Chapter 270: You Go To Le Mountain, There’s A Big Buddha There; You Let Him Go, You Sit There
“Please come in, Mr. Fellman, what an honored guest.” Chen Yang warmly stood up to greet him, courteously leading this tall German to sit beside the sofa, and personally brewed tea.
Consul Fellman did not exchange many pleasantries. After taking the tea offered by the other party, he cut straight to the point, his tone carrying a hint of urgency: “Minister Chen, I’ve come this time hoping to obtain some special assistance from you.”
“Oh? Please speak. As long as it’s within my authority, I’ll do my utmost.” Chen Yang leaned his body slightly forward, adopting a posture of focused listening.
“We need rare earth, and a large amount of tungsten ore.” Fellman lowered his voice a bit. “A very large quantity, and it needs to be transported out as soon as possible through the most reliable channels. On price, we can be generous.”
Chen Yang was slightly moved…
Rare earth and tungsten ore were both extremely important strategic materials, especially for modern military industry. Tungsten ore was the core material for manufacturing armor-piercing shells, while rare earth involved multiple key fields such as alloys, optics, and electronics.
Germany’s such urgent private purchase through informal channels from him as a “collaborator” was extremely unusual in itself.
Chen Yang was certain this was far from ordinary commercial procurement.
He did not reply immediately but picked up the tea cup, gently blowing on the floating foam, using this brief time to think rapidly.
He was well aware of Germany’s actions in Europe; the Führer’s ambitions were obvious.
Now, for them to scrape together strategic materials on such a large scale could only point to one possibility: war had entered its substantive phase from the preparation period.
In the future, Germany would perform military miracles, challenging all of Europe with one man’s power.
Under the White Plan, Poland was captured in 27 days, followed by Luxembourg in one hour, Denmark in three hours, Netherlands in five days, Belgium crushed in eighteen days, France taken in thirty-nine days. In just six short years, Germany eliminated thirty-two European countries in one go, unbeatable at its peak…
If it weren’t for later turning their target to the Soviet Union, all of Europe would have been ruled by them…
So, maintaining good relations with such a country now would still benefit him.
As for future matters, heh, Chen Yang could withdraw anytime.
Having made up his mind, Chen Yang gently set down the tea cup, a hint of difficulty appearing on his face: “Mr. Fellman, as you know, these materials, especially rare earth and tungsten ore of specified grade and quantity, are under very strict control.”
“The Japanese side also has massive demand for them. Operating this would be very difficult and carry high risk.”
“Moreover, you should understand that my position doesn’t allow me to act too conspicuously.”
“So…”
Fellman seemed to have anticipated this. He leaned his body slightly forward, lowering his voice even more, in a tone almost confidential: “Minister Chen, I understand your difficulties.”
“But please believe me, the success of this transaction holds inestimable value for the consolidation of future German-Japanese relations, and even for you personally…”
“I don’t want to hear that,” Chen Yang stood up and slowly walked to the window, then paced back, looking at Fellman and saying: “The Iwai Agency has received intelligence that your foreign minister Ribbentrop will soon represent the Führer on a historic visit to Moscow.”
“Mr. Fellman, I can agree to help gather the materials so you can report back to the homeland. In exchange, shouldn’t you be frank with me?”
Fellman’s eyebrows rose slightly. “Minister Chen, what do you want to know?”
“Simple. I want to know if Foreign Minister Ribbentrop’s visit to Moscow is to sign a cooperation agreement with them.” Chen Yang patiently repeated himself. Fellman’s body jolted, and his pupils behind the lenses contracted sharply!
“Minister Chen, it seems you’re overthinking it…” Fellman directly denied Chen Yang’s words.
Chen Yang smiled faintly: “Mr. Fellman, are you insulting my intelligence? Germany’s foreign minister personally visiting the ideologically incompatible Soviet Union at this sensitive moment?”
“I’m certain this is no ordinary diplomatic activity! It can only mean one thing: Germany is attempting some strategic compromise with the Soviet Union!”
“What’s the purpose?” Chen Yang stared at Fellman, enunciating each word: “Naturally, to eliminate worries on the eastern front, and then…”
“Then, point the spear of war unhesitatingly at the West! Europe’s massive powder keg is about to be ignited!”
