As a young marshal, it's reasonable for me to have 300,000 private troops, right?

Zhang Zuolin immediately saw through Qi Fan's dilemma and quickly smoothed things over.

He patted Guo Songling on the shoulder, his tone softening.

"Maochen, get up first. My brat is still just a kid, his hair hasn't even fully grown in yet. There's no rush for him to become your apprentice. Let's take it easy for now. There will be plenty of opportunities to talk later, what do you think?"

Guo Songling respected Zhang Zuolin, and now that his superior had said so, he could no longer be stubborn. So he got up and dusted off his knees.

He turned to Qi Fan, his expression still respectful, and bowed slightly.

"I have benefited greatly from discussing military affairs with Hanqing today. If there is an opportunity in the future, I hope that you will not hesitate to teach me."

Guo Songling's address of Qi Fan as Hanqing already shows that he regarded Qi Fan as an equal and no longer considered him a child.

Qi Fan was secretly struggling with his feelings when he caught a glimpse of Guo Songling's favorability rating on the system panel, which had risen again, reaching 80%!

He couldn't help but gape. Could Guo Songling really have masochistic tendencies? The colder and more sarcastic he was towards him, the more respectful and favorable he became? Could there really be such a strange person in the world?

Despite his inner grumbling, Qi Fan maintained a cool and indifferent demeanor on the surface, giving a nonchalant reply.

"We'll see. If I have time, I'll teach you a thing or two."

He made up his mind that to deal with this kind of person, he had to keep up his airs and not give him a friendly look.

Upon hearing this, Guo Songling's face lit up with joy. He bowed to Qi Fan and Zhang Zuolin again before quietly slipping away.

The unexpected controversy surrounding the apprenticeship ceremony has thus come to a temporary end.

After this commotion, the original coursework naturally could not continue.

Qi Fan greeted Zhang Zuolin and then returned to the Marshal's Mansion alone.

As soon as Qi Fan reached the gate of his courtyard, he was stunned. Dai Xiansheng was standing straight by the gate, waiting. His complexion had improved a lot, and he was no longer as listless and dejected as before.

After half a month of recuperation, his injuries were basically healed. What's even more remarkable is that he gritted his teeth and quit opium during those two weeks, not touching it at all. This perseverance alone makes him a true man.

Dai Xiansheng spotted Qi Fan at a glance, his eyes lit up instantly, and he quickly walked over to greet him.

Before Qi Fan could speak, he knelt down with a "plop".

"Oh my god!" Qi Fan was startled and quickly took half a step back, inwardly cursing.

What's going on today? Why are they all rushing to kneel before me, a ten-year-old? Aren't they afraid of shortening my lifespan?

He didn't dare delay and quickly stepped forward to help Dai Xiansheng up: "Uncle, what are you doing? Get up! Let's talk this out!"

Dai Xiansheng slowly rose up following his hand, his tone incredibly firm as he spoke, word by word.

"Liu Zi, stop calling me Uncle. You saved my life, helped me quit opium, and gave me a chance to start a new life. From now on, my life belongs to you! Just call me by my name, Xiansheng."

"Alright then. What brings you here today?"

"I have already resigned from all my military positions and told the Marshal that I have resigned." Dai Xiansheng straightened his chest and looked intently at Qi Fan.

"From this day forward, I'll wholeheartedly follow you! Whatever you command me to do, I'll do it even at the cost of my life!"

"Uh...follow me?" Qi Fan's lips twitched, and he thought to himself: I haven't even fully established myself yet, and I don't know who I'll follow in the future.

But seeing Dai Xiansheng's sincere expression, he didn't voice his complaint, and simply said...

"Actually, I've already planned out a backup plan for you. Here's what we'll do: I'm going to see my father tonight, you go home and wait for my news."

Upon hearing this, Dai Xiansheng didn't ask any unnecessary questions and nodded emphatically: "Okay! I believe you!"

To him, Qi Fan had saved his life; he was like a second parent. Whatever Qi Fan said went, and there was no need to inquire about the details. After speaking, he bowed to Qi Fan again before turning and striding away.

That evening, Qi Fan went to Zhang Zuolin's room alone.

As soon as he opened the door, he saw Zhang Zuolin sitting on the bed, with his fifth concubine sitting on the edge of the bed gently scratching his back. The two of them were chatting casually.

Zhang Zuolin caught sight of him entering and raised an eyebrow, saying, "You brat, what brings you to your old man so late?"

"Father, there's something I'd like to discuss with you." Qi Fan walked to the bedside, his expression serious.

