Special Envoy Song made up his mind to grab the $20 million credit. So the next day, he found an excuse to check the accounts and find out what supplies he bought for the $20 million.

Since you plan to grab the credit, you naturally have to understand the credit. Otherwise, when you return to Chongqing to report, you will be embarrassed if you ask questions and don’t know them.

Special Envoy Song is from Columbia University and has served as the Minister of Finance. It is easy to read a account book.

"This time I bought a batch of old aircraft parts. The old aircraft parts must be much cheaper than the new ones. This should save a lot of money, right? As long as you can, the aircraft parts are enough. Anyway, the remaining aircraft in China are all old, so using new parts is a bit wasteful."

"Old machine tools? Although they are second-hand goods, the accuracy of the old machine tools in the Americans may be much better than what they are now used in China. After all, it is a difficult time in China, so it would be nice to have an old one."

"Scrap iron? Scrap iron must be cheaper than steel. Are you planning to transport it back and let our own steel factory practice it again? Hu Shi, why did he buy a bunch of old goods? He is so careful."

Special Envoy Song thought about it while glanced at the numbers behind.

"Fifty thousand tons? I'm right, 50,000 tons of scrap iron? Why are there so many!" Special Envoy Song took a breath of air conditioning.

Special Envoy Song was once the Minister of Finance. The money used to build steel mills in China was approved by him. Of course, he knew what the domestic steel production was. If it was 500 tons of scrap iron, it could still be digested in China, but 50,000 tons of scrap iron, with the remaining industrial capacity in China, it would probably take more than ten years.

"What exactly is Hu Shi going to do? Why did he buy so much scrap iron?" Special Envoy Song decided to ask Hu Shi himself.

...

Special Envoy Song found Hu Shi and asked why he wanted to buy the 50,000 tons of scrap iron.

"Ambassador Hu, I read the account book. In addition to purchasing old aircraft parts and scrap machinery, the loan from the United States also bought 50,000 tons of scrap iron. What's going on?" Special Envoy Song asked.

"That's right. Although the United States has imposed a material embargo on Japan, we found that Japan still imports steel from the United States in the name of buying scrap iron. So I plan to buy these scrap iron, so that Japan cannot import steel from the United States in the name of buying scrap iron." Hu Shi answered.

Special Envoy Song's face suddenly became gloomy. He was born in an economic field and knew that the domestic economy was on the verge of collapse. Now Chongqing is difficult to maintain even the fiat currency. The people have begun to re-use silver dollars for trading. With the current financial situation in China, fighting an economic war with the Japanese is undoubtedly not worth the loss.

So Special Envoy Song asked quite sternly: "Ambassador Hu, have you ever thought that it is useless to buy these scrap iron? Do you know that our domestic steel mills have indigestion so much scrap iron? You might as well buy more weapons and ammunition if you buy these scrap iron!"

"I have considered this, so I plan to wait for the price of scrap iron to rise after a while, and then sell the scrap iron and then replace it with guns and ammunition." Hu Shi said.

"The price of scrap iron increases? Why does Ambassador Hu think that scrap iron will increase?" Special Envoy Song asked.

"In Europe, Germany has begun to attack France. Once France cannot defend and is occupied by Germany, then a lot of steel products will inevitably be needed on the European battlefield. They can only buy it from the United States, and scrap iron will naturally increase the price at that time." Hu Shi said calmly.

When Chen Qiang said the same thing to Hu Shi a month ago, Germany had not launched an attack on France, and now Germany has really begun to attack France, which shows that Chen Qiang's judgment is very accurate, and Hu Shi increasingly believes that what Chen Qiang said at the beginning will come true soon.

Special Envoy Song was furious.

"What is the European war situation for Hu Shi, this nerd? The British and France have a combined three million troops, and there is a solid Maginot line of defense. It would be better if the Germans didn't hit the head and blood, but they would still occupy France? A fantasy! 20 million US dollars, just wasted. I bought 50,000 tons of useless scrap iron. Scholars are ruining the country, and it's really a scholar who ruins the country!"

Special Envoy Song thought with a heartache, but he didn't show it.

Then Special Envoy Song thought again, he originally planned to use the 20 million US dollars of materials to pay the Chongqing side, but now he bought 50,000 tons of scrap iron for the loan. Could he be transported 50,000 tons of scrap iron back? If he really brought 50,000 tons of scrap iron back to Chongqing, Chongqing would not have to spray him to death? Those political enemies who usually dislike him should not make a big fuss about this matter?

Originally, the 20 million US dollars of supplies were a credit, and it was definitely a compliment to everyone when they went back with this credit, but now it seems that the 50,000 tons of scrap iron is obviously a bad idea. I took this scrap iron back with it and was just asking for scolding!

