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Chapter 975 Concubine

The shock that the Ningyuan Army gave to the local rich men in Shanxi today was so profound that Qiao Zhiyong suddenly felt that the Ningyuan Army had opened up a whole new world for him.

After Qiao Zhiyong returned to the Qiao family compound in a daze, Cao Yuezhi and Butler Hou ran up to him with anxious faces. The sound of cannons coming from outside the city during the day was too shocking.

"Zhiyong, did those rebels from the Ningyuan Army do anything to you?" Cao Yuezhi asked her brother-in-law with an anxious look on her face.

"Sister-in-law, the Ningyuan army wiped out 100,000 Qing troops in one fell swoop today, and General Tuoming'a of Suiyuan had no ability to react at all." Qiao Zhiyong looked at Cao Yuezhi with a trembling heart and explained, still recovering from the mountains of corpses and seas of blood during the day.

"What? Even 100,000 pigs wouldn't be that easy to kill, right?" Cao Yuezhi and Butler Hou looked at each other in shock, feeling that the imperial army was too disappointing.

"Haha! Sometimes people are really worse than pigs." Thinking of the Qing army that did nothing during the day, Qiao Zhiyong couldn't help but sneer.

"What can we do? We are still hoping that the imperial army can quickly wipe out the rebels."

"Sister-in-law, today the commander of the Ningyuan Army is going to give our Qiao family one million, which is an 80% stake in our Qiao family's business." Qiao Zhiyong then talked about another big thing, which was the thing that would determine the fate and future of their Qiao family.

"What? Isn't this taking advantage of someone's misfortune? Besides, how can our Qiao family do business with rebels?" At this time, Cao Yuezhi and Butler Hou both thought that the Ningyuan army was taking advantage of someone's misfortune.

"Butler Hou, can we still borrow money now?" Qiao Zhiyong seemed to have anticipated the surprise of Cao Yuezhi and Butler Hou, and instead looked at Butler Hou in front of him and asked directly.

"It's impossible to borrow it! The boss has already borrowed from all the families. The only possible one is the Lu family in Taigu County. But last time, Lu Da Ke wanted to marry his daughter to you, you, the second boss, had already clearly refused." At this time, Butler Hou looked at Qiao Zhiyong with a wry smile on his face and explained, and then looked at Qiao Zhiyong with expectation, hoping that he would offer himself voluntarily.

"The Taigu Lu family is out of the question. Even if I sacrifice my marriage now, it won't help." Qiao Zhiyong naturally understood the expectations of Butler Hou and Cao Yuezhi, but he shook his head and explained to them.

"Ah? Why is this?"

"The Taigu Lu family and the Dashengchang Qiu family have already accepted the military-private partnership, with a 60:40 share distribution. Naturally, they cannot oppose the Ningyuan Army Marshal."

"What? They have already agreed?" Butler Hou and Cao Yuezhi stared at each other in shock again.

"No! Second Master, why did the Ningyuan Army arrange 64 for the Lu and Qiu families, but 82 for our Qiao family?" Butler Hou then looked at Qiao Zhiyong in confusion and asked another key question, thinking that their Qiao family must have been targeted by the Ningyuan Army and the Marshal's Mansion.

"It's obvious! Ning Yuanjun has already investigated our Qiao family's business and knows that our Qiao family owes a huge debt."

"Zhiyong, you are now the backbone of our Qiao family. As for how to make the decision, it is up to you." Then Cao Yuezhi, who was at a loss, reiterated her delegation of power to Qiao Zhiyong, so all the pressure of the Qiao family fell on Qiao Zhiyong again.

"Sister-in-law, if I had any way out, I would not accept it, but now our Qiao family has no other choice."

"Second Master, how about I go to the Taigu Lu family in person to discuss your marriage with Miss Lu? Maybe Dake Lu will really lend the money to our Qiao family."

"Forget it! The Ningyuan Army's commander has publicly announced that the circulation of gold and silver will be prohibited in the areas controlled by the Ningyuan Army. Only the Dragon Yuan promised by the Ningyuan Army will be allowed to be used. They are digging up the roots of merchants all over the world."