"Oh?" Zhang Zuolin became interested and gestured for his fifth concubine to stop and sit up straight.

"What is it? Tell me, what's making you so serious, you brat?"

"I want to establish an intelligence agency," Qi Fan said, enunciating each word clearly.

"The intelligence bureau?" Zhang Zuolin's eyes darted around quickly as he looked at him with suspicion.

"Our Fengtian Army already has an intelligence department. Isn't it redundant for you to set up another intelligence bureau?"

"It's different." Qi Fan shook his head, his tone resolute.

"Father, the intelligence bureau I'm going to establish isn't an ordinary intelligence agency within our Fengtian Army. It's an intelligence network that will be planted in all hostile forces, including those internal forces with ulterior motives. This bureau will only have one chief person in charge. It doesn't need many people, but they need to be highly skilled. They need to be planted in key departments of Fengtian and even the surrounding hostile forces."

Zhang Zuolin's previously nonchalant expression vanished instantly, and his eyes sharpened.

He instantly understood Qi Fan's meaning. This was no ordinary intelligence agency; it was about planting spies in the heart of the enemy and weaving an impenetrable net!

In this era, there is no such sophisticated intelligence system. If it really works, he can know about the enemy's or internal tricks immediately and take absolute initiative!

"Do you have a detailed plan?" Zhang Zuolin leaned forward, his tone filled with barely concealed excitement.

Qi Fan nodded and explained his well-thought-out plan to Zhang Zuolin. The design was very similar to that of the CIA.

After hearing the entire plan, Zhang Zuolin was completely shocked. He stared at Qi Fan and remained silent for a long time.

"Sometimes I really wonder, what the hell is going on in your head? How do you even come up with these ideas?"

"It was just a sudden thought, Dad. What do you think of my idea? Is it feasible?"

"It's feasible! Absolutely feasible!" Zhang Zuolin slapped his thigh and exclaimed excitedly.

"That's a great idea! With an intelligence agency like this, we can always strike first! Have you chosen someone for the director position?"

Qi Fan paused for a moment, then slowly said, "I want Dai Xiansheng to be the first director. He served in the military before, and he knows the structure and functions of each department like the back of his hand. He knows which departments are key and where to place personnel. More importantly, he is loyal and absolutely trustworthy."

"Alright! We'll do it your way!" Zhang Zuolin made the decision decisively.

"If you need me to coordinate anything later, just let me know. By the way, what do you plan to name this department?"

Qi Fan's eyes flickered slightly, and after a moment's thought, he had an idea: "Let's call it 'Intelligence Bureau No. 7'." After saying that, he leaned forward, his tone somewhat tentative.

"Father, there is something I really need your help with."

"What's the matter?" Zhang Zuolin raised an eyebrow, a vague premonition forming in his mind.

"Setting up such an intelligence agency requires money to recruit people, plant spies, and purchase equipment; the expenses are considerable."

Qi Fan rubbed his hands together and said bluntly, "Could you approve some start-up capital?"

Upon hearing the words "money," Zhang Zuolin instantly sat up straight on the bed, his eyes changing.

How much do you want?

"It'll take at least 100,000 to 200,000 silver dollars to set up the framework," Qi Fan said, stating the amount he had already calculated.

"What? One hundred thousand or eighty thousand?" Zhang Zuolin almost jumped up, his voice suddenly rising, revealing his stingy nature.

"You think your father's money grows on trees? No way! I'll give you a maximum of 70,000 silver dollars, not a penny more! You'll have to figure out the rest yourself!"

Qi Fan was stunned on the spot, his eyes wide open.

"Find a way myself? What can a ten-year-old like me do? Dad, you're putting me in a difficult position!"

"Stop playing dumb with me!" Zhang Zuolin snorted, his eyes full of understanding.

"You think I don't know? You've already swindled your mother out of all the money she keeps hidden in those little boxes, haven't you? And you're trying to fool me by crying poor?"

Finished!

Qi Fan's heart skipped a beat, and he secretly groaned.

The fact that he was secretly hiding his secret stash of money couldn't be kept from his cunning father.

He originally wanted to take advantage of his father, but unexpectedly he had to pay out of his own pocket instead. Thinking about this, his heart was bleeding!

But then I thought, it wasn't easy to squeeze 70,000 silver dollars out of my father's tightwad, it was better than paying for it all myself.

He stopped haggling and stretched out his small hand, saying with a pained expression, "Alright then, give me the seventy thousand silver dollars right now!"