At the East Gate of Dayu, many people are queuing up to enter the city. There is a checkpoint at the gate. Soldiers holding medium-sized rifles and wearing helmets stand on both sides. A Czech light machine gun is deployed at the guard box. The main and deputy machine gunners are ready.
No matter how relaxed they are, the entire checkpoint force exudes an elite atmosphere that is completely different from ordinary national army troops.
They can indeed be called elites because this unit belongs to the First Army of the National Revolutionary Army and is absolutely a direct descendant of the Central Army.
In order to ensure the safety of the Xihuashan tungsten mine, Zhongzheng Old Gottlieb arranged an entire regiment of troops to garrison Dayu County.
At the end of the team, stood a thirty-year-old peasant man wearing a coarse cloth coat. He was carrying a load of cloth. He had a dark face and rough skin. However, his eyes showed an alertness that was inconsistent with the overall image. Behind him were
A young man dressed as a businessman.
Soon, the miners and people in front entered the city one after another, and it was their turn.
"Name, occupation, why are you here in Dayu?" The sergeant squad leader asked with a gun on his back, a pencil in his left hand, and a notebook in his right hand. He glanced at the young man dressed as a businessman.
"Gu Yang, a cloth merchant, is from Yuhang, Zhejiang Province. He has recently been doing business in southern Jiangxi. He came to Dayu to deliver some fabric samples to Xianghua Cloth Store."
Gu Yang bowed his hands and said slowly according to the previously compiled identity information: "This is the worker I hired."
"Long time no see, boss." The dark face of the farm man showed a smile. He is a local and often travels in and out of Dayu County.
Listening to Gu Yang's familiar hometown accent, the sergeant's attitude softened slightly. He was also from Yuhang. He recorded Gu Yang's identity information with a pen, then inspected the cloth according to the system and confirmed that there was no contraband before releasing it.
There are two contrabands in Dayu County, one is tungsten powder and the other is tungsten sand. If sand dealers or private individuals are found carrying tungsten powder or tungsten sand, they will be shot for infringing upon state property.
Yes, just shoot him, there is no such option as jail time.
This rule was issued by Brother Zhongzheng, mainly to severely crack down on the increasingly rampant tungsten sand smuggling.
The Xihuashan Tungsten Mine in Dayu County was taken over by the Nationalist Government as a state-owned asset after the Red Army left during the Long March, and private trading of tungsten sand was prohibited. Its status was the same as that of the ancient salt and iron monopoly.
Tungsten powder is metal tungsten with a purity of 99%. The export price per kilogram is as high as NT$50, which is more than ten times more expensive than the opium that was popular at the time. Due to technical limitations, China's tungsten resource exports account for a very small proportion, about 5%.
The export price of black tungsten sand with a grade of about 10% to 20% has skyrocketed from 0.8 yuan per kilogram in 1931 to 3 yuan per kilogram now, which is equivalent to 3,000 yuan per ton. Black tungsten sand accounts for 95% of China's total tungsten resource exports.
%above.
The entire Xihuashan Tungsten Mine can provide the National Government with a cash flow of tens of millions of silver dollars every year. In the opinion of Mr. Zhongzheng, this kind of smuggling of tungsten sand by the people is undoubtedly opening their own mouths and picking out the flesh.
This cannot be tolerated!
"Dayu County is so strict, and I have never seen such a national army that refuses to take cards." After entering the county, the two went to Xianghua Cloth Shop in the northeast. When they were far away from the city gate, Gu
Yang looked around and saw that there was no one around, and said softly.
"Chiang Kai-shek pays close attention to Xihua Mountain. The Dayu garrison belongs to the Third Regiment of the First Division of the First Army. It has strict military discipline. It doesn't usually make it difficult for us bitter people, but if it involves tungsten... they will be shot on the spot. This year
About sixty dealers have died. Not long ago, a private mine in Xihuashan was detected by plane. They were directly bombarded with artillery. Hundreds of private miners were killed. The owner of the mine ransacked his house and wiped out his family." Wang Ping, a farmer, lowered his head.
He responded quietly.
Xihua Mountain is dotted with tungsten mines. Even though Brother Zhongzheng issued a death order, countless traffickers still join the great tungsten smuggling business every year.
People die for money, and birds die for food.
Hearing this, Gu Yang nodded silently, having a completely new understanding of the task assigned by his superiors.
The two walked through the county town and came to Xianghua Cloth Store in the northeast corner.