Fellman licked his lips. At this moment, having Germany’s operational intentions so casually exposed by Chen Yang, Fellman felt a layer of fine cold sweat instantly break out on his back, his heart pounding violently in his chest. But his strong self-control kept his exterior calm, even that professional smile unchanged.
Taking a deep breath, Fellman seemed to be weighing enormous risks, though in reality he was calming the stormy waves in his heart.
A few seconds later, he looked up at Chen Yang, his gaze becoming “firm” and “profound,” and slowly said: “Minister Chen, you shouldn’t be in the Transportation Department. You should take over an intelligence agency!”
“Mr. Fellman, it seems I didn’t guess wrong…” No denial meant admission. Chen Yang suddenly laughed. “So, your country does need to plan ahead. Since this matter is so important, concerning the friendship and future overall situation of our two countries, I’m willing to give it a try.”
“For the first batch of materials, I can arrange allocation from the ‘special inventory.’ Of course, the quantity may not fully meet your requirements, but it can serve as a start.”
Fellman nodded: “Thank you very much, Minister Chen! My military attaché will secretly contact your people for the specific transaction details.”
“Don’t rush. The materials aren’t the issue, but this price—see if it’s suitable!” Chen Yang wrote the quotation on draft paper and gently pushed it in front of Mr. Fellman!
“An increase of sixty percent—Minister Chen, this is kicking someone when they’re down!” Fellman’s face turned ashen!
“Oh, not bad, Mr. Fellman even knows Chinese idioms…”
“But you’re not quite accurate!” Chen Yang took back the draft paper and slowly said: “If Mr. Fellman can give me two months to prepare and move the transaction to after October, I can sell at the original price.”
“But you’re in too much of a hurry, and you know these things you want can’t be solved with money alone!”
“Helping you get the materials you want, doubling the price would still be reasonable. Believe me, at the same price, Britain and America would scramble for it!”
Fellman was instantly speechless!
His fingers lightly tapped the desktop, seemingly considering if this transaction’s price was suitable!
“Fifty percent. I can increase by at most fifty percent,” Fellman finally quoted a price that pained him greatly!
“Considering our long cooperation, deal,” Chen Yang said, pretending to be generous: “Actually, I’m not making money on this deal. I’m purely helping Mr. Fellman out!”
“Who lets us be friends? My biggest flaw is being soft-hearted. Being friends with me, Mr. Fellman, you’ve made a profit…”
Not making money? Just friends helping out? Greedy Chinese…
Fellman’s mouth twitched. After a moment, he still politely said: “Then thank you, Minister Chen. I’ll go back and prepare the funds. I hope to see the things I want as soon as possible!”
Chen Yang stood up and said: “Of course. You can rest assured with how I handle things…”
After seeing off Fellman, Chen Yang stood alone by the office window, gazing at the gray sky outside.
Europe was about to descend into chaos! The world’s center of gravity would shift! What did this mean for Japan, mired in the Chinese battlefield and allied with Germany?
Of course, this intelligence held little value for Chen Yang personally, but for the intelligence agencies, it was a great gift.
Chen Yang walked to the table, picked up the telephone. “Hello, hello, please connect me to the deputy head of the Ume Agency’s office. I want Haruki Keiin…”
Shanghai, afternoon…
In the afternoon coffee shop flowed soothing piano music.
The clock pointed to two o’clock sharp. The bell hanging above the door let out a crisp ding-dong ring, and Miss Shen appeared right on time at the coffee shop entrance…
Today, she wore a well-tailored lotus-root pink qipao, with a thin gauze blouse over it, a veil hat on her head, exquisite makeup, fashionable attire, and composed steps.
She slowly walked to Chen Yang’s side. Miss Shen smoothed her qipao over her hips with both hands, leisurely sat down in the seat opposite Chen Yang, ordered a cup of black coffee, her posture elegant.
“Minister Chen is in high spirits today, inviting me to a place like this.” Miss Shen smiled faintly, her gaze soft!
Chen Yang stirred the coffee in his cup and said in a low voice: “Miss Shen, let’s not beat around the bush. There’s a big business deal that needs your channels’ help.”
“Oh? Something Minister Chen calls a ‘big business’ must be no small matter.” Miss Shen picked up her coffee, impassive.
“The Germans want a batch of tungsten ore, a very large quantity, and they want it urgently.”