"Dragon Essence? What is Dragon Essence?"

“It’s just a kind of paper money.”

"What? Paper money? Isn't this the Jiaozi and Baochao from the past?"

"According to the Marshal's explanation, there is a huge difference between Dragon Yuan and Treasure Notes. I just don't know if the Marshal Ning Yuanjun can fulfill his promise."

In fact, the Qiao family had really reached the end of their rope at this time. Even if Qiao Zhiyong used the methods in the original drama, it would be of no avail, because Suning and Ning Yuanjun had cut off all the Qiao family's escape routes.

The next day, Qiao Zhiyong personally came to the Marshal's Mansion again with generous gifts, and then obediently signed the military-private partnership agreement.

"Marshal, Zhiyong will definitely lead the Qiao family to follow the Ningyuan Army until death in the future." Qiao Zhiyong knelt down in front of Su Ning, and all he did was shout "Long live the emperor!"

"Well, Qiao Zhiyong, I heard that you still want to enter the official career. I wonder if you are willing to directly join the Ningyuan Army?" Su Ning was still very satisfied at this time to be able to obey such a rare general talent.

"Thank you for your appreciation, Marshal! However, Zhiyong still feels that managing Qiao's business well can help the Marshal more."

"That makes sense! The Ningyuan Army has now occupied the entire territory of Shanxi, and will move directly into Taiyuan next. I plan to hold a machinery exhibition in Taiyuan. Why don't you go and take a look at the exhibition when the time comes?"

"Machinery Exhibition?" Qiao Zhiyong looked at Su Ning in front of him and asked in confusion.

"The machinery exhibition will display a lot of high-efficiency advanced knitting machinery and advanced equipment from other industries. At the same time, Dashuaifu has already selected a site for the construction of a large thermal power plant. Once the power is connected, we will be able to produce high-quality products on a large scale."

"Marshal, are these the advanced machines that Westerners possess?"

"Yes! But it's much more advanced than Westerners."

At this time, Qiao Zhiyong was undoubtedly ecstatic. He originally thought that the Ningyuan Army was simply taking advantage of the Shanxi merchants for free, but he didn't expect that they could also provide them with advanced equipment.

The reason why Suning controlled the merchant groups of this era was that he planned to hand over the advanced light industrial production to them, so that his Ningyuan Army only needed to focus on heavy industry and military industry.

In fact, traveling back to modern history is quite troublesome. After all, national consciousness has risen all over the world, and China has become a big fat piece of meat in the eyes of jackals, tigers and leopards, so Suning needs to do more and more complicated things.

I just don't know if I will be defeated by those born strong men more than half a century later. At this moment, Suning felt a little bit of anticipation in his heart.

……

After solving the most important issue of the male protagonist Qiao Zhiyong, Suning was ready to go to Taiyuan, the largest city in Shanxi, to take charge. Taiyuan was a city that was within Suning's reach.

"General, there is Lu Dake from the Taigu Lu family outside the door asking to see you." Then a robot walked up to Su Ning and reported.

"Oh? You're welcome."

"Yes! Marshal."

Soon, Lu Dake was brought into the Marshal's Mansion by the robot, but there was a young woman following behind him, and Su Ning recognized that she was the heroine Lu Yuhan.

Looking at the extremely beautiful Lu Yuhan in front of him, Su Ning, who had seen countless women, couldn't help but feel moved, and felt that this woman was indeed incredibly beautiful.

"General, this is my daughter, Lu Yuhan. I've come to offer you the Lu family's treasure, the Jade Cabbage." Lu Dake's attitude towards Su Ning was truly awed, evidently indicating his determination to follow him to the bitter end. "Oh? Jade Cabbage?"

Suning knew that the jade cabbage was one of the favorite treasures of the old witch Cixi in the late Qing Dynasty. At that time, Cixi was just a sixteen-year-old girl who had