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

Yu Fengzhi glanced sideways at Qi Fan beside her, a hint of surprise hidden in her eyes.

The boy in front of me was just fifteen years old, but his figure was already as upright as a pine tree. His relaxed eyebrows and eyes showed that he had shed the immaturity of a young man and gained a sense of composure.

What's even more remarkable is his overall demeanor—calm, composed, and articulate, unlike a naive child who is inexperienced in the ways of the world. Instead, he exudes a wisdom and maturity beyond his years.

This was a look she had never seen in men her age.

With a cool morning breeze, Yu Fengzhi led the two of them on a stroll through the courtyard of the Yu residence.

The exotic flowers and plants on both sides are arranged in a pleasing manner. The peonies are in full bloom, the peonies are exuding fragrance, and there are several ancient locust trees with lush branches and leaves that block out the sun.

Hidden deep within the courtyard is a small lake, its surface shimmering with light, a scene of exquisite elegance that surpasses even the Fengtian Marshal's Mansion.

Qi Fan strolled along the lakeside, admiring the exquisite scenery of the entire garden, and couldn't help but sigh.

"The Yu residence is indeed magnificent. Such a large courtyard must require a considerable amount of manpower and money just to maintain these flowers and plants."

Upon hearing this, Yu Fengzhi smiled gently and shook her head, her voice as soft as a stream.

"These are just ordinary flowers and plants that my father planted in his spare time. They are not precious or rare. He just wanted to make them pleasing to the eye and quiet."

Zhang Xuecheng, who was standing to the side, was already dazzled by what he saw, and couldn't help but gasp in amazement upon hearing this.

"Ordinary? Sister Yu, you're too modest! Even our Marshal's Mansion doesn't have that many rare varieties. If this is ordinary, then what would be extraordinary?"

"Green plants are inherently pleasing to the eye and the ear," Yu Fengzhi said with a smile that remained unchanged, her tone revealing a touch of wisdom.

"At its core, it's nothing more than grass and trees; to call it 'ordinary' is already an exaggeration."

Qi Fan followed behind her, watching her skirt sway lightly and her steps unhurried. He felt that she exuded a scholarly air, and her gentle, neighborly demeanor contained a unique charm that made her more and more pleasant to look at.

He couldn't help but wonder: I really don't understand why Zhang Xueliang in the original story was so resistant to Fengzhi at first? Was it just because it was an arranged marriage arranged by his father?

In any case, he had a very good impression of the insightful and gentle woman in front of him.

It was precisely because of Qi Fan's attitude, which was completely different from Zhang Xueliang's in the original work, that the entire process of the betrothal went exceptionally smoothly.

Qi Fan lived a very comfortable and carefree life in Zhengjiatun.

When he had nothing to do, he would accompany Yu Fengzhi to fly kites in the courtyard, or take her to Wu Junsheng's stable to choose two gentle steeds and ride slowly on the grassland outside the city, chatting about their experiences and thoughts.

Qi Fan was knowledgeable and witty, and he could always tell her interesting stories that she had never heard before.

Yu Fengzhi is intelligent and insightful, with unique perspectives, and her occasional comments always catch Qi Fan's eye.

Their relationship quickly blossomed during this relaxed and comfortable time together.

Yu Fengzhi gradually developed feelings for this boy who was three years younger than her.

It wasn't just his sincerity and respect, but also his understanding and perspective on the world that repeatedly challenged her preconceived notions, making her want to learn more about this extraordinary young man.

While Qi Fan and Yu Fengzhi were enjoying a tender time together in Zhengjiatun, the situation in Fengtian City was undergoing a dramatic change, stirring up a considerable upheaval.

Since Wang Yongjiang took office as Commissioner of Police, he has been implementing the rectification plan with great efficiency.

He disregarded the sentiments within the Fengtian Army and used swift and decisive measures to thoroughly investigate illegal establishments such as casinos, opium dens, and brothels in the city. Anyone involved in illegal activities, regardless of their status, was arrested and brought to the police station for trial.

For a time, the atmosphere in Fengtian City was tense. Many of the usually arrogant and domineering officers and soldiers of Fengtian were arrested by Wang Yongjiang's men for their involvement in gambling, usury and other evil deeds.

This crackdown directly impacted the interests of many within the Fengtian Army, instantly straining relations within the city.

The first to be affected was Zhang Zuolin's sworn brother, Tang Yulin.

Tang Yulin was by nature reckless, arrogant and domineering. Relying on his status as Zhang Zuolin's sworn brother, he always did things his own way.

Ever since Zhang Zuolin took office as the military governor of Fengtian, he has become increasingly arrogant and unscrupulous.

On ordinary days, he not only amassed wealth for himself, but also allowed his subordinates to run casinos, lend exorbitant sums of money illegally, and even openly extort money from the people, which had long been a source of resentment in Fengtian City.

Wang Yongjiang's crackdown resulted in the arrest of most of Tang Yulin's men, and several of Tang's secretly controlled casinos were also shut down, which can be described as a direct slap in the face and a blow to his source of income.

Just as Wang Yongjiang brought all the arrested criminals back to the police station for interrogation, Tang Yulin received an urgent report from his subordinates.

Accustomed to arrogance, he couldn't swallow this insult. He immediately slammed his fist on the table, led his elite squad, and stormed towards the Fengtian Police Station.

Inside the police station, Tang Yulin, like an enraged tiger, burst through the front hall, roaring at the top of his lungs.

"Where's Wang Xiucai? Damn it! He's really got some nerve, daring to mess with my men!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already kicked open the office door and immediately spotted Wang Yongjiang sitting at his desk.