"We are here, Commissioner, comrades are waiting for you inside." Wang Ping said.
"Okay." Gu Yang nodded.
Entering Xianghua Cloth Shop, there was no secret code in the traditional sense. Wang Ping took Gu Yang directly into the backyard of the cloth shop and came to a room.
Opening the door, there were three men who looked like miners sitting in the room.
Seeing Gu Yang dressed as a businessman, the three of them immediately stood up and their eyes fell on Gu Yang.
"Comrades, this is Comrade Gu Yang, the special commissioner assigned to us by our superiors. Everyone is welcome." Wang Ping put down the load of sample cloth, introduced Gu Yang to the three of them, and said seriously.
The three of them looked at Gu Yang, with a touch of excitement in their eyes, and applauded to welcome him. It had been more than a year since Dayu's underground organization had been rebuilt, and now they were finally in contact with the organization.
"Hello, comrades, this mission is very important. Our superiors need us to raise tungsten powder." Gu Yang took off his hat and raised his hands in salute to all the comrades in the room. He did not exchange warm greetings, but went straight to the topic, and his words were serious and solemn.
The task is simple and straightforward. Since tungsten resources under the control of the Nationalist Government are 100% exported, there are basically no tungsten sand or tungsten powder products on the market. If you want to obtain tungsten powder, you can only obtain it through this method similar to smuggling.
However, the cost of smuggling tungsten sand is undoubtedly obvious.
Wang Ping and three comrades looked at each other after hearing this. They were not surprised by this task. After all, they were originally affiliated with the Red Army Zhonghua Tungsten Mining Company, and they came back to Dayu County for the tungsten resources.
"Comrade Commissioner, how much tungsten powder is needed for the organization?" Wang Ping asked.
"There is no limit to the quantity, as much as you want."
Gu Yang said: "I brought about thirty taels of gold this time and put it outside the city to buy tungsten powder. How much tungsten powder can I buy with this money?"
"Special correspondent, you may not understand the current market situation. The price of tungsten powder on the black market has skyrocketed. Thirty taels of gold can only buy 30 kilograms of tungsten powder." Wang Ping smiled bitterly after hearing this, with helplessness in his eyes: "The price of tungsten sand
It has risen to 3,000 silver dollars per ton."
Thirty taels of gold?
It seems like a lot, but this money is really nothing.
The price of tungsten powder on the black market in Dayu has skyrocketed to extremely terrifying levels. One tael of gold buys one kilogram of tungsten powder.
"What?" Gu Yang suddenly lost consciousness and his eyes were as big as copper bells. The news about Wang Ping made him unbelievable.
One tael of gold can only buy one kilogram of tungsten powder?
The price of tungsten sand rose from 820 silver dollars per ton that year to 3,000 silver dollars per ton?
What the fuck is going on?
Gu Yang was stunned. He felt that his mind was hit like never before.
"Comrade Wang Ping, do you have any good suggestions? I don't know much about Dayu's situation yet." After a few seconds, Gu Yang came back to his senses, took a deep breath, regained his composure, and asked.
"Special Commissioner, over the past year or so, we have saved about 120 kilograms of tungsten powder. These tungsten powder can be handed over to the organization for emergency use." Wang Ping looked around and looked at the expressions of the other three people.
Then he said seriously to Gu Yang: "Since the price of tungsten powder is too high, I think there is no need to use precious gold reserves to purchase tungsten powder."
Gu Yang asked sincerely: "Then what should we do?"
If you don't understand, just ask, it's no big deal.
In terms of actual experience, Wang Ping, who is the head of Dayu's underground organization, has far more experience than him.
"Dig your own. At present, we have discovered two small mines at the northern foot of Xihua Mountain, which can produce 300 kilograms of black tungsten sand with a grade of about 15% every day. These two mines are located in remote locations. As long as there is little movement, there will be no
It has been discovered, but if we choose to mine, we will need a batch of weapons and ammunition for emergency use."
Wang Ping gave his own thoughts: "Many of the miners in the mine at the southern foot of Xihua Mountain are our people."
It is better to dig than to buy. I handed over 120 kilograms of tungsten powder for emergency use, and then mined quietly.
Although the output of 300 kilograms of black tungsten sand per day is not much, it is better than nothing.
Since the discovery of two small mines, Wang Ping did not choose to dig in order to avoid the risk of exposure, but slowly accumulated tungsten powder through other channels.
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Yang fell into thinking.
