Chapter 9, Major Events

"Do not panic, do not panic; the more critical the moment, the more one needs to remain calm..." With his hand on his forehead, Guo Shouyun silently recited this in his mind. His past experiences had endowed him with excellent psychological resilience. Although he was well aware that something had certainly gone wrong at this moment, his flustered emotions quickly settled down.

"Wait a moment," Guo Shouyun frowned and said with considerable dissatisfaction, "Why is it only 900,000? Based on the prices in the black market, this batch of goods cannot possibly be settled for just 900,000."

Under the bright moonlight, Guo Shouyun, standing under the vehicle, discovered that the two diverging roads ahead leading to the city and the northern suburbs were completely blocked. Blocking the road were four BMP-1 armored vehicles of the Soviet army, while on both sides of the road, the snow-covered ground was filled with Soviet soldiers dressed in military overcoats, armed and ready.

The place where the convoy is parked is an intersection. Standing outside the vehicle, one can even see the lights of Blagoveshchensk from a distance. According to calculations, in just over ten minutes of driving, this smuggling convoy would reach the military base. However, it now seems that this short distance has become an insurmountable chasm

"You are the one... what was it called... oh, the Chinese person of Guo Shouyun, right?" Standing in front of Guo Shouyun, the female officer took off her military cap and played with it in her hands, simultaneously speaking in a cold tone.

"This is impossible!" Barle Kieff said angrily, "This is my jurisdiction. Even the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs must obtain my consent to enter. What could happen here?!"

Comrade Balqieff, there is a vehicle blocking the road ahead, we cannot pass.

Just as Guo Shouyun attempted to discern the appearance of the female officer in the moonlight, she evidently noticed him as well. Without a moment's hesitation, the female officer swiftly approached him accompanied by two soldiers

"Hey, my brother, how can we conduct our business based on black market prices?" Balqihef reached out to stop Guo Shouyun's shoulder, grinning as he said, "Don't forget, we are not responsible for the final sale. You are only responsible for sourcing goods in China and transporting them to the banks of the Amur River, while I am only responsible for bringing them over. Just think about it, it's such a simple handover, and we can earn nearly forty times the profit from it. Are you still not satisfied with that?"

"Ha, very punctual, our patrol team is out on duty," Balqiyev said with a chuckle, not without a hint of teasing. "The current situation in the country is quite unstable, you know. People like us are making plans for our future. I've already thought it through; the old way of small-time hustling is just too slow for making money. You, my brother, have a way. Just like you said, this business is indeed quite good. The buyer I've contacted has already agreed that once this batch of goods arrives, he will pay us 900,000 rubles in one go. According to our previous agreement, you will take 360,000, and I will take 540,000... I've already thought it through; the old way of small-time hustling is just too slow for making money. You, my brother, have a way. Just like you said, this business is indeed quite good. The buyer I've contacted has already agreed that once this batch of goods arrives, he will pay us 900,000 rubles in one go. According to our previous agreement, you will take 360,000, and I will take 540,000..."

"Not good, something has happened!" This was Guo Shouyun's first reaction as he covered his head, which had nearly been knocked unconscious, and spoke in a trembling voice

"Yes, it is." Guo Shouyun's heart was filled with despair, and he answered absentmindedly.

"But don't forget, my dear brother, I am the one bearing all the risks," said Balqiufu dismissively. "Engaging in such activities could cost one their head. Once this fellow is done, you can take your money and leave, but what about me? I still have to stay here, and if anything goes wrong, all the blame will fall squarely on my shoulders"

As he emerged from the carriage and, aided by the bright moonlight, glanced ahead, Guo Shouyun's heart, which had just settled, suddenly turned icy cold. He knew that today, he and Balqiufu were utterly doomed.

"Who cares about laws or regulations?" With a cold glance at Guo Shouyun, who lay unconscious on the ground along with the books, Nina snorted and said to her attendant behind her, "Go, take him and all these smuggled goods to the division headquarters"

Before Balqieff could finish his words, the military vehicle they were riding in came to a sudden stop with a sharp screech of brakes. Due to the force of inertia, Guo Shouyun was jolted up from his seat and collided solidly against the backrest of the front seat. Meanwhile, Balqieff, who was sitting next to him, fared no better; he slipped directly off his seat and tumbled into the gap between the chairs.

Squeak!

"What are you saying?!" Guo Shouyun exclaimed in surprise, shouting, "You accuse me of espionage?! This is slander! I tell you, Comrade Colonel, I would accept the charges of smuggling prohibited goods, bribing military personnel, and illegal profit-making, but for these crimes, your military has no authority to arrest me! According to your country's laws, only the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Trade..." I tell you, Comrade Colonel, I would accept the charges of smuggling prohibited goods, bribing military personnel, and illegal profit-making, but for these crimes, your military has no authority to arrest me! According to your country's laws, only the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Trade..."

Guo Shouyun did not speak, his gaze fixed on the window. At that moment, their convoy was passing by a military vehicle coming from the city. In that fleeting moment, Guo Shouyun clearly saw that the two military vehicles were filled with armed soldiers.

"Shut up!" Before the other party could finish speaking, the colonel named Nina kicked Guo Shouyun hard in the lower abdomen, knocking him to the ground and rendering him unconscious.

Guo Shouyun also discovered that the previously aggressive Balqi, who had been so self-assured, had now become a prisoner of others. Just a few steps away, this self-important major was being escorted by two soldiers into an armored vehicle. At that moment, issuing orders to the troops was a tall female officer.

With several hundred Soviet soldiers taking action, unloading five trucks of tobacco was merely a trivial task, taking no more than twenty minutes at most. Five GAZ trucks, filled to the brim with cartons of cigarettes, then drove back to the west bank of the Great River. Subsequently, with their headlights on, they boldly headed towards the dock of Blagoveshchensk City—where Bal'chev's troops were stationed, and his military warehouse was the best location to conceal these tobacco products.

"Hmph, are you going to bear this alone? Can you even handle it? Don't think I don't know; you've long since paved a way out for yourself. So tell me, where do you plan to settle in the future? Is it the United States, the United Kingdom, or perhaps France or Canada?" Guo Shouyun said disdainfully.

What is happening? What is happening? Bearing the excruciating pain in his shoulder, the startled Balqiefu had just climbed up from his seat when he repeatedly asked.

Very well," the female officer nodded, "I am Colonel Nina Ivanovna Ivanova from the General Staff of the 16th Border Guard Division of the Far Eastern Military District of the Soviet Socialist Republics. It is my honor to inform you, Comrade Guo Shouyun, that you have been arrested on multiple charges, including smuggling prohibited goods, bribing our military personnel, illegal profit-making, and engaging in espionage activities

How is everything going?" Sitting in the carriage, Balqiev tossed a cigarette to Guo Shouyun, lit one for himself, and then said with a smile, "I told you, your worries are unnecessary.

"Of course you are satisfied," Guo Shouyun said with a snort, "because this batch of goods does not involve a single cent of your capital. Do not forget, I also need to go through channels to procure goods domestically. Do you think tobacco can be bought and sold casually in our China?"

As he spoke, Balqif, in a fit of rage, kicked open the car door and leaped out.

What is meant to come cannot be avoided; those who can evade it need not worry. In the end, he reassured himself. Guo Shouyun reached out to push open the car door and then lowered his head to exit the vehicle.

"Hehe, after all, that is a matter for the future," said Balqi, his face neither reddening nor his neck thickening, showing not even a hint of embarrassment. "For now, let us eliminate our differences and continue to conduct more business. Well, I know you are not very satisfied with this deal, but it’s alright. You must trust me; I will compensate you. How about this: next time, next time you..."