Chapter 136: The Best Solution (2/4)

Takeda Takanao took the document with a puzzled look, noting that it was entirely handwritten. Upon seeing the title, he couldn't help but look up and ask, "Takeda Manufacturing Development Plan?"

Tao Zhiming replied calmly, "Read it carefully, President Takeda."

In the quiet room, the scene of them silently flipping through the materials felt, in this campus setting, like students studying and researching together.

When Takeda Takanao reached the second page, he was so stunned that he broke the silence: "Can you really come up with this much money?"

Tao Zhiming replied with composure, "Finish reading it first."

Takeda Takanao looked at him with a mix of shock and suspicion, but he suppressed his internal speculations and continued reading. Although it was titled "Takeda Manufacturing Development Plan," the initial section was entirely about how to handle the current situation. This proposal left him feeling as uncertain and bewildered as Tao Zhiming's identity itself.

He patiently read on until he reached the actual "development plan" section. At first, he was baffled, but as he continued, his astonishment grew; his expression became like that of someone reading a fairy tale—amused and dismissive.

After hastily finishing the rest, he spoke up, "You want to take my place and shoulder this pressure?"

Tao Zhiming looked at him meaningfully. "President Takeda, the latter part is what is truly valuable."

"If we can't solve the immediate problem, how can there be a 'latter part'?" Takeda Takanao said noncommittally. "Can you actually produce that much money?"

"President Takeda, money is not the issue. Do you think the 150 million yen I gave you was counterfeit?" Tao Zhiming nonchalantly produced a check. "If you decide to cooperate with me, you can have these 1 billion yen immediately."

Takeda Takanao stared blankly at the massive check issued by Changxin Bank, unable to stop himself from swallowing hard. The 1 billion yen he had needed for so long was right before his eyes.

However, Tao Zhiming pulled it back, asking lightly, "Do you think anyone else would offer a plan like this?"

Takeda Takanao took two more large sips of coffee, thought for a moment, and said, "Indeed... people from the conglomerates don't need to pay such a high price, and those who don't know the situation wouldn't put up this much money, or they would retreat immediately out of fear of the conglomerates' power. But are you truly not afraid of them?"

"I am not," Tao Zhiming laughed. "On the contrary, once you decide to cooperate with me, the pressure surrounding the land will be entirely on me. They will only look for other ways to get what they want from me."

Takeda Takanao looked at him strangely. "Do you have a grudge against one of those sides?"

"...Your imagination is truly vivid," Tao Zhiming chuckled. "Isn't my objective already clearly described in the plan?"

Takeda Takanao pondered for a while before asking, "In four years, and within six, as long as I can come up with the money, I can buy it back at 5% below market price?"

"That's right. Besides, I'm just planning to use this land to open a disco. Without my intervention, you would lose this land forever anyway." Tao Zhiming looked at him earnestly. "Regarding this condition, we can sign a private subscription agreement. As long as you can produce the funds within four to six years, I am obligated to sell it back to you."

Takeda Takanao looked at him skeptically. "Are you certain that after about five years of operation, I won't be able to come up with that much money?"

Tao Zhiming smiled playfully. "Beyond the funds to buy your land outright, didn't I also provide a comprehensive plan to help you make money? The factory I had Mr. Zhao build in mainland China—it doesn't matter if you don't want shares. A portion of the products from the factories we build will be exported. If the sales channels we establish need more goods, we can source them from you."

Takeda Takanao thought deeply, while Tao Zhiming ate and spoke in a relaxed manner: "Besides, isn't it clearly written? I have a plan for the future development of Takeda Manufacturing. If you think this direction is worth trying, I can provide a one-time investment of 500 million yen or a personal loan of 1 billion yen this year to help Takeda Manufacturing develop. Whether you use this money to expand capacity or for technical research, it is entirely your decision; I will not interfere."

"...Whether it was last time or this time, why do you always come up with the plan that feels most comfortable to me?" Takeda Takanao couldn't help but ask suspiciously.

Tao Zhiming sighed. "As I said, I'm here to help you. Although I want this land, my goal isn't to completely swallow Takeda Manufacturing, is it? The price I'm offering is fair, isn't it? I've already bought the main equipment in your factory area. If you sell the other real estate to me, everyone will be watching me—doesn't this allow you to focus your energy on developing the new factory?"

Takeda Takanao had no rebuttal. He wouldn't lose the land for the new factory, wouldn't lose control of Takeda Manufacturing, and could even keep the equity; he would be free from the pressure of the conglomerates and able to focus on development. Compared to Mitsubishi's plan, the price was higher; compared to the acquisition plans of the tape industry giants, this preserved the seeds for his future development. It was indeed the most comfortable plan for him.

There was only one point.

"You've made the value of that land very clear. In such a case, the price you call fair is probably not quite right, is it?"

"President Takeda," Tao Zhiming smiled, "since you say so, try negotiating with them and see if you can get as much as my plan offers."

Takeda Takanao remained silent.

"Now you are very clear about it. The value of that Takeda Manufacturing land only has an uncertain expected value once the National Railways reform plan is finalized. With the major conglomerates currently having the power to acquire it at a low price, time is not on your side. Although I have helped you solve the immediate problem, if you don't believe me, just wait and see what happens next," Tao Zhiming added quietly. "If you want more, then you must be fully prepared."