Special Envoy Song suddenly felt bad. He originally wanted to steal the credit, but now, the credit has become a shattering blame, so he doesn't need to steal it.

"I originally planned to go back with this batch of supplies and give an explanation to Chongqing. In this way, I can't get aid from the United States, and it's understandable. But now that this material is gone, what should I give to Chongqing?"

"Damn it, it's all Hu Shi. If you can't do business, don't learn to do business! Not only did you not buy any supplies in China, but you also implicated me! After you go back, I will definitely sue you to the Chairman!"

"By the way, I can take this opportunity to put the responsibility of not giving aid to the U.S. Embassy in the United States is said to be because the work of the U.S. Embassy in the United States is not good and has not established good relations with the U.S. politicians in the United States have not been able to get aid. In addition, I bought 50,000 tons of scrap iron, which further ensured the incompetence of the embassy in the United States. In this way, if I cannot get the U.S. aid, someone will take the blame for me!"

Thinking of this, Special Envoy Song breathed a sigh of relief. He had already planned to send a telegram to the country to report on the 50,000 tons of scrap iron, so that Chongqing would first know how incompetent the Embassy in the United States was, and lay the groundwork for letting Hu Shi take the blame in the future.

...

Japanese Embassy in the United States.

Matsuoka Yosumasa reported his recent work to Kikujiro Ishii with a proud look on his face.

Although Matsuoka Yosuke and Ishii Kikujiro are both Japanese ambassadors to the United States, Ishii Kikujiro is a predecessor in politics, and secondly, he has a noble status and is more respected. Japanese society has different ranks and inferiors, so Matsuoka Yosuke still regularly reports to Ishii Kikujiro.

"Ambassador Ishii, since US President Ross rejected the aid request from the Chinese envoy last time, the Chinese envoy hoped to meet Roosevelt again, but they were rejected. Now the Chinese envoy cannot even meet Roosevelt. It seems that we don't have to worry about the United States increasing its aid to China." Matsuoka Yoyu said.

Kikujiro Ishii nodded, then said, "I heard that there are some problems with our trade with the United States? Jingkawa Company can no longer buy scrap iron from the United States?"

"That's right. Not long ago, China obtained a loan of 20 million US dollars from the United States, and then the Chinese used this money to buy scrap iron from the United States. I think the reason why the Chinese did this is that they don't want us to continue to buy scrap iron from the United States. The Chinese are planning to weaken the industrial capacity of the empire. But don't worry, this situation can only last for two months at most, because the Chinese do not have that much capital. Moreover, with China's industrial capacity, they simply indigested so much scrap iron. For them, scrap iron is really just scrap iron." Yoyou Matsuoka said confidently.

Kikujiro Ishii pondered for a moment, then asked, "Matsuoka, have you noticed the recent price of steel in the United States? Do you think the Chinese are likely to buy at a low price and sell at a high price to make a profit? Even if the price of 50,000 tons of scrap iron is only 10%, it will probably have to earn nearly one million US dollars, right?"

"What you are concerned about is that I have sent someone to New York to focus on the trading prices of the steel market. And I also consulted some American economists. According to the analysis of American economists, the steel prices in the United States will not fluctuate much in the short term. Although the European continent has started a full-scale war, France has long hoarded huge amounts of supplies, which should be enough for four million troops to use for four or five years. Moreover, there are so many colonies in Britain and France, and it will continue to transfusion blood to France, so in a short period of time, France does not need to provide external industrial products." Matsuoka Yosuki said.

Kikujiro Ishii sighed: "That's right. According to our information, Britain, France and Belgium have more than three million troops, and France has three million reserves, which is six million people! Although Germany claims to have used three million people, it is actually less than two million people used to attack France. The other one million people are deployed on the Western Front to prevent British attacks. Three million against two million, and there is also the Maginot Line of Defense. The more crowded side fights defensive battles, and the British and French coalition forces have huge advantages. Maybe the Germans will be like the Battle of Verdun for more than 20 years."

The two were talking, but the knock on the door suddenly rang out, and an intelligence officer from the Embassy in the United States hurried in.

"Is there anything wrong?" Kikujiro Ishii asked.

"Report to the two ambassadors. I just received information from Europe. The Germans broke through the Maginot Line of Defense!" said the intelligence officer.

"What? The Maginot defense line was broken by the Germans?" Kikujiro Ishii and Yoyu Matsuoka exclaimed at the same time.

...

Special Envoy Song sent the telegram to the country and filed a lawsuit against Hu Shi to Chongqing.

Of course, Special Envoy Song naturally did not dare to let Hu Shi know about complaining. After all, he is in the United States now and has to use Hu Shi. So even if he complains, he has to sue secretly.

Soon, Chongqing also sent a call back, asking Special Envoy Song to investigate the 50,000 tons of scrap iron in detail.

