. If they can take advantage of this opportunity to acquire shares in the Beijing Amusement Park, they will have many more options for the future.

Not only can they acquire a high-quality asset out of thin air, but they can also leverage the existing scale and customer base of the Beijing amusement park to create a strategic balance against the aquarium.

At that point, they will either incorporate it into their own territory or squeeze its living space through joint operations.

In this way, they can both resolve the competitive crisis of Kowloon Amusement Park and further consolidate their position in the Beijing cultural tourism market. From both a short-term profit and long-term strategic perspective, this is a win-win situation, completely turning the tables and shifting from a passive to an active stance. Therefore, for the Kumagai Group, intervening in the share transfer of Beijing Amusement Park is no longer an "option," but an "inevitable choice."

Once the decision was made, the Kumagai Group immediately took action, like a Cheng Yaojin appearing out of nowhere, officially intervening in the shareholding dispute of the Beijing Amusement Park.

Their long-standing friendly business relationship with the Beijing municipal government played a crucial role at this moment—Kumagai Gumi's representative in China formally expressed their investment intention in the Beijing amusement park project to the municipal government, emphasizing their sincerity in cultivating the inland market of the People's Republic of China, and also hinting that if they could take over the project, they would further increase their investment in Beijing and contribute to the city's development plan.

This statement was quickly relayed from the city government to the Chongwen District government. Coupled with the encouragement of Yuichi Sugimoto and Kenta Sato, who jointly advocated for Kumagai Gumi to take over their shares, the district government, which had initially been resolute, felt immense pressure. After all, as a large multinational corporation, Kumagai Gumi's investment projects in Beijing were crucial to local economic development and its image in attracting investment; the municipal government would inevitably have its own considerations and would relay these intentions downwards.

Significant disagreements quickly emerged within the district government, forcing the previously agreed-upon coordination process to be suspended. The district had to urgently convene a closed-door meeting to discuss the matter.

On February 25, 1991, the atmosphere in the conference room of the district government office building was somber.

The officials sitting at both ends of the long conference table had different expressions, and the ashtrays were soon filled with cigarette butts. A sense of oppressive anxiety permeated the air.

“I think we should follow the city’s instructions on this matter!” It was Deputy District Chief Zhou who broke the silence first.

He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, his tone resolute. "Now that the Japan-China General Association has withdrawn and the Kumagai Group has taken over, they've even promised to turn a profit and pay dividends on time. What's wrong with that? Our initial purpose in building the amusement park was to boost the regional economy and increase fiscal revenue, wasn't it? Now that goal can be achieved, and the Japan-China General Association, which dared not to cooperate, has been eliminated, all the problems have been perfectly resolved. What is there to hesitate about?"

He paused, then added, "Besides, I'm mainly in charge of the construction work, so I know a bit about Kumagai-gumi. They're a large multinational corporation with a solid reputation and proven strength. They're not only much more reliable than the combined Japanese and Chinese companies, but, frankly, they're also more dependable than Ning Weimin, who just popped up out of nowhere. If Kumagai-gumi takes over, at least we won't have to worry about the safety of the amusement park's facilities anymore."

As soon as Deputy District Head Zhou finished speaking, Deputy District Head Xu, who was in charge of commerce, frowned and shook his head, refuting him on the spot.

"Old Zhou, I have reservations about what you said! The core issue that led us to this point with the Japan-China General Chamber of Commerce is that we don't trust the Japanese! Replacing the Japan-China General Chamber of Commerce with the Kumagai Gumi is just a change in name only, isn't it? Don't be fooled by their nice words. What if they act like the Japan-China General Chamber of Commerce and make exorbitant demands? Besides, the Kumagai Gumi is stronger than the Japan-China General Chamber of Commerce and has connections with the city. How can we possibly deal with such a large Japanese company? Are we going to have to rely on them and lose our autonomy?"

Deputy District Chief Xu leaned forward, his tone growing increasingly agitated: "And who is Ning Weimin? He was originally uninvolved; we invited him to help us out! Now he's not only willing to take on the amusement park, but he's also invested in such a large project as an aquarium in our district! If we change our minds and leave him hanging, what will people think? Isn't that going back on our word? Who will want to invest in our district in the future? Moreover, Ning Weimin is also a shareholder of Pierre Cardin, a French company. If this isn't handled properly, what will Pierre Cardin think of us?"

He picked up the draft amusement park plan submitted by Ning Weimin from the table and slammed it down heavily. "Take another look at Ning Weimin's plan. He's not just looking to make money off what he already has; he wants to expand investment and link the amusement park and aquarium to create a cultural tourism complex themed around Chinese mythology! It won't just attract tourists from Beijing; people from surrounding cities will come too! Our district has been ranked fourth in the city rankings for years. Isn't this a great opportunity to turn things around? Do you really want our district's economic and cultural achievements to be constantly overshadowed by Chaoyang District?"

