National Tide 1980.

what?
Shorting stocks!

The threat in Ning Weimin's words made Chi Jing jump up from his chair.

His face was ashen, and his eyes were filled with disbelief.

It's important to know that Dentsu is a giant in the Japanese advertising industry, with strong monopoly power and deep roots.

How terrifying is the power that Ning Weimin wields to short such a company and successfully cause it to suffer losses?
Not to mention, Keiko Matsumoto was able to get her artists to successfully fight back against Dentsu.

Ikei had never heard of any talent agency in the Japanese entertainment industry that had ever come out on top in a dispute with Dentsu. It was practically a miracle in the Japanese entertainment industry.

Therefore, recalling Yoshida's awkwardness when he relayed Ning Weimin's message on behalf of Dentsu, and Yoshida's earnest admonition to him not to anger Ning Weimin, he felt a pang of unease.

Ikei now finally knows the real answer and fully understands why this is so.

Ning Weimin, who was able to use such extraordinary means to completely subdue Dentsu Corporation, was indeed a ruthless and fearsome character.

Huang He was so frightened that his whole body went limp. The way he looked at Ning Weimin now was as if he were looking at a god or a demon.

He finally began to realize that the seemingly refined and easy-going young man in front of him was not only someone he could not match, but also a treacherous and incredibly intelligent person with a silver tongue.

Having learned Ning Weimin's true colors, how could he dare to show even the slightest arrogance?
His legs trembled uncontrollably under the table, and all he felt was regret for offending such an important person by looking down on them.

Who says that all Chinese people are backward, uncivilized, and ignorant? He's encountered a monster today.

However, Ning Weimin didn't care whether they had been scared out of their wits by him.

For him, this was just the beginning; his scheme hadn't even been fully revealed yet.

So he was still slowly dissecting his methods, enjoying the pleasure of gradually putting pressure on his negotiating opponent and fully demonstrating the hellish scene.

"With the Japanese stock market so sluggish right now, Kumagai Gumi's market value has fallen by 60% from its peak, right? I remember it's only around 300 billion yen left, about the same as Dentsu. If that's the case, I should be able to get a 15% controlling stake by acquiring 50 billion yen worth of shares, right? Getting a seat on the board of directors doesn't seem that difficult at all!"

"Oh, right, the Japanese real estate market collapsed last year. Currently, Japanese construction companies are no longer starting new projects in Japan, right? General Manager Ikei, you yourself just mentioned that Kumagai Gumi is a capital-intensive company. So the financing needs and pressure to recoup funds must be enormous. Your overall debt ratio is also quite high, isn't it? I wonder if your Chinese company has received any assignment to use overseas profits to provide financial support to Kumagai Gumi's headquarters?"

"So you see, it's entirely feasible for me to short Kumagai Gumi's stock. Your biggest weakness is that with the Japanese economy continuing to decline, Kumagai Gumi is also in dire need of liquidity and cannot afford any negative news. Therefore, once I acquire the shares, at the shareholders' meeting, I can use my position as a shareholder or director to proactively expose your Chinese company's unauthorized deviation from its core business and entry into the unfamiliar mass entertainment industry. Then Kumagai Gumi's stock will have a reason to fall, allowing me to make a fortune."

"As for you, when the time comes, you will spend huge sums of money to build Kowloon Amusement Park but struggle to operate it, and you will also take over the shares of Japan-China Joint Amusement Park at an unreasonable price. All of these things will become inexplicable charges against you, and will become my excuse to challenge the Kumagai Gumi board of directors and demand that the board of directors completely shrink overseas investments and reduce the debt ratio as soon as possible."

"General Manager Ikei, let me clarify something here: what I'm doing is not green vote extortion. At least from a legal perspective, it absolutely is not. I am very clear about the definition of green vote extortion under Japanese law. That is demanding expensive gifts and cash from the board of directors, as well as material benefits that exceed the norm. I am simply fulfilling my duty as a shareholder, hoping that Kumagai Gumi can maintain its traditions and do what it does best during this period of economic turmoil in Japan, without deviating from its core construction business. I believe that the senior management of Kumagai Gumi will understand my good intentions."