Without saying a word, Tang Yulin pulled out his pistol and pressed the dark muzzle directly against Wang Yongjiang's forehead.

"Wang Yongjiang, where are my men? I advise you to be smart and release them right now, or I'll shoot you!"

Facing the gun pointed at his head, Wang Yongjiang remained calm and showed no panic. He simply raised his eyes and glanced at Tang Yulin.

"Commander Tang, I had an agreement with the commander beforehand that in the event of a mutiny or police siege, we must strictly abide by the law and there is no need to avoid it. Your act of storming the police station with a weapon is already illegal. I advise you to put your gun away."

Upon hearing this, Tang Yulin was taken aback at first, then chuckled and slowly put away his gun, his eyes full of disdain.

"Director Wang, you really dare to challenge me, Tang Erhu? Fine! Let's wait and see who's in charge in Fengtian City!"

After saying this, he flicked his sleeves and led his men away from the police station in a grand procession.

But the matter did not end there.

Following closely behind, the entire 53rd Brigade under Tang Yulin's command was mobilized, with hundreds of heavily armed soldiers storming into the police station and surrounding the entire facility.

Two police officers stepped forward to stop them, but before they could even speak to dissuade them, they were shot dead on the spot by Tang Yulin's men, and their blood instantly stained the police station gate.

News of the clashes between the Fengtian Army and the police, involving knives and guns, spread rapidly throughout the streets and alleys of Fengtian City, causing widespread panic among the people.

That evening, Zhang Zuolin, inside the Marshal's Mansion, received the news and was so angry that he trembled all over.

The council chamber was brightly lit, and several of his sworn brothers were gathered there. Tang Yulin, Zhang Zuoxiang, Zhang Jinghui, and Sun Liechen all had solemn expressions.

"Damn it! Isn't this a huge joke?" Zhang Zuolin slammed his hand on the table, splashing tea everywhere, and glared at everyone.

"The army and the Fengtian police are fighting each other with knives and guns! If word gets out, you won't feel ashamed, but I, Old Zhang, will!"

Tang Yulin, however, didn't care at all, sticking his neck out and shouting defiantly.

"Wang Yongjiang has absolutely no respect for our army! He clearly arrested people without asking any questions first, so why should I swallow my anger?"

Sun Liechen immediately chimed in, "Exactly! The honor of our army cannot be trampled on like this; we must demand an explanation!"

Zhang Jinghui also frowned and spoke.

"Has this scholar gone mad? We can't control whether he wants to gain merit and climb the ranks, but he's using our army as a stepping stone, trampling on our dignity to claim credit—I can't stand that!"

As he spoke, he turned to look at Zhang Zuoxiang beside him, "Eighth Brother, don't you think that makes sense?"

Zhang Zuoxiang originally intended to be a peacemaker and quietly drift along, but unexpectedly he was singled out and had no choice but to speak up.

"Wang Yongjiang set up a police station in the city and strictly followed the law. This was all ordered by you, Seventh Brother. He was just following orders."

"Old Eight is right!" Zhang Zuolin continued, speaking in a deep voice.

"I had already spoken to you all beforehand, asking you to be understanding and give me, Old Zhang, face. You all agreed at the time!"

Zhang Zuoxiang seized the opportunity to add: "Moreover, since Wang Yongjiang enforced the law impartially, the security in Fengtian City has indeed improved a lot, which is also very beneficial for our Fengtian Army to stabilize the hearts of the people."

"Old Eight, stop trying to smooth things over!" Tang Yulin's temper flared up again, and he pointed at Zhang Zuoxiang and scolded him angrily.

"Wang Yongjiang is tarnishing the reputation of our army; this matter must not be left unresolved!"

Zhang Zuolin looked at Tang Yulin, his tone softening slightly, and offered his advice.

"Fourth Brother, let's put everything else aside for now. You need to withdraw your 53rd Brigade first. Your men stormed the police station and killed two policemen. No matter how you look at it, we're in the wrong."

Tang Yulin, however, remained stubbornly silent. Seeing this, Zhang Zuolin got up, walked to the telephone, picked up the receiver, and handed it to him, speaking in a deep voice.

"Fourth Brother, just make a call right now and withdraw your men, give me some face!"

Tang Yulin looked at the phone Zhang Zuolin handed him, his face grim: "Yuting, aren't you putting me in a dangerous situation?"

"How could I be putting you on the verge of a knife? You're the one who insisted on walking into the line of fire!" Zhang Zuolin's tone turned cold.

Tang Yulin stared intently at Zhang Zuolin, gritting his teeth as he asked, "Yuting, are you saying this matter can't be resolved peacefully?"

Zhang Zuolin still had a smile on his face, but his eyes had lost all warmth.

"Fourth Brother, if you still consider me your brother and still want to be the commander of the 53rd Brigade, then remove him from the post."

The implication in those words couldn't be clearer: if the troops aren't removed, he can forget about staying in his position as brigade commander.

Tang Yulin naturally understood the implied meaning, and his eyes immediately turned red. He suddenly drew two pistols from his waist, slammed them on the table with a "bang," and glared angrily at Zhang Zuolin.

"Even if I, Tang Erhu, lose this brigade commander position today, I will fight Wang Yongjiang to the death! You decide what to do!"

After saying that, he turned and left, slamming the door of the council chamber shut.

Zhang Zuolin looked at the two pistols on the table, then at his brothers with their varied expressions, and said in a deep voice.

"I have already given him enough face, as everyone has seen. It is Tang Yulin who is unwilling to give me any face at all."