As Wang Ping said, the current price of tungsten powder is extremely high and is equivalent to gold. Buying it at a high price will quickly deplete the already small gold reserves.
Choosing to mine is undoubtedly a high-risk and high-reward decision.
According to the information Wang Ping gave previously, if you are caught by the garrison for smuggling or illegally mining tungsten sand, you will only receive a peanut...
The room was quiet. Wang Ping and other members of the organization focused their attention on Gu Yang. The plan had been come out, and now the decision was in Gu Yang's hands.
To do it or not to do it?
"I support you. This gold will be used to purchase weapons and medicine." Gu Yang said in a deep voice, his words sonorous and powerful.
"Yes, Comrade Commissioner!"
After Wang Ping received this decision, his face was serious, his back straightened, and his right hand suddenly raised as a military salute.
The other three people also raised their right hands towards Gu Yang.
"By the way, are the 120 kilograms of ready-made tungsten powder inside the city or outside the city? I think it is difficult to transport it out of the city." Gu Yang suddenly thought of something and asked.
Wang Ping said: "Put them all outside the city and they will be transported away tonight."
"good!"
Time passed slowly. In the evening, as night fell, one hundred and twenty kilograms of tungsten powder accumulated by Dayu's underground organization was slowly transported to Ganzhou City. This batch of tungsten powder would travel across mountains and rivers, and be transported by various means of transportation, such as manpower and trains.
, and finally arrived at the base area of more than a thousand kilometers.
…
Tianjin Wei, railway station.
A freight train was parked on the platform. In the middle and rear sections, a dozen workers were loading various goods into the train. Bags of natural rubber with the logo of Zhuang's Rubber Company printed on the surface were piled in the shed-type carriages.
Not long after, a total of twenty tons of natural rubber was loaded onto the truck.
"Mr. Luo, your goods have been loaded." A man with a Western face smiled, held a cigarette in his right hand, took a comfortable breath, and exhaled white smoke.
He was in a happy and smooth mood. The reason was simple. He made a good profit by selling this batch of natural rubber as soon as it arrived in Tianjin Wei.
Twenty tons, 600 oceans per ton, total price 12,000 silver dollars, profit is about 3,000 oceans. Although not as good as arms, it is better because of the large quantity and quick return.
"Mr. Jones, thank you." Luo He heard this and knew what the other party meant, and glanced at the assistant standing next to him.
The young assistant stepped forward, took out a Bank of Communications check, and threw it to Jones.
"It's a pleasure to cooperate, Mr. Luo." After inspecting the check, Jones confirmed the authenticity of the check and felt even more happy.
Luo He smiled: "It's a pleasure to cooperate."
The deal was over, but Jones didn't delay. Now that war broke out in this country again, as an American, he knew that this was a good time to make a fortune, and he had to go back and purchase a batch of arms as soon as possible.
When war breaks out, it means money.
The friction caused by the Marco Polo Bridge Incident gave the world a smell of war. The CIF price of rubber increased by 180 yuan per ton, and the price of food increased by 20%. As for weapons and ammunition...
Grow exponentially.
"Damn it, it was 420 oceans per ton yesterday, and 600 oceans per ton today... What a bunch of beasts that eat people but don't spit out their bones." Luo He looked at Jones' retreating figure, spat a mouthful of smear on the ground, and gritted his teeth slightly.
A total of 12,000 yuan. No matter how he negotiated, the other party would not let go. Luo He finally had to buy 20 tons of natural rubber from the American.
As a strategic material, natural rubber has its own value. It is an indispensable industrial raw material for air separation equipment, pistons, tires and hydraulic cylinder seals.
"Team leader, the natural rubber has been purchased. When loading the truck just now, the copper and silicon steel sheets have also been purchased and are being transported to the train station." the young assistant said softly.
Luo He asked: "How much did it cost?"
Spending money has really flowed like water in the past two days. Hundreds of thousands of silver dollars were spent unknowingly, which made Luo He, who used to break a silver dollar in half and spend it, extremely uncomfortable. The only good thing is that the entire list of materials and equipment
Everything except tungsten powder can be purchased at Tianjin Wei.
"The copper cost 1,500 oceans per ton, and I bought 5 tons as required. The silicon steel sheets cost 18,000 oceans per ton, and I bought 1.5 tons. The total cost was 34,500 oceans." The young assistant responded.
"..." Luo He fell silent.
The young assistant said again: "In addition, there is news from southern Jiangxi that the price of tungsten powder has reached one tael of gold per kilogram."