"So I urge you to think carefully about whether you really want to give me the shares of the Beijing Amusement Park. I'm not bluffing, but if I were to resort to such methods, then as the person who caused all this trouble, you and your people would not only fail to achieve anything, but would also have to bear the wrath of the board of directors and be despised by all the shareholders of the Kumagai Group. And no matter what your fate is, I will ultimately get what I want. I will even get it at a lower price and with better terms. Besides countless people being grateful to me, I can also make a fortune in the stock market..."

Ning Weimin's voice wasn't loud, but every word he uttered was like a poisoned knife, piercing the hearts of Chi Jing and Huang He.

Ikei was completely dumbfounded.

Ning Weimin was absolutely right; even if he forcibly took control of the Beijing amusement park, it would be useless.

If the other party actually adopts such a strategy, then I will be utterly defeated.

Not only will it be a waste of effort, but it will also backfire, leaving no way to escape unscathed.
The wisdom of Chinese merchants taught him an important lesson today.

He never imagined that Ning Weimin would come up with such a wicked and vicious method.

Every step the other party mentioned precisely hit his weak spot.

Moreover, even if he had known in advance, it wouldn't have helped.

He had no way to influence or change the course of the matter; the outcome the other party wanted would inevitably become reality.

Good heavens! How did he end up with such a monstrous opponent?

He originally thought he had the upper hand, but now he realizes that he has been following someone else's instructions from the very beginning, digging his own grave.

He was not worthy of competing with others and never had any choice.

Not only is his personal future firmly in Ning Weimin's hands, but even the Kumagai-gumi headquarters seems to have no good way to resist the other party's malicious manipulation.

The Chinese people's mental fortitude is too powerful, bordering on the abnormal.

So this is the strategy of the great Eastern power.

Chi Jing's stunned expression completely threw Huang He, who was standing next to her, into a panic.

Although he couldn't understand the resentment and pain that Chi Jing, as the head of Huaxia's overseas branch, felt when he encountered an invincible enemy, he was also afraid of losing his job and ruining his future.

Therefore, he disregarded workplace etiquette, leaned forward, and whispered urgently to Chi Jing.

"General Manager Ikei! We can't keep holding on like this! They're not joking. We can't defend against these tactics. If things really escalate to this point, and the head office investigates, none of us will escape!"

His forehead was covered in cold sweat, his hands clenched involuntarily, and his tone was full of urgency to protect himself.

"Think about it, Japan is already struggling under the weight of the economic downturn. If we can make a profit from our investment in amusement parks, that's fine. But if we consistently fail to turn a profit, our achievements will become our downfall. If we also drag down the company's stock price, how could the head office possibly forgive us? If we are really laid off, where can we start over?"

By the end, his voice held a hint of pleading. "Let's admit defeat, General Manager. Compromise in the face of overwhelming strength isn't shameful. Giving up the shares of the Beijing Amusement Park is the wise choice. That way, we can not only appease Mr. Ning's anger but also secure a 20 billion yen amusement park renovation project. That would be a completely different story. Just think, with such a large order, our performance this year would be guaranteed, and we'd even become the recipient of recognition from head office."

As soon as Huang He finished speaking, the female secretary who had been sitting silently beside Chi Jing, responsible for recording the negotiation, finally couldn't hold back any longer.

She had maintained a professional composure until now, but her face was so pale it was almost transparent.

She took a deep breath, as if gathering all her courage, and bowed slightly, her voice soft yet clear.

"General Manager Chi Jing, if things get out of control and you lose your position, what will happen to us subordinates? It wasn't easy for Huaxia Company to achieve what it has today, and we can't do without you for the future. Please consider the bigger picture and think it over carefully."

This sounds nice; on the surface, it's about being selfless and public-spirited, while also expressing the subordinate's respect and dependence on the superior.

But in reality, it was all too obvious that he was begging Ikei to think about his subordinates and reconcile with Ning Weimin in order to keep his job.

The advice from these two subordinates weighed heavily on Ikei's heart like two mountains.

He could clearly sense Huang He's anxiety and the female secretary's despair, and he was even more aware of the likely facts they were worried about.

