Young Marshal: Many children bring more blessings, marry a wife who is as powerful as the world - Chapter 7

Chapter 7 Persuading Zhang Zuolin to Head to Songjiang Prefecture!

“Father! I know our situation!”

“Since last year, after Yuan Daitou restored himself as emperor, he has been sending orders for us to suppress bandits in the northeast, but they haven’t paid us any military funds.”

“As the commander, you are more oppressed than a bandit leader!”

“I am going to Songjiang Prefecture for two reasons: First, to shut Yuan Daitou up, and second, to learn how to do business from my father-in-law!”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zuolin’s eyes lit up.

“You don’t understand the hardships of running a household unless you are the one managing it.”

In history, Zhang Zuolin took over the nine provinces of the northeast. Though it seemed glorious, he was actually inheriting a disaster.

According to records.

“The annual revenue of Fengtian Province was initially only around ten million, but it was burdened with accumulated debts.”

“In addition to owing external debts of ten million yuan, there was still a deficit of two to three million yuan every year.”

After becoming the Supreme Commander of Fengtian Province, there was a time when Zhang Zuolin couldn’t even pay the soldiers’ salaries. Fortunately, he later found Wang Yongjiang, the “treasury” of the Fengtian army.

Wang Yongjiang was considered a capable official. He reformed the military system and vigorously developed industrial and military enterprises, which helped the Fengtian army recover financially. However, this happened three years later, in 1920!

Right now, Wang Yongjiang was still a teacher at the Liaoyang Police Academy. At this point, Zhang Zuolin, who was almost bankrupt, immediately perked up upon hearing Zhang Xueming mention money.

“Xueming, are you planning to do business?”

Business?

Zhang Xueming sneered inwardly. The Fengtian army ran the northeast, but after a whole year, they didn’t earn a single cent and instead had a deficit of two or three million yuan. This was nothing compared to the pocket money that Feng Zhi gave him every month!

From his wedding to the time when his wife, Yu Fengzhi, got pregnant, three months had passed, and Zhang Xueming had already saved up 6 million silver dollars in private funds.

Zhang Zuolin’s five main army divisions, plus a number of independent brigades and other miscellaneous forces, spent just over one million silver dollars a year.

If Zhang Xueming wanted, with his 6 million silver dollars, he could now raise two fully equipped divisions. But Zhang Xueming understood the principle of “making plans before taking action.”

Now, there were still over ten years before the national calamity of 1931. World War I hadn’t even ended yet. According to history, at this point, the borders of various countries had not yet been fully delineated, so it was certainly the right time to “build strong walls, store grain, and wait for the right moment to rise to power.”

His plan for going to Songjiang Prefecture was not a random thought; it had been carefully planned from the beginning. A gentleman hides his talents and waits for the right time to strike. His goal was not to drive out the Manchus or restore the Great Xia Empire!

What he wanted was to redraw the map of the Great Xia Empire.

What’s this nonsense about the Korean Peninsula or spanning Eurasia?

Do these foreigners even know that all land under heaven belongs to the king?

…

The goal of “building strong walls” was right in Songjiang Prefecture. This place was the intersection of the South Manchuria Railway and the China Eastern Railway, with rich resources. It was a rare industrial base in the Republic of China, producing coal and iron!

After the founding of the country, it was also known as the “eldest son of the republic!”

And his wife, Yu Fengzhi’s father, was the largest grain merchant in the northeast!

“Store grain!”

Why not go to him for help?

In fact, Zhang Xueming was not the only one thinking this way.

Zhang Zuolin also had the same idea. As long as Zhang Xueming didn’t cause trouble and focused on making money, Songjiang Prefecture didn’t seem like such a bad place to go. After all, there were many foreigners there. Compared to the Chinese, foreigners’ money seemed to be easier to earn!

Zhang Zuolin had pressured Zhang Liuzi to marry Yu Fengzhi for another reason.bThat was because the Yu family were already wealthy merchants in the northeast and controlled the entire grain trade in the region.

After the two families formed a marriage alliance, the Yu family immediately provided large amounts of grain to the army. Zhang’s family marrying into the Yu family was similar to how Liu Bei married the Xu Province’s Mi family!

Without money and grain, Zhang Zuolin couldn’t control his unruly soldiers. Zhang Zuolin could no longer sit still.

He excitedly said, “Xueming, do you really think… you can make money?”

Seeing his adoptive father biting the hook, Zhang Xueming felt a sense of relief. He was really afraid that this warlord wouldn’t let him leave.

“Father, I’m not sure if I can make money.”

“But at least it’s better than going to the front lines, right?”

“Father! I’ve told you before! I like peace, I don’t like war!”

…

Zhang Zuolin looked at his second son in confusion. His son, the child of a warlord, was now talking about doing business and peace. This was so strange!

He pondered for a moment and said, “Then tell me, what kind of business are you thinking of to make money?”

Seeing Zhang Zuolin’s tone soften, Zhang Xueming was a bit excited.

“Father! Give me a cannon company!”

“I’ll start by suppressing the bandits along the way, there are a lot of them in Songjiang Province, and they’ve been there for years, they’re all fat!”

“We’ll fire the cannons and smash them!”

“I’ll open a few strongholds and collect tens of thousands of silver dollars, no problem!”

??????

Fire the cannon and smash them!

What the hell!

Zhang Zuolin was stunned!

Is this what you call “liking peace”?

Is this what you mean by “harmonious business”?

You’re planning to kill your way over there!

Aren’t the Japanese running the South Manchuria Railway, transporting goods all day long? Isn’t that even more profitable?

Don’t you plan to take artillery and set up at the railway to smash them?

“No! I’m booking a flight ticket now, and I’m sending you to Shanghai to go to university!”