Chapter 2, Objective: Smuggling Tobacco

Certainly, there is one very important point: in this instance of smuggling, Guo Shouyun did not intend to make a significant profit. His true objective was to establish relationships. He wanted Balqiufu and Vasinov to understand that he, Guo Shouyun, was a person of great audacity—an audacity sufficient to bring them immense wealth as a smuggler

At this time, China had just begun its comprehensive reform and opening-up, and various systems were quite underdeveloped. Not only along the China-Russia border, but also in any coastal or border areas, smuggling as an illegal trade activity had become rampant. Customs officials who received bribes, due to the absence of explicit national regulations, were also happy to turn a blind eye to such illegal trade.

This segment of memory greatly intrigued Guo Shouyun. The first thing he did upon arriving in Blagoveshchensk was to reconnect the line that his predecessor had abandoned out of fear. Military smuggling? What of military smuggling? Guo Shouyun had already formulated his plan. He intended not only to exploit the smuggling of goods by the Soviet border troops but also to find ways to engage with higher-ranking Soviet officers. If possible, he even wanted to smuggle some arms.

Particularly important is that the goods Guo Shouyun intends to transport this time, specifically the cigarettes valued at 300,000, must be smuggled to enter the Soviet Union. It is important to note that the Soviet government has consistently enforced tobacco control, and cigarettes are classified as restricted import goods. Even during this period of reform in various aspects, this ban has not been lifted. In the current Soviet Union, selling cigarettes privately is illegal, and those caught face heavy fines; naturally, open importation is also not permitted. It is important to note that the Soviet government has consistently enforced tobacco control, and cigarettes are classified as restricted import goods. Even during this period of reform in various aspects, this ban has not been lifted. In the current Soviet Union, selling cigarettes privately is illegal, and those caught face heavy fines; naturally, open importation is also not permitted.

It is precisely for this reason that Guo Shouyun did not bring the goods directly this time, but instead had several trusted associates deliver the goods to Heihe. He plans to first contact Balqiev and Vasinov, and then quietly utilize the resources they possess to smuggle these contraband cigarettes in. As for the next step regarding the sale of the goods, Guo Shouyun has also thought it through. He believes that with Balqiev's capabilities, it would not be difficult to sell this batch of goods in a short period of time; the key lies in how much he is willing to invest. Hehe, he believes that those ten boxes of Marlboro will be enough to open the eyes of those money-hungry old Russian soldiers. As for the next step regarding the sale of the goods, Guo Shouyun has also thought it through. He believes that with Balqiev's capabilities, it would not be difficult to sell this batch of goods in a short period of time; the key lies in how much he is willing to invest. Hehe, he believes that those ten boxes of Marlboro will be enough to open the eyes of those money-hungry old Russian soldiers www.hetushu.com.com

Historically, it can be traced back to 1957, when China and Russia established a small trade relationship between Heihe City and Blagoveshchensk, although this trade relationship did not last long. By 1983, with the thawing of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, border trade began to re-emerge here. However, until 1986, this type of trade was still largely characterized as semi-smuggling illegal trade. In fact, Guo Shouyun knew that even by the year 1989, trade in the China-Russia border area was still dominated by smuggling, and the export goods permitted by the government were far from meeting the demands of the Russians. By 1983, with the thawing of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, border trade began to re-emerge here. However, until 1986, this type of trade was still largely characterized as semi-smuggling illegal trade. In fact, Guo Shouyun knew that even by the year 1989, trade in the China-Russia border area was still dominated by smuggling, and the export goods permitted by the government were far from meeting the demands of the Russians, while trade tariffs were also very high

