布鲁斯从不例外,当他回到席勒身边并给他一个明确的答案时,他从席勒那里听到了这样一个惊人的计划.
这位自称是凡人好人的教授亲自告诉他,"这不是哥谭的错,而是这个世界的错.
出于这个原因,席勒提出了一个计划,一个让布鲁斯犹豫不决的计划.虽然教授说这只是一个突然的灵感.
在这个计划中,席勒详细阐述了他如何为哥谭带来新的秩序.如果布鲁斯非要总结这个计划,他只能说,席勒·罗德里格斯这个名字可能会载入史册.然而,这并不是为了任何良好的声誉,而是因为这位教授可能被称为"现代犯罪之父".
在这份计划中,席勒将哥谭描述为一个"完美"的城市,占据了有利的地理和人力资源,但这种"完美"是就黑人工业而言的.
该计划的第一步是连接美国东海岸的三个主要港口,即哥谭港,芝加哥港和迈阿密港.而巧合的是,这三个城市都以其黑社会组织而闻名.
罪犯总是有共同的语言.而更巧合的是,哥谭市有着得天独厚的优势.芝加哥和迈阿密的帮派加起来无法与哥谭的帮派相提并论.
通过连接这三个城市,以哥谭为首,他们控制了美国东海岸一半以上的港口贸易.
这三个城市中没有一个单独能够处理美国的整个黑人产业.但如果把这三个港口城市加起来,就不是1+1+1=3那么简单了.
一个单一的独立港口城市无法完成的黑色产业链,被其他下游城市进一步完善.通过呼应三大港口,组织架构类似哥谭市的十二大家族,能够支撑美国70%以上的黑人产业链.
美国西海岸的大多数城市仍然维持着秩序,例如绿灯哈尔居住的沿海城市.像洛杉矶和西雅图这样的城市,虽然总体犯罪率不低,但与东海岸相比要强得多.
看看东海岸的这些城市,更不用说哥谭了,它是宇宙中最大的犯罪中心.迈阿密以龙卷风和帮派而闻名.芝加哥被称为犯罪天堂,而芝加哥打字机则在全国范围内享有盛誉.
美国的平均犯罪指数是30-40,但哥谭,芝加哥和迈阿密的综合犯罪指数可能超过300,这是一个强大的联盟.
席勒在向布鲁斯展示的计划中没有提到的是,作为一名运输商,他知道大约七个月后,即 1987 年 10 月,一个黑色星期一将到来.该国将经历严重的股市崩盘,股票暴跌,公司将破产,并产生大量失业人员,导致犯罪率几乎翻了一番.
The gangs will have an influx of fresh blood. Many unemployed finance professionals will turn to mobs. Many unsystematic street gangs will transform into professional organizations. The big gangs will take a big step towards corporate and shareholding structures with the addition of a new batch of professional talent.
Soon after, the end of the Cold War will come, and a large amount of military equipment will be decommissioned. The consequences of excessive investment during the competition period will gradually become apparent. Many staff will be laid off. Most of them have undergone professional military training but lack proper skills for a living. After arming their minds, the gangs will further enhance their strength.
Furthermore, the massive capital outflow caused by the 1987 stock market crash will lead to the 1994 Mexican economic crisis. Yes, Mexico is also known for...
It can be anticipated, if this plan is followed, the next few years will be the smoothest years for Gotham.
Of course, Bruce doesn't have clairvoyance. He only knows , he and the one who creates this plan, one of them must be abnormal.
What will you do, when you want to bring a new order to a city of crime?
Most people think about how to suppress gangsters, perhaps through violence, using absolute force to eradicate the root cause of crime.
Anyway it shouldn't be "since I'm rotten, so I make everyone rotten too."
However, if this plan can really succeed, Bruce has foreseen. Once the Gotham's gangster model applies to the entire East Coast, Gotham becomes the top of this black pyramid, just like how the Falcone family currently holds its position in Gotham.
Becoming the top of the largest criminal industry chain in the United States pyramid means Gotham is very likely to become the most developed city in America. Everyone in this city passively becomes a pioneer. Even the last one in the pioneers surely run faster than other runners.
Of course, Gotham does not change its nature as the city of crime because, undoubtedly, the top of the black pyramid is still black.
But what sets Gotham apart from other cities is that it has already hit rock bottom, whether it's the pioneer or not. Gotham has no more floors to break through, so since it's all rotten, why not be rotten luxuriantly and prosperously?
