Chapter 22: Mitsui Aiko's Counterattack (4)

  Yun Rui leaned her head to the side, listlessly leaning against the desk. Looking out at the sky outside the window, the door to the room opened and Tanaka Nana walked in carrying two cups of milk, humming a tune. She looked like she was in a great mood! And why wouldn't she be? The New Frontier Party had been founded less than a year ago, but in the July by-elections for the House of Councillors, they had won all 64 seats up for grabs, while the Social Democratic Party and other opposition parties took the remaining seats. It was a crushing victory, with the Liberal Democratic Party led by Uchida Kosuke suffering a humiliating defeat. The two houses of the Japanese Diet - the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors - were now completely in the hands of the opposition parties!

  However, this is also an inevitable thing! Since Jerry's contact with Japan, he has been gradually revealing some events of the Lockheed bribery case to Noboru Takeshita. And let Noboru Takeshita instruct Tomiichiro Hatano, a member of the Japanese inspection agency, to secretly collect evidence related to Lockheed Corporation! These collected evidences were finally published in the "Red Flag Newspaper"! Around June 1976, the Lockheed bribery case was exposed, and until July 1976, the Japanese House of Councillors election, the Japanese authorities summoned more than 100 people for questioning, searched homes and companies, and found that many people were involved in the Lockheed bribery case, including several members of Congress! Under the further digging of journalists from the "Red Flag Newspaper", Asahi TV, and other major newspapers, the dark side of Japan's officialdom was exposed day by day. With the strong agitation of opposition parties led by the Socialist Party, Japanese citizens were outraged and rose up in protest! From the exposure of the case to August 1976, facing strong public pressure, Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Miki, Finance Minister Sadanori Kataoka, leader of the Miyazawa faction Kiichi Miyazawa, Justice Minister Osamu Itagaki, Minister of International Trade and Industry Toshio Doko, Chairman of the Democratic Socialist Party Hideo Kaneko, and Chairman of the Komeito party Yoshikazu Fujimori were forced to resign. Lockheed Corporation President Akira Matsumoto, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation President Shigeru Nagano, former NTT President Hisashi Nagano, former Director-General of the Labor Ministry Takashi Katō, Vice Minister of Education Toshio Kōishi, and others were arrested one after another. Members of the House of Representatives, former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirohide Ishida, and Komeito member of parliament Kazuo Ikeda were prosecuted!

  In April of that year, Takeshita Noboru was forced to step down as Prime Minister of Japan and the position was left vacant for a while. Then in June, Kiichi Miyazawa, a Liberal Democratic Party member unrelated to the Recruit Cosmos bribery scandal, took over the party's flag from Takeshita and became the new Prime Minister of Japan. At that time, he had no idea that the TV station would expose his sex scandal.

  On July 7, after the Japanese House of Councillors election, Makoto Koga, who had been severely attacked by a sex scandal and was on the verge of collapse, announced that he took full responsibility for the LDP's crushing defeat in the House of Councillors and resigned.

  In short, the year when the Lockheed bribery scandal fully broke out was a terrible one for Japan's Liberal Democratic Party!

  In contrast to the miserable situation of the Liberal Democratic Party, the newly emerging Japan New Party, the old-brand Socialist Party, and the three major opposition parties that have made great contributions in uncovering the dark side of officialdom are gaining popularity day by day! The United Coalition is already taking shape!

  Tanaka Nana walked over, put the milk in her hand on the table, and stretched out her hand to wipe Jerry's brow. "Jerry, if you keep frowning like that, you'll become an old man!"

  Jerry let out a sigh and then gently brushed aside Cai Cai's soft hand from his forehead.

  Asahi TV has now become the mouthpiece of the three major opposition parties. If they lose this powerful force, it will be even more difficult for them to defeat the Liberal Democratic Party, which has dominated Japanese politics for decades, in the next general election for the House of Representatives. This is also what Jerry does not want to see! However, Asahi TV's performance in the Lixianglu bribery case over the past six months has been too eye-catching! The six major financial groups will not simply surround and attack Asahi TV just because of Mitsui Aiko's anger; they are doing so because Asahi TV has actually harmed their political interests.

  Imagine what would happen if Kawasaki Heavy Industries suddenly lost its military orders from the Japanese Self-Defense Forces!

  The First Financial Group dare not think about it and does not want to think about it!

  In the end, it was Mitsui Aiko who triggered the six major financial groups to join hands. She was just a pawn, a fuse!

  Tanaka Nana: "Jerry, haven't you thought of a good plan yet?"

  Jerry nodded his head, "I'm waiting for Jiang Chuan's report right now! Sanma, do you still remember the expansion plan of the Absolute TV Broadcasting Network that I mentioned to you?"

  Tanaka Nana: "Is Jerry referring to the plan to reorganize Akatsuki Broadcasting Network with 43 prefectural TV stations?"

  Jerry nodded, "However, it seems that this plan can only be shelved for now! Since the six major financial groups have already taken action against the TV stations within the broadcasting circle of Yang Television. Then the county-run TV stations in other counties must also have been included in their broadcasting territory! We currently have three options, first, Japan's national television station. The second option is Asahi Television, and the last small option is the local small-scale TV stations in each county!"

  Tanaka Nana: "Isn't one of the sponsors of the Japanese National Idol Girl Audition a major player?"

  Jerry: "Not at all! So, our options are reduced by one more! As for Asahi TV, I think they won't be interested in getting involved in the war between Yang and Fuji! So, for now, all we can do is pray!"

  Tanaka Nanako: "Prayer?"

  Jerry: "Yes, pray! The funding for the new Six Great Financial Groups is starting to dry up. Pray that Mitsui Aiko doesn't set her sights on those small local TV stations with her discerning eye! Yes, this is all we can do!"

  Tanaka Nana stroked Jerry's face and softly comforted him, "Don't worry, Jerry-kun, things will get better!"

  Jerry: "I hope so!"

  The news brought back by Kogawa Shin'emon finally untied Jerry's knot, the 43 major prefectures. Excluding the prefectural TV stations, more than 270 small TV stations were placed on Jerry's desk, including those with extreme religious and corporate nature, as well as university campus-based TV stations. In short, all sorts of people and things were included! Apart from this, Kogawa Shin'emon also brought back an analysis of Japan's current rail transportation situation!

  Looking at the detailed materials, Jerry's frown disappeared instantly, and he looked at Tanaka Nana. Smiling, he revealed those shiny white teeth, "Nanako, let's start a struggle called rural areas surrounding cities!"