The origin of everything can be traced back to the civil war that swept the country. Although China had escaped a century of humiliation at that time, the reunification of the country did not bring about the well-being of the people. The conflict between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party intensified, and fierce conflicts broke out between the armed forces of both parties in some areas. In this turbulent environment, on the one hand was the Kuomintang regime led by Chiang Kai-shek, and on the other hand was the Communist Workers' and Peasants' Red Army led by Mao Zedong. The two forces are facing each other tit for tat, and the undercurrent is surging.
Against this background, Shen Tunan, as an important figure in the Kuomintang, was responsible for negotiating the export of tungsten sand with the German company Rheinmetall. As a strategic resource, tungsten sand is crucial to maintaining the operation of the war machine. As long as you master the supply of tungsten sand, you have mastered a weapon. As one of the world's largest suppliers of tungsten sand, Rheinmetall has become the focus of competition among all parties.
However, during the negotiation process, an unexpected fact surfaced: the Kuomintang was simply unable to deliver the agreed quantity of tungsten sand to Rheinmetall on time. This was undoubtedly a major breach of contract, and Shen Tunan had to shoulder the heavy responsibility of maintaining the credibility of the Kuomintang. Faced with doubts and pressure from Germany, Shen Tunan argued hard but failed to turn things around.
Just when the negotiations reached a deadlock, an old friendship between Shen Tunan and Rheinmetall representative Hans turned out to be a turning point. The two were once classmates and good friends. Although they later parted ways, Shen Tunan still managed to make Hans Enzhun think twice. Over a drunken meal, Hans finally agreed to suspend the punishment of the Kuomintang, but liquidated damages still had to be paid.
On the surface, this negotiation can be regarded as a glimmer of hope. However, just when Shen Tunan was in high spirits and ready to share the joy with his subordinates, an unexpected development quietly happened. It turned out that the Communist Party was also eyeing the potential business opportunities of tungsten sand, and they sent representative Lei Ming to contact Hans.
Lei Ming clarified the Communist Party's sincerity to Hans right from the start: they hold a large amount of tungsten sand reserves in their hands and can provide stable supply for a long time. Obviously, this undoubtedly presents an alternative route to Germany. As the Kuomintang and the Communist Party continued to lose the civil war, Hans knew that the Kuomintang was not having an easy time, so he did not reject Lei Ming's suggestions narrowly.
On the contrary, Hans in turn revealed an opportunity to Lei Ming: It turned out that Chen Jitang, commander of the Guangdong Army under the Kuomintang, was also secretly purchasing tungsten sand in an attempt to profit from exporting it in the international market. As the top leader of the Guangdong Army, Chen Jitang's actions were not directly controlled by the National Government.
Hans's implication is clear: If the Communist Party can sell tungsten sand through Chen Jitang, then they can simultaneously circumvent the constraints of the Kuomintang and provide Rheinmetall with a reliable supply. This is undoubtedly a genuine "window of opportunity."
Faced with Hans’s cryptic and tempting words, Lei Ming was naturally greatly encouraged. After all, as a young revolutionary, it is a great pride to be able to contribute to the cause of the party and the people. Now, not only are they expected to obtain a stable source of income, but they can also make it difficult for the Kuomintang to move forward. This is simply killing two birds with one stone.
As a result, under Hans's efforts, the three forces of the Kuomintang, the Communist Party and Rheinmetall began an interesting struggle.
For the Kuomintang, although they had to pay a price on the surface, they have temporarily maintained their cooperative relationship with Rheinmetall. And guilty, he is also destined to bear the blow of the Communist Party's acquisition of tungsten sand from Chen Jitang.
As for the Communist Party, although they only relied on third-party channels, they have already got rid of their worries for the protracted war in the future. As long as they control the supply of tungsten sand, they will have an important lifeline.
As for Rheinmetall, it is all about wishful thinking. On the one hand, they have received breach of contract compensation from the Kuomintang; on the other hand, they have sold a big favor to Shen Tunan, which will undoubtedly have room for profit in the future; more importantly, Hans has been secretly colluding with the Communists , clearing a stumbling block for Germany's tungsten sand trade in China.