The more a country prohibits the private sale of certain goods, the higher the profits associated with them; this principle remains unchanged at any time. The Soviet Union, located in the extreme north, has always regarded tobacco and alcohol as indispensable consumer goods in the lives of its people. Although state policies strictly limit the sale of tobacco, they cannot prevent private trade, thus making smuggled goods the only means for smokers to satisfy their cravings. According to Guo Shouyun's understanding, on the black market in the Soviet Union, the price of medium-quality tobacco is between 80 and 150 rubles per troy ounce (an internationally recognized weight unit: 1 ounce = 28.350 grams). In contrast, anyone daring to sell ordinary tobacco for one or two hundred rubles for a few tens of grams would likely be beaten to death. As for finished cigarettes, their prices on the Soviet black market are even higher. During this period, the most commonly sold cigarettes in the black market of the Soviet Far East were primarily from China. Domestic brands like "Da Qianmen" and "Da Fuzi," which cost two jiao per pack, were sold for twenty rubles per carton on the black market; "Beidaihe," "Hengda," and "Shanhaiguan," priced at one yuan per pack, ranged from one hundred twenty to one hundred fifty rubles per carton; and "Ashima" and "Wuduo Jinhua," costing two yuan and fifty jiao per pack, were priced between four hundred and four hundred seventy rubles per carton. As for foreign brands like "Sanwu," "Hilton," and "Marlboro," there was no fixed price on the black market due to the lack of market availability. Even if someone had stock, they would not dare to sell it on the black market—smuggling Western cigarettes could lead to severe penalties beyond mere fines.

Guo Shouyun is quite audacious; he has come prepared this time, and one could even say he is taking a desperate gamble. The 300,000 cigarettes he is smuggling are all finished products, including ten boxes of Marlboro. If this batch of smuggled cigarettes were to be intercepted domestically, it would be of no consequence, as he possesses a tobacco business license issued by the Harbin Tobacco Monopoly Bureau. However, if he were to be caught by the Soviet police, it would be troublesome; it is likely that Guo Shouyun would have to spend several years in a labor camp to resolve the issue. If this batch of smuggled cigarettes were to be intercepted domestically, it would be of no consequence, as he possesses a tobacco business license issued by the Harbin Tobacco Monopoly Bureau. However, if he were to be caught by the Soviet police, it would be troublesome; it is likely that Guo Shouyun would have to spend several years in a labor camp to resolve the issue

When discussing the major cities of the Soviet Union in the Far East, there are certainly not many, and among them, Blagoveshchensk, the capital of Amur Oblast, can undoubtedly be considered the foremost. This city, located across the Heilong River and adjacent to Heihe in Northeast China, has greatly benefited from its border trade activities with China, leading to its rapid urban development.

From a geographical perspective, the distance between Blagoveshchensk and Heihe is indeed very close. Departing from the main pier of Blagoveshchensk to the Daheihe Island pier in Heihe, the straight-line distance between the two locations is merely 1,000 meters. To put it bluntly, merchants from both China and Russia can negotiate prices simply by shouting across the river.

From the memories of his previous life, Guo Shouyun learned that a complete division of the Soviet Far East Border Defense Army was stationed in Blagoveshchensk, while the 42nd Motorized Brigade of that division was responsible for border trade inspections at the dock. The brigade commander was named Balqiev, and the political commissar was named Vasinov. These two individuals were the main authorities at a Soviet border trade checkpoint, but behind the scenes, they were true corrupt elements. Guo Shouyun's previous self had dealt with them many times; for these pitiably underpaid Soviet soldiers, as long as they were given money, there was nothing they would not dare to do. Guo Shouyun's previous self had once collaborated with them to smuggle goods, and the process was very simple: he needed to transport two tons of steel into China while also bringing back a batch of wine to the Soviet Union. It was during this smuggling trade that Guo Shouyun's previous self experienced the madness of these old Soviet soldiers, and from then on, he no longer dared to cooperate with them—just to obtain a mere 50,000 RMB bribe. Balqiev, following the patrol practices of the Chinese border defense forces across the river, directly selected a time and dispatched two river patrol boats, taking advantage of the night to smuggle the goods back and forth across the Heilong River, completing the smuggling operation with ease.