Bruce has many opinions about this plan, but all are stuck in his throat.
Because he has already given Schiller a definite answer.
Initially, he thinks it is just an impulse question, just like the countless questions the professor has asked him before. He thinks he just needs to think for a while and give him an answer, and it would be over.
Empiricism plays a trick on him. When Bruce gives Schiller this answer, the professor swiftly presents a well-thought-out, absurd, yet potentially effective plan.
Bruce suddenly has a feeling of being kidnapped to a pirate ship.
But he has already promised Schiller. Due to his unwillingness to lose face in front of Schiller, he agrees to participate in the initial arrangements.
The first step of the initial arrangement is to get a new mayor for Gotham. The last one dies in a car accident, and Gotham has been without a new mayor for some time.
In general, no one is willing to become the mayor of Gotham because it's a life-threatening job. So most of the time, Wayne Enterprises hires one to come here. Among these politicians, there are always a few who value money more than their lives.
But this time, Gotham sets its sights on the former mayor of Chicago. Just like Gotham, the previous two mayors of Chicago either had a car accident or committed suicide by two gunshots to the back.
The reason why the former mayor of Chicago is still alive is that he is the boss of the second biggest gang, Gospel Gang, in Chicago.
Schiller believes, this kind of experience is suitable for the position of mayor of Gotham. At least he manages the traffic in Chicago quite well. When facing a typewriter in Chicago, most drivers are very polite.
So this is why the previous chapter begins with Bruce appearing in Chicago and successfully flirting with the younger sister of the Gospel Gang leader.
Of course, it is not his plan at first. Batman never comes up with a plan that involves seducing women to get close to a target.
But the problem is, Bruce can't use his identity as Batman to do it. Currently, Batman is not so well-known, only having some reputation in Gotham and doesn't have jurisdiction over Chicago. So, he naturally uses his identity as the world's richest man, Bruce.
When a playboy like Bruce comes to a city, he needs to have fun for a few days; otherwise, he seems too weird.
Once they hear the world's richest man is here, all the dancing parties invite him. Bruce attends several parties in two days, almost including all the debutantes in Chicago. Of course, it also includes Tina Brown, the younger sister of Roy Brown.
She is very beautiful, and dances very gracefully. When a man shows interest, a woman reciprocates. They quickly get together and have date.
Bruce puts his arm around Tina's shoulder and whispers, "...It's what happened. I really can't find a suitable one. Politicians in Gotham can't survive long. I can't keep paying a significant amount of money just for a few months of peace, right?"
Tina tidies her hair and nestles in Bruce's arms, saying, "I'm going to suspect you specifically timed your visit. My brother is in some trouble recently, and he's looking for a place to hide."
"What happened to him? What kind of trouble can make the boss of gospel gang hide himself?"
"Well,in a gang fight a few days ago, a seven- or eight-year-old boy died. Of course, a white boy. He was hit by a bullet while walking home from school. It had a significant impact. If you've read the newspapers, you should know that many places sent condemnations."
"The Gospel Gang wasn't involved in the incident. We are a branch of the Mafia, but we don't advocate using guns every day. Unfortunately, it happened in the territory of us. I don't know which bastard has such bad eyes..."
"My brother isn't afraid of the local mobs. But the joint investigation team is much troublesome; it is composed of legislators from several states, each with different forces behind them. It can't be resolved with just a few shots..."
"So your brother wants to hide and avoid the trouble?"
"Of course, if you are willing to help my brother solve this problem with some money, the Brown family will be grateful." Tina smiles gracefully.
Bruce doesn't care about the hint hidden in her words. He knows from the beginning that Tina is there for him, after all, Bruce's own motives are not pure either. It is just a playacting.
"Do you consider it carefully? It's not easy to be the mayor of Gotham."
Tina raises her eyebrows in surprise, "You don't know? From the most famous Falcone family, the godfather of Gotham, is actually a branch that splits from the Chicago mafia. We are relatives. My father always has contacts with the godfather. After he passes away, my brother even goes to Gotham specifically to visit Mr. Falcone."
"Indeed, I also know that my brother can't only rely on the blood connection to stand himself firm. But if you also stand on his side, things will be much easier."
Bruce doesn't say anything, but he feels the future new mayor's most important reliance might be the mad plan of the professor.
