Chapter 423 The Challenge of Risking Everything!

8 p.m., Sakura Shrine, Chiyoda District, Tokyo.

As the signature property of the Hashimoto family, Sakura Shrine is a chain across Japan. It is an exclusive and secret private izakaya used by the Hashimoto family and members of related factions to entertain guests.

Nowadays, the national economic situation is very sluggish, but the Sakura Shrine is full of people, and there is no sign of decadence at all.

This also made Kitahara Sosuke realize that the so-called economic crisis really cannot affect the top class of society until it reaches a certain level.

It really corresponded to a sentence he had read in the textbook before -

When it prospers, the people suffer; when it dies, the people suffer.

As the lowest level of the people, they do not even have the right to survive, and have no choice. They can only move slowly with the torrent of the times, and are finally submerged in the dust of history.

Kitano Ran, who had changed into a bright red off-shoulder evening dress, was elegant and tall. She stood with the equally slender Kitahara Sosuke. Just holding his arm, she had an indescribable aura of a lady.

The two of them were like golden boys and girls. When they walked into the Sakura Shrine, they instantly eclipsed the other guests. The maids in the shrine avoided them one after another, not daring to compete with Kitano Orchid, a beautiful rose.

Several congressmen booked the Amaterasu box on the top floor. The environment was elegant, charming and antique. Since there were several female guests present, they did not need to find any Japanese maids to accompany them.

Kithara Sosuke and Kitano Ran walked into the door, and a refreshing fragrance hit their nostrils. He took a look at the decoration inside. Good guy, it was obviously a private room with a strong Japanese style. It had to imitate Western parties, with Western food and dresses and suits. , really nondescript.

But this is also the current situation of Japan’s top leaders.

They were rich and powerful, but they did not break away from their father's control. They worshiped Westerners at heart and wanted to learn the so-called elegance of Westerners. More than ten years later, the rabbits next door rose to prominence, and many people began to learn Confucianism and Chinese culture. Ancient Chinese culture is really the deep-rooted thinking of Mu Qiang, which is difficult to change.

How can a nation become strong if it is not confident enough in its own culture?

Hopeless.

Kitahara Sosuke thought so in his mind, and smiled and said hello to a council member.

Kitano Lan let go of his arm and walked naturally towards the group of ladies in fashionable clothes. With her skill and ability, it was easy to chat up and communicate with these so-called young women who stayed at home.

Kitahara Sosuke was not worried. He went to the table and asked the waiter for a glass of wine. Then he picked up the dinner plate and started choosing food.

He always treats his stomach well, and when he comes to a place like this where the ingredients are excellent, he can't let himself be wronged unless he eats enough.

"Haha, Aosuke, long time no see. How are you doing?" The one who came up was Uchida Hiroshi, the president of Nissho Iwai. His two daughters, Uchida Ryoko, have married Hashimoto Shota, and the younger daughter Uchida Shizuko will all be together after the divorce. The property has been invested in Kitahara Investment, and now the relationship with Kitahara Sosuke seems to be very ambiguous.

He himself also had many business exchanges with Kitahara Sosuke, and he was considered a very close old friend.

"Uncle Uchida, long time no see." Kitahara Sosuke clinked glasses with him, and people from the Sanwa Consortium also came, which was a bit unexpected.

After all, the closest friends with the Kitahara clan are Tosan and the Fuji Foundation behind the Prime Minister's Cabinet.

After being tricked several times, the Sanwa Foundation gradually distanced itself from Kitahara Sosuke and adopted an attitude of neither closeness nor hostility. The Sumitomo Foundation must be on the opposite side of him. The Mitsui Foundation has cooperation and competition, but the only exchange and comparison is with the Kanyin Foundation. few.

As for the Mitsubishi Consortium, after Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was incorporated into Kitahara Heavy Industries, the relationship between Kitahara Sosuke and them was still quite tense.

If the relationship between Dongsan is broken, it is very likely that they will become enemies.

Every time the Sanwa Consortium, which likes to take risks but always suffers losses, appears, Kitahara Sosuke knows that something interesting will happen.

The two chatted in a low voice for a while, expressing their respective views on the current economic situation.

Kitahara Sosuke remembers that during the subsequent wave of major mergers in the banking industry, Sanwa Bank, in order to save itself, forcibly acquired Tokyo Trust Bank and Tokai Bank and established UFJ Bank. This probably happened in the past year or two.

However, now that Tokyo Trust has been eaten by Kitahara Sosuke, UFJ's size should decrease a bit, and UFJ's competition with Tosan will inevitably be at a disadvantage in the future.

Everything is according to Kitahara Sosuke's plan.

While the two were chatting, the white-haired Noboru Takeshita came over on crutches.

This old man who has experienced several generations of turmoil has a calm and powerful temperament. Like the deceased Qian Yelong, he is an older generation who has been strong from the previous era to the present.

But now, there was a hint of turbidity in his eyes.

After all, I am old.

"Your Excellency Takeshita." The two stopped communicating and greeted the old man.

"Yes." Noboru Takeshita nodded slightly in return, then fixed his gaze on Kitahara Sosuke's face, looking up at him as if he was looking for something from him.

Kitahara Sosuke kept smiling and just stood looking at him, just like when they first met him in Gekko Manor.

"Okay, okay, okay."

Three good ones came out in a row.

"Miyazawa, come on!" Noboru Takeshita suddenly shouted.

Miyazawa Kiichi, who was also gray-haired, walked over with the support of his granddaughter Kaoru Miyazawa.

He is taller than Takeshita Nogo, but he is still quite small compared to Kitahara Sosuke.

Kitahara Sosuke, who is 1.8 meters tall, is an obvious anomaly among the generally short Japanese.

"We meet again." Takeshita Noboru looked at them and smiled.

None of them spoke, just looked at Takeshita Noboru.

Kitahara Sosuke knew that the old man had something to say, so he stood with bated breath and waited quietly.

"Aosuke, I have been losing since I met you." Takeshita Noboru suddenly broke the silence, "I am different from that old stubborn Qianye Ryuu. I will not be so stubborn that I think I will not be overtaken by young people. You win. For me, if I win, I win, there’s nothing to say.”

"Your Excellency Takeshita is overly praised. It's just good luck." Kitahara Sosuke waved his hand.

I'm just lucky enough to beat you every time.

"Haha, good luck?" Noboru Takeshita smiled and shook his head, and then he pressed the crutch in his hand hard, "Kitahara Sosuke! I challenge you in the name of the head of the Takeshita family, do you dare to follow?"

In an instant, the whole place was shocked and there was a dead silence.

"What's there to be afraid of?" Kitahara Sosuke looked at him, still smiling.

Although this old man is not as stubborn as Qian Yelong, he is just as competitive.

"I know a good business opportunity, and I want to see how much money we can each make by spending everything we have. How about the losing party losing all its assets to the other party?"

All assets?

This is a stud!

Kitahara Sosuke also stopped smiling, then looked at him and suddenly smiled again.

"OK."