"Old Xu, that's just idealism!" Deputy District Chief Zhou immediately retorted. "Ning Weimin's plan sounds good, but he has no experience in operating amusement parks. The risk is too great! Expanding investment means increased uncertainty. If it goes well, everyone will be happy, but if it fails, the amusement park and aquarium will be stuck in our hands. Can our district bear the consequences? Kumagai Gumi is different. They are a mature, large company with experience in operating amusement parks. Taking over means they can make a profit. That's the safe choice!"

He then changed the subject, saying, "As for Pierre Cardin and Ning Weimin, since they have already established a relatively long-term cooperative relationship with us, I'm sure they will understand if we explain the situation clearly. After all, we are acting on the instructions of the city and are not intentionally trying to betray their sincerity."

"You're shirking responsibility!" Deputy District Chief Xu retorted without backing down. "Ning Weimin's reputation in the business world speaks for itself. Which of his projects has ever lost money? His capabilities and vision are far clearer than those of us sitting in offices. Doing business is inherently risky, but he's not afraid to invest real money. I really don't know what we have to fear. As the saying goes, you can't catch a wolf without risking your cub. If we want our district to develop, we have to seize opportunities like this! Let me tell you, ever since Ning Weimin opened the Tangong Restaurant in Japan, I've had my eye on him. If you're worried about the risks, I can vouch for him!"

The two started arguing back and forth, and the meeting room instantly erupted into chaos.

The cadres who supported Deputy District Chief Zhou echoed his sentiments, repeatedly emphasizing "obeying superiors" and "prioritizing stability," believing that introducing the Kumagai Group would both implement the city's intentions and ensure stable fiscal revenue.

Officials who support Deputy District Head Xu insist on "refusing to change the form but not the substance" and "supporting local investors," believing that Ning Weimin's plan is more in line with the region's long-term development and that long-term interests should not be sacrificed due to short-term pressures.

"Alright, everyone, stop arguing!" Secretary Zhao, who was chairing the meeting, slammed his hand on the table, and the meeting room fell silent instantly. His face was gloomy, and his fingers tapped lightly on the edge of the table; he was clearly caught in a dilemma.

"We need to consider the city's intentions, but we also need to consider the actual situation in our district."

He slowly began, “On one side is a large Japanese company recognized by the city, and on the other is a sincere local partner with Pierre Cardin shareholder background. One side offers stable short-term profits, and the other offers long-term development opportunities. To be honest, this is a difficult choice. Choosing either side could offend the other and damage the relationship with a foreign company. Therefore, this matter must be handled with utmost care. Even if we have to abandon one side in the end, we must do our best to communicate effectively, otherwise there will be more trouble later.”

Secretary Zhao's words revealed everyone's dilemma, and the meeting room fell silent once again.

Unfortunately, no one could come up with a solution that would satisfy everyone.

Those who support the Kumagai Gumi worry that going against the city's intentions will affect subsequent work and cause them to miss out on stable financial benefits.

Those who support Ning Weimin worry about repeating the mistakes of the Sino-Japanese cooperation, and are even more afraid of missing a golden opportunity to revitalize the regional economy. Both sides hold their own arguments, each with solid evidence, and neither can convince the other.

As the closed-door meeting was about to adjourn due to the stalemate, and the ownership of the Beijing amusement park was becoming even more uncertain, District Chief Zhang, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up.

“Secretary, I do have an idea.” His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable weight. “Regarding investment, even if we make the wrong choice now, there will be opportunities to correct it later. We can observe and adjust gradually. But on the issue of stance, we absolutely cannot make a mistake. Think about it, if we go against the city’s intentions, how will the leaders view us? Not only that, but our subsequent work will probably be difficult to carry out smoothly, and we may not be able to get the same level of support from the city as we do now.”

He paused, his tone becoming increasingly cryptic, "I think we should be more down-to-earth, focusing on doing our jobs well and thoroughly, as required by our superiors. We can consider long-term development when we have the capacity. It's okay to have flaws in our work; we can learn and improve gradually by following the city's instructions. We're all still young, there are plenty of opportunities. As for offending people..."

These words, though seemingly tactful and ambiguous, might not be fully understood by those outside the officialdom. However, those in the meeting room were all perceptive—Secretary Zhao was nearing retirement and could disregard the city's stance, but the others had to consider their future careers. District Chief Zhang's unspoken meaning was clear: for the long-term development of everyone's careers, they had to obey the city's intentions.

As expected, after listening, Secretary Zhao sighed heavily, and his previously hesitant stance completely softened.

He couldn't ignore the future prospects of his subordinates and was worried about incurring public wrath.

"District Chief Zhang's opinion is very pertinent. Regarding the amusement park issue, I think we should consult with experts from the city. After all, our district's economy is part of the city's overall strategy, and it's always good to humbly learn from the city."

Upon hearing this, everyone understood that the possibility of Ning Weimin taking over the amusement park had become extremely slim. (End of Chapter)