“You figure out the source from special channels to ‘allocate.’ I want three thousand tons. For subsequent shipments, I’ll handle the transshipment. Now northbound materials are halted, transportation focus is on that North China line. I’m sure that in the short term, North China will significantly increase transport capacity.”
Miss Shen’s fingers tightened slightly on her coffee cup.
Three thousand tons of tungsten ore? At this point in time?
She immediately realized this was no ordinary smuggling. Why had the Germans suddenly increased their order fivefold? Previous transactions never exceeded six hundred tons; now they wanted three thousand?
Could it be that Germany was undertaking a major plan?
But why would Chen Yang tell her about this?
Miss Shen even felt that Chen Yang was deliberately leaking this information to her!
Could it be that he wanted her to pass it on to the organization?
This didn’t seem reasonable; he had no reason to do so…
After thinking it over, Miss Shen still couldn’t figure out Chen Yang’s intentions: “Minister Chen.”
She gently set down her cup. “You know better than I how great the risk is of increasing shipments of such sensitive materials in the short term.”
“My side’s manpower and routes will face enormous pressure. Moreover, things have been very tight lately. The Japanese, and the Special Higher Police Affairs, are watching more closely than before.”
“Risk and reward are proportional.” Chen Yang leaned forward, whispering close to Miss Shen: “Let’s talk specifics. This time, the price can be increased by another thirty percent on top of our last negotiation.”
Miss Shen was silent for a moment, seemingly weighing it.
“Minister Chen, I know your offered price is already at the limit, but we must also face the difficulty of sourcing tungsten ore stones in a short time!”
“We have some in our warehouse, but far from meeting your requirements.”
“I can only promise to help with the first batch you want, but… for the subsequent quantities, gathering them in the short term is too difficult.”
Chen Yang calmly looked at her: “Miss Shen, Fellman is pressing hard. This matter can’t have any delays.”
“I understand, Minister Chen.” Miss Shen sighed, raising her hand to rub her brow—a slightly vulnerable gesture rarely seen on her. “But you know the current situation.”
“The Japanese blockades are severe, mining areas strictly controlled. Our people risk their heads to collect bit by bit. Frankly, the efficiency is too low. And…”
“Lately, the mountainous areas have been swept aggressively. Many original transportation lines have been destroyed, familiar local guides…”
“Many have sacrificed. Manpower lost, routes blocked—this collection difficulty is much greater than we estimated. Just maintaining the existing secret transportation network has us overwhelmed.”
“Minister Chen, in your words, money is important, but some things are more important than money.”
“We can’t throw away our lives just for money!”
“Hahaha,” Chen Yang suddenly laughed: “Heroes have always been unable to resist beauty. Miss Shen really is a beauty—no, she should be an American!”
“Negotiating like an American.”
“Fine, I’ll give my final offer now: forty percent above our previous negotiated price!”
“The extra ten percent is hardship pay for you all. Make sure to deliver within the stipulated time!”
A flash of excitement appeared in Miss Shen’s eyes, but she didn’t agree immediately, continuing: “Minister Chen, you must have heard that recently the Japanese Army is implementing ‘public security rectification’ in the Taihang Mountains area, carrying out the ‘Three Alls Policy’: burn all, kill all, loot all!”
“Many villages have been razed to the ground, common people displaced, short of medicine, struggling on the line of death.”
“You want us to increase shipment volume? Fine.”
“But I hope, Minister Chen, for the sake of fellow Chinese, you’ll additionally increase material aid to the disaster-stricken areas in North China.”
“Especially medicine, gauze, food—these are lifesavers! Your Transportation Department could save thousands with what leaks through its fingers.”
“Miss Shen, are you joking with me?” Chen Yang sneered: “I’m a businessman, not a philanthropist. If you want to do charity, use your own money to buy sufficient materials to relieve the disaster victims!”
“Instead of brazenly demanding I foot the bill here!”
Miss Shen frowned: “But this is hundreds of thousands, even millions of lives. As a big boss, can you bear to watch them displaced?”
Chen Yang set down his coffee, staring at Miss Shen: “Miss Shen, actually I have a suggestion!”
“After we’re done talking, turn right when you leave, go to the train station and buy a ticket to Leshan in Sichuan!”
“After getting off the train, head south all the way to the Jialing River. There’s a big Buddha there. Tell him to get up, and you sit there…”