Meeting with Roy is also in the early morning of Gotham. He is a typical Chicago mafia boss, wearing a trench coat, a felt hat, and carrying a violin case containing the most famous Chicago typewriter.
The new mayor is very satisfactory to Schiller. In the time it takes to smoke a cigarette, he fully understands Schiller's intention of trying to unite the Gotham and Chicago mobs for friendly cooperation and mutual development.
And he agrees deeply there is great potential in this plan.
Roy is also an able man. In the period of the Chicago rampant mobs in public housing, he manages to hold onto the traditional mafia's territory with the legacy left by the mafia.
Although Chicago's gang is not as terrifying as Gotham's, it is actually more intricate. It involves the struggle between traditional and modern mobs, as well as the fight between different ethnic groups. Anyone who can has the last laugh in such a complex situation mustn't be a fool.
As a mafia boss in Chicago, he definitely wouldn't dare to try to unite the Gotham mafia. It would be no different from trusting a wolf to watch over sheep. But if he can join the Gotham's mobs and then unite the Chicago's, he will become the wolf.
And he is perfectly justifiable to do so. The Falcone family is also a branch of the mafia. The old godfather Falcone is the most authentic Roman, with Italian blood running through his veins.
Don't talk nonsense like surrender or betrayal,okay? It is finding his root.
Because Roy understands the mobs very well, he knows the plan has a great chance of success.
During this era, it is relatively rare to unite and make the cake bigger together. Everyone works individually, but as long as the smart ones can see the huge benefits that can be gained from doing so, they naturally come together.
So without any burden, Roy becomes one of Gotham in spiritually, directly skipping to call Chicago as a goddamn place .
An outsider from Chicago giving the words in Gotham will definitely be rejected by the mafia, but if this guy is the godson of the godfather, things will be different.
Some people speculate perhaps the godfather feels that his own son, Evans, is not capable of taking on his responsibility, so Roy comes to Gotham. Although Roy is indeed older than Evans, it isn't by much, he is still young, and he is a good candidate for succession.
The first step of the plan achieves significant results. The largest mafia family in Gotham and the second-largest mafia family in Chicago join forces and the effect is very good.
They divide the cargo sources at the docks. Based on the different types of smuggling and the distance of logistics transportation, they redistribute the landing locations of the cargo ships. All the controlled docks in Gotham and the docks controlled by the Gospel gang in Chicago unite, quickly clarifying the previously chaotic smuggling routes that operated separately.
Of course, they don't forget to attract foreign investment. Smuggling is basically well-known to all parties. At this time, they only need to pay a small price to enjoy the rights of berthing and transportation at the important docks of both cities with preferential policies. They can even open a new logistics channel between them to speed up the circulation of smuggling goods along the entire East Coast.
This move has a significant effect. Falcone's economic reports continue to rise, and it is the most compelling evidence.
Originally, the old godfather is in his later years, and his biggest wish is to smoothly hand over the Falcone family to the next generation, so that his life's work won't go to waste.
But now, Schiller suddenly presents a big cake and claims it is just an appetizer. Falcone's long-declining appetite has suddenly revived.
Falcone has been unbeatable in Gotham for too long, but the godfather always has a good appetite. When he sees Schiller's somewhat crazy plan, Falcone suddenly feels, he can rule Gotham for another 40 years.
Falcone thinks, if the black pyramid described in this plan can really be realized. No, even if only half of it is achieved, perhaps, the entire world's black industry will experience a major reshuffle.
The cigar in the hands of the enormously influential godfather goes out. But what kindles again is the immense ambition he has when he first sets foot on this land.
Standing in front of the mansion's French windows, he hears the bells of Gotham Cathedral ringing again. Just like decades ago, when rode on the waves to shore, he rose and fell in the tide of the city's sins.
In countless dreams of glimpsing the truth, Falcone remembers, those dark clouds blocking most of the raindrops in the gloomy rain of Gotham are the first half of the godfather's life.
He thinks, dark clouds are still clouds, just like a black pyramid is still a pyramid.
He hopes, he can live to see the day when a pyramid will rise from here, where he detests while deeply longs for, to confront the bone-corroding rain line.
In his office, Schiller stands by the window, listening to the dull bells echoing over the city, drifting further and further away through the layers of cloud.
Now, these thinning clouds are about to disperse, and Gotham will face all this malice directly.
He thinks, here, only criminals can deal with criminals . The only thing that can fight darkness is an even deeper darkness.