Takeda Takanao laughed at himself. "Will, awareness... are you saying I have no bargaining chips at all?"

"That is what I think. I also believe that the plan I can give you is one that no one else can."

On this point, Tao Zhiming was very confident. Regardless, no conglomerate would promise Takeda Takanao such terms, allowing him to buy the land back at a price lower than the market rate at a specific time. In a location like Tokyo's Minato Ward, land is the scarcest resource. Once they get their hands on it, why would they ever give it up easily? If Tao Zhiming didn't intervene, the price the conglomerates would pay would certainly not be outrageously high.

Only Tao Zhiming, whose core purpose for acquiring the land was to use it as collateral to expand his capital scale, knew clearly where the peak of land prices lay. If Takeda Takanao could come up with that much money by then, what would it hurt to yield some profit to him? The decision was his own; when the market crashed in a few years, he couldn't blame Tao Zhiming.

In any case, by then, Tao Zhiming's core goal would have been achieved. He would certainly own more than just this one piece of land and real estate in Minato Ward; at worst, he could cash out and buy even more when the market bottomed out.

Seeing Takeda Takanao lost in thought, Tao Zhiming said with a smile, "Don't go hungry. Today I am sincerely offering you my terms, and I am treating you, so please, don't be a stranger!"

Takeda Takanao nodded slightly and picked up his chopsticks. "To be honest, I can't just believe you like this. Your plan is indeed better than others, but I am not someone who can be swayed by mere words."

"Of course," Tao Zhiming laughed again. "Whatever choice you make, President Takeda, it is fine by me. I am not in a hurry for you to make a decision now. However, when the time comes for you to decide, please remember my proposal. After all, I should be the first person to discuss this with you as an equal."

"Equals?" Takeda Takanao laughed at himself again. "Knowing full well that this land is worth far more than its current price, aren't you still only offering 4 billion yen?"

"In terms of land alone, isn't that higher than all previous offers? I've already bought the equipment there, costing 150 million yen. If you decide to move the old factory out of Minato Ward, you probably don't want to live in that house anymore, right? I can buy that too, at market price." Tao Zhiming laughed as he said this, then his smile faded. "The value of the land is indeed worth anticipating, but that profit is something you are destined not to get."

"...Why?" Takeda Takanao chewed through his teeth.

"Because I can easily produce billions of yen to make this deal with you right now, and you cannot," Tao Zhiming said with a cold calmness. "Since your opponent is a major conglomerate, your strength is not enough to negotiate as an equal."

"Allow me to ask one question," Takeda Takanao looked up, staring straight at Tao Zhiming. "The power you represent—who is it?"

"You think I'm standing out to propose a new plan on behalf of some faction?" Tao Zhiming laughed. "Although you might not believe it, I represent only myself."

"You want to face those conglomerates alone?" Takeda Takanao was incredulous. "If you turn around and sell the land to them, what meaning does our agreement have?"

He thought over and over that this Takeda Taro's true purpose might just be to use his strength to force the conglomerates to offer a higher price, from which he would profit.

"Although that is my business and I don't need to tell you," Tao Zhiming's expression did not change under his questioning gaze, "but as a descendant of Chinese heritage, which conglomerate's core figure do you think I am? Or do you think that by suddenly jumping out to increase the difficulty for them to acquire this land, they would easily compromise and offer a higher price instead of turning their focus toward me?"

"You are of Chinese descent?" Takeda Takanao's pupils shrank.

"That's right. Now that you know my name and my status as a student at the University of Tokyo, this is easy for you to verify," Tao Zhiming said with composure. "Once you confirm this, you should realize that it would be very difficult for me to immediately sell the land to them and make a huge profit on top of this price. Compared to the risks I'm taking, that profit is disproportionate. With that much money, wouldn't it be better for me to do something else?"

"How did your ancestors come to Japan?" Takeda Takanao couldn't help but ask. "Forgive my rudeness, but I want to know."

A flash of cold light flickered in Tao Zhiming's eyes as he replied, "My grandfather was forced to come here as a laborer."

Takeda Takanao stared at him blankly for a long time before saying, "Having finally attained such wealth, is it worth it for the sake of revenge?"

"Revenge? No, no, no, your imagination really is too rich," Tao Zhiming laughed, then said very seriously, "How could I possibly achieve revenge against a conglomerate? I'm just doing it to make money. Your land is really suitable for a disco! Transforming the factory building would give it a unique flavor!"

His expression was extremely serious, but Takeda Takanao felt it was very fake. A disco in a converted factory—how tacky! Not luxurious at all.

Do you think I didn't see that look in your eyes just now?

"A laborer, huh..." Takeda Takanao murmured, then suddenly lowered his head and bowed. "Please allow me, on my own behalf, to apologize to you. When Takeda Manufacturing was first established, it was once swallowed by the Mitsui conglomerate. The current Takeda Manufacturing was rebuilt by my grandfather after he went bankrupt during the war, so from my position, I also have a strong aversion to giving up and bowing to the big conglomerates!"