He had no chance of winning this game from the start; if he stubbornly resisted, he would only drag everyone down with him.

In his heart, the scales that had already begun to tip were now tilting completely toward Ning Weimin in an irreversible manner.

His previous stubbornness and unwillingness had completely collapsed. He knew he had no choice but to admit defeat.

But just as the thought of admitting defeat arose, another worry instantly seized his heart.

He slowly raised his head and looked at Ning Weimin's calm and composed face. His eyes held a trace of stubbornness, but more so, an undisguised fear and uncertainty.

He used a napkin on the table to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, then opened his mouth, his voice terribly hoarse.

“Mr. Ning, you’re too ruthless. I admit you’ve used your absolute power to control the whole situation. But there’s still something I want to clarify. If I agree to give you the Beijing Amusement Park, will the project we discussed before still stand? Can our dispute end here? Can you... can you guarantee that you’ll stop here and not target the Kumagai Group anymore, and not pursue our crimes?”

This was the first time today that Ikei had shown genuine vulnerability in front of Ning Weimin.

As soon as he asked these questions, Huang He and his female secretary held their breath, their eyes fixed on Ning Weimin.

Their eyes were filled with anticipation and trepidation as they awaited the answer that would determine their fate.

At the same time, they looked at him with apprehension, worried that he would take advantage of their position and extort them again, making demands that would put them in a difficult position.

Fortunately, Ning Weimin agreed readily and had no intention of taking advantage of his misfortune.

"Of course. I will keep my promise to you and it will not change. I will not pursue this matter any further. From now on, we are a community of shared interests."

He even explained very considerately, “You don’t need to suspect anything; I’m speaking from the heart. I don’t like conflict, war, or conspiracies. I prefer to do things openly and honestly. You’ll understand once you do a thorough investigation. Although I never show mercy to my enemies, companies that genuinely cooperate with me have never suffered losses. Because I always believe that business is not a zero-sum game; cooperation is the only way to achieve a win-win situation.”

"Furthermore, the reason I'm sharing my business plan with you today, and telling you how I'll retaliate if you don't cooperate, is not to show off my brilliance, nor to intimidate or blackmail you. I simply want to clarify the objective situation so you don't misjudge the circumstances. In the business world, information asymmetry and the disparity in the amount of information held by both sides lead to far too many hostile actions. Many conflicts arise from misjudgments. It's precisely because I genuinely value the Kumagai Gumi's core construction business and want to maintain a stable cooperative relationship with you that I'm sharing all the information you should know."

"Perhaps you still have some doubts, thinking that I could have gotten more benefits, so why didn't I fight for them? That's because of efficiency. I simply don't have enough time. If I can get what I want at the negotiating table, I don't want to take it by force. Otherwise, although the other side will suffer a worse fate, I will inevitably waste time and energy. This is what I want now. We've made everything clear. Now we only need to focus on the planning and construction of the park. Isn't that good?"

Upon hearing Ning Weimin's words, Chi Jing's tense shoulders suddenly slumped, as if all the strength in his body had been instantly drained away.

He stared blankly at Ning Weimin, and in those eyes that had been filled with fear and resentment, a sense of unbelievable relief slowly rose, followed by utter admiration.

Chi Jing has lived most of his life and struggled in the business world for so many years. The opponents he has met are either ruthless characters who hold grudges or greedy people who take advantage of every opportunity. But he has never met anyone like Ning Weimin. His methods are extremely ruthless, but his vision is also extremely broad.

Subduing the enemy without fighting!
And this level of control, this sense of proportion, is something that he can't match.

Chi Jing let out a long sigh of relief. He had been holding his breath in his chest for so long, and when he finally exhaled, he was trembling slightly with exhaustion.

“Mr. Ning… I’m convinced. The Kumagai Group is willing to relinquish all its shares in the Capital Amusement Park and also undertake the park’s renovation project. We… look forward to cooperating with you. Thank you very much for your consideration, and we will do our best to meet your needs.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Huang He's heart, which had been in his throat, fell back into his stomach with a "thud".

