Republic of China: My great warlord, many children, many blessings.

After much hesitation, Shen Hao still signed a one million dollar deal with both parties.

For example, Yong Jianqiu, representing Jebsen & Co., placed an order for one million.

Twenty thousand Mauser rifles and two million rounds of ammunition.

像贝克尔代表的礼和洋行购买了，马克沁重机枪48挺，230挺轻机枪以及迫击炮、82mm迫击炮48门，150mm重迫击炮24门。

500 pistols, totaling 600,000 silver dollars.

The remaining 400,000 silver dollars were used to purchase mortar shells, bullets, grenades, bayonets, military water bottles, and various other weapons.

The entire division was now equipped.

More than four million silver dollars, and two million of them were gone in one go. It really hurt.

Shen Hao had no use for the rest of the money; he needed to pay the soldiers' salaries. He planned to use the money for two divisions of 30,000 men. Even if each soldier was paid four silver dollars a month, it would still cost 120,000 silver dollars.

This doesn't even include the energy expenditure from eating, drinking, and relieving oneself.

All told, it would cost 200,000 silver dollars a month for taxis, and some money still needed to be set aside for pensions and other benefits.

Money really shouldn't be spent recklessly.

Meanwhile, Shen Hao found a place and began distributing the cement plant rewarded by the system.

Shen Hao originally thought it would be built directly, but unexpectedly, it was also a system reward for talent, and construction began day by day.

However, Shen Hao could accept that the cement plant would take a month to build.

Everything is proceeding in full swing.

Now, 20 days have passed since I became the brigade commander, which means there are only 10 days left before the mission deadline.

Currently, there are eight concubines, but only Bai Ling, Yuan Fuzhen, Leng Qingqiu, and Miss Rui have been chosen, meaning there are still four short.

Originally, Shen Hao had his sights set on Jin Ruizhi, the fifth daughter of the Jin family. However, he didn't expect that this girl, who had studied abroad, was very arrogant and directly told Shen Hao that she could not accept polygamy.

Seemingly in an effort to prove himself, he even packed up and went to the provincial capital to start a newspaper.

Bai Xiuzhu always had a cold face because Shen Hao had taken several concubines.

He neither agreed to Shen Hao's request nor left, and kept causing trouble for Shen Hao.

Shen Hao was speechless; this rich young lady was truly formidable.

With only ten days left before he has to marry four concubines, Shen Hao feels immense pressure.

Just then, Hu Xueli ran over with a smile.

She affectionately took Shen Hao's arm and said, "Master, I have something to tell you."

Shen Hao asked in confusion, "What is it?"

"It's like this, since we're all pregnant and it's inconvenient for us to do things, I'm planning to hire a maid for each of us to take care of us during this time."

"That was my oversight. The maid should have bought it earlier. Did you have to tell me about such a small thing?" Shen Hao said.

"Sir, I have some good news to tell you," Hu Xueli said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Shen Hao asked curiously, "What good news is it that made you come all this way?"

"Hehe, just follow me."

After saying that, Hu Xueli took Shen Hao's arm and led him into the hall.

In the hall stood ten girls dressed in tattered coarse linen clothes.

One of them was very eye-catching and stunning, and it was exactly to Shen Hao's liking.

A woman with delicate features, fair skin, gentle phoenix eyes, and a scholarly air about her.

Those clear, bright eyes held a mixture of shyness and nervousness.

This kind of temperament is something that ordinary wealthy families can't cultivate; she must be a daughter of a prominent family.

Beneath the rough linen clothes, a pair of delicate, jade-like hands were bare, now nervously intertwined.

With such great skin and such an elegant demeanor, she's absolutely stunning, no less beautiful than Yuan Fuzhen or Bai Xiuzhu.

She doesn't look like a girl from a poor family at all.

Seeing Shen Hao's eyes light up, Hu Xueli smiled and said, "How about it, sir? Didn't I tell you it was a pleasant surprise?"

Shen Hao's lips curled up slightly as he pinched Hu Xueli's delicate and smooth cheek.

She nodded in satisfaction and said, "You understand me so well, Shirley. You really know what the master is thinking. I'll reward you properly tonight."

Hu Xueli hurriedly shook her head and said, "Then forget it. Let's call a truce today. You might as well go find this girl."

As he spoke, he gestured towards the pretty maid.

Shen Hao was very happy.

He was just saying that finding four concubines would be a huge burden, and here comes one delivered right to his door.

Then, Shen Hao looked at the other nine maids.

She's not ugly, and with a little dressing up, she looks alright.

But Shen Hao has become picky about food, and he no longer looks at ordinary pretty women.

She has to be at least a school beauty in terms of looks.

When they met Shen Hao's gaze, everyone subconsciously lowered their heads, not daring to look him in the eye.

Their cheeks flushed red with embarrassment.

They had never seen such a handsome man before, and the thought of serving such a great general filled them with excitement.

Being a concubine wouldn't be bad if I had the chance.

Shen Hao asked, "You all came to my residence voluntarily to serve as maids, right? No one forced you, did they?"

"Sir, there isn't any."

"No master"

Shen Hao said with satisfaction, "That's good. Work hard in my household, and I won't bully you, nor will I mistreat you."

Except for the one on the far right, the rest of you can go and get busy.

"Yes, sir"

The remaining nine maids looked at the most beautiful woman on the far right with envy.

They had suspected before that this woman would definitely catch the eye of the master, and they never expected that it would actually be true.

Only this one maid was left. Before Shen Hao could even ask her a question, her face had already turned red with embarrassment, like a ripe apple.

Shen Hao was amused by what he saw.

The more you look at it, the more beautiful it becomes; it's truly gorgeous.

He was becoming more and more satisfied with Hu Xueli.

So he said, "Shirley, from now on, you will be the housekeeper. You will be in charge of managing the entire Shen household. Just tell me if anything is missing."

Hu Xueli's eyes crinkled with laughter, and she happily kissed Shen Hao, saying, "Master, you're so good to me. I'll take good care of this household."

Hu Xueli knew she didn't have a good background and wasn't as young as other women, so she felt pressured.

She was afraid that Shen Hao would dislike her.

So, they tried to make Shen Hao feel comfortable in whatever way possible.

To make a man feel comfortable, isn't it just about giving him enough novelty?

Shen Hao doesn't smoke or gamble, but he's a bit of a womanizer.

Despite his lustful nature, Shen Hao never forced any woman, which was considered a sign of high moral character in this era.

In Hu Xueli's eyes, this was already an exceptionally good man.

Therefore, Hu Xueli would buy all the good seedlings she saw, waiting for Shen Hao to come and visit.

Fortunately, the effort paid off.

Shen Hao is now making her his housekeeper.

Regardless of her social status, the fact that Shen Hao would seek her out whenever he needed something was exactly what Hu Xueli wanted.

She didn't want special treatment or to compete for favor; she just wanted to stay by Shen Hao's side and be needed by him.

Hu Xueli saw the green light in Shen Hao's eyes and knew that it was time for her to disappear.

So he walked up to the maid, patted her on the shoulder, and said, "Serve the master well, and I won't mistreat you."

Shen Hao stepped forward, gently lifted the maid's chin, and asked, "What's your name?"

The pretty maidservant was startled when Shen Hao suddenly spoke, and let out a cry of surprise.

My mind went completely blank.

He blurted out, "My name is Hu Ning..."

Suddenly, remembering something, the girl quickly changed her words:

"Oh, my name is Ning Yuan."