With the call from Chongqing, Special Envoy Song breathed a sigh of relief. When things got to this point, the blame for the 50,000 tons of scrap iron was all over Hu Shi.

Just at this moment, Hu Shi's voice sounded from outside: "Is Special Envoy Song inside?"

"Enterprise Song is inside." The secretary replied.

Special Envoy Song quickly put away the telegram reply from Chongqing and asked Hu Shi to come in.

Hu Shi had a hurried expression on his face. After seeing the Special Envoy Song, he immediately spoke: "There has been news from Europe that the Germans have broken through the Manino line and have already invaded France!"

"What? The Maginot defense line was broken through, how is this possible?" Envoy Song was stunned on the spot.

...

At that time, most people in the world thought that it was more difficult for the Germans to break through the Maginot line than climbing to the sky.

After all, France began to spend a lot of money to build this line of defense more than ten years ago. This fortification made of reinforced concrete is very strong and can withstand the attacks of ordinary artillery fire even now. This line of defense cost the French 5 billion francs, and the French also gave this line of defense many titles, such as the world's most solid defense line, indestructible, unbreakable, etc.

Germany's offensive plan is very bold. Strictly speaking, Germany did not bypass the Maginot line of defense, but sent troops to attract the main force of the French army on the front, making the French army think that Germany would attack the Ardennes Pass in the front like in World War I. On the other hand, it used the mobility of the armored legion to raid the Ardennes Pass and made a roundabout battle and make a key breakthrough, which can be regarded as a striking attack on the east and west.

At that time, military scientists had seen through Manstein's intentions. It is said that a Chinese marshal who was recuperating in the Soviet Union saw through the Germans' offensive intentions, and it was seen that the section between Belgium and Luxembourg was the weakness of the French. It only took a detour to the Maginot line to be destroyed. However, the Soviets believed that this offensive strategy was too imaginative. Of course, this was just a rumor in later generations, and whether it was true remains to be verified.

In any case, when the Germans broke through the Ardennes Pass and drove straight into France, even if the Maginot Line was abandoned, the German armored troops directly divided France into two. Not only that, the British army in Belgium and the French coalition forces on the French defense line also became turtles in the jar, and it was only a matter of time before the Germans made dumplings.

Since the retreat had been in Germany, the British and French coalition forces could no longer return to Paris. They could only retreat westward and head to Dunkirk, waiting for the British Navy to rescue.

The war situation in Europe took a sharp turn in just a few days. The tank army led by Guderian not only advanced beyond the expectations of the Allies, but also beyond the expectations of the German army. While Guderian was advancing all the way forward, even the prisoners were too lazy to surrender. Some French soldiers ran to surrender and said, "Get out of here, don't block the way!" In Guderian's opinion, it was too wasteful to accept prisoners. In the end, the German commander far away in Berlin had to order Guderian to stop moving forward.

Churchill, who had just taken over as British Prime Minister for five days, flew to Paris in person, but he immediately returned to London because he realized that Paris could not be kept!

Fortunately, the German head of state far away in Berlin made a mistake. He asked Guderian and Reinhardt's armored corps to remain unmoved and did not attack Dunkirk. Instead, he bombed Dunkirk with the air force. As a result, he watched the Allies board the ship and escape from Dunkirk, otherwise the situation might be even more unbearable.

...

Over Dunkirk, British fighter jets were fighting fiercely with the Luftwaffe aircraft. In order to cover the retreat of the British and French coalition forces from Dunkirk, Britain sent almost all available aircraft, and even reconnaissance aircraft were put into Dunkirk's air combat.

On the other side of the sea, the soldiers who retreated to Britain had already lost all their supplies, guns, grenades, and food they carried with them, were thrown in Dunkirk. During the Great Retreat, one more person could be transported by one person, and at this time they would also take care of the military supplies that occupied the space!

Churchill had realized the seriousness of the problem and proposed to the House of Commons that he would purchase various strategic materials as soon as possible before the navy was defeated. Once the navy was defeated by Germany, it would be impossible to transport materials to the British Isles at that time! The only one who had the ability to provide large-scale strategic materials to the United Kingdom at that time was the United States.

American factory owners have realized that they are going to make a fortune!

On June 10, Italy declared war on France. On the same day, Norway surrendered to Germany, and the last Nordic force to resist Germany was finally eliminated.

On June 14, Germany completely occupied Paris.

It was also on this day that US President Roosevelt signed the Navy Expansion Act, which clearly stated that the US Navy would expand its tonnage and the era of the US Navy laying dumplings is coming.

Shipbuilding requires a lot of steel, so on the day Roosevelt signed the Naval Expansion Act, the US steel industry also ushered in a spring, and all steel raw materials rose sharply!

What Chen Qiang said really happened. At this time, there were not only scrap iron, but also iron slag in the US market!

—————
Chapter completed!