His tense body relaxed instantly, and he could no longer feel the discomfort of his back being soaked in cold sweat. Instead, he felt a surge of ecstasy.

The knife that had been hanging overhead finally fell, but it didn't hurt anyone.

He's saved! His job and future are safe!

Not to mention the huge order worth 20 billion yen—with this achievement, he will not only avoid being held accountable this year, but will also be able to gain face in front of the head office, and may even be promoted!
Huang He looked at Ning Weimin with eyes full of awe and a hint of relief.

I'm glad I didn't go down a dead-end road, glad Ichii finally chose to compromise, and even more glad that they encountered a rational opponent like Ning Weimin—reasonable and leaving room for maneuver.

He quickly echoed, forcing a somewhat guilty smile on his face, and stood up to bow slightly to Ning Weimin, his tone sincere and self-reproachful.

"Mr. Ning, you are so magnanimous! I was blind and ignorant before, and blindly followed your lead. I have offended you in many ways, please don't take it to heart!"

As he spoke, he bowed deeply again and continued.

"You're absolutely right! Cooperation and mutual benefit are the only way forward! We will do our utmost to make the park renovation project the best it can be, and we will definitely not let you down!"

These words came from the bottom of his heart, stemming entirely from his admiration for the strong.

The female secretary, who had been sitting next to Chi Jing, heard Ning Weimin's promise and saw Chi Jing relent and Huang He sincerely apologize. Her tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and she couldn't help but close her eyes slightly and let out a long sigh.

In that instant, a trace of color finally returned to her pale cheeks.

She kept her job, and all the terrible speculations about being transferred or fired vanished.

The female secretary slowly opened her eyes, and her gaze towards Ning Weimin held a complex mix of emotions—fear, gratitude, and a hint of admiration for the man's unfathomable wisdom.

The oppressive, cold atmosphere that had been building up inside the private room finally dissipated at this moment.

Just then, the door to the private room was gently pushed open.

A waiter carried in a large, exquisite white porcelain platter. On the platter lay a golden-yellow, uniquely shaped Eight Treasure Gourd Duck, its body glistening with oil and exuding a faint fragrance of lotus leaves and meat—it was incredibly tempting.

This grand finale dish arrived just in time.

The waiter deftly placed the Eight Treasure Gourd Duck in the center of the table, then skillfully picked up a knife and gently sliced ​​it open along the duck's body.

With a soft "snap," the golden and crispy duck skin cracked open, revealing the filling of glutinous rice, mushrooms, shrimp, ham, and other ingredients. The rich aroma instantly filled the entire private room.

The previous four dishes had long since cooled down, but this steaming hot Eight Treasure Gourd Duck was like a ray of warm sunshine, instantly dispelling the gloom in everyone's hearts.

Looking at the scene before him, Ning Weimin finally revealed a faint smile.

He raised his hand, picked up the serving chopsticks on the table, gently picked up a piece of duck meat, and placed it on the plate in front of Chi Jing, his tone calm yet carrying an unquestionable composure.

"Mr. Ikei, please try this. This Eight Treasure Gourd Duck is all about 'completeness'."

Chi Jing stared at the duck meat on the plate for a moment, then smiled.

He picked up his chopsticks, quickly grabbed the piece of duck meat, and put it in his mouth.

The fresh and fragrant flavor spreads on the tip of the tongue, and the soft and glutinous filling is mixed with the tenderness of the duck meat.

Whether it was because of the happy ending or because it was the first time he had eaten this dish, it was so delicious that his appetite was whetted, and he couldn't help but nod repeatedly to express his appreciation.

Huang He didn't stand on ceremony either. After sitting down, he immediately picked up his chopsticks, picking up food while praising it repeatedly.

"Delicious! Delicious! Mr. Ning, you've put in a lot of effort! I'm truly ashamed; it seems I'm just a frog in a well. Only today did I realize that imperial cuisine can be so exquisite."

Looking at the harmonious scene before her, especially the contrast in Huang He's attitude before and after, the female secretary couldn't help but smile and secretly chuckle.

Thus, this once tense negotiation finally came to an unexpected and satisfactory conclusion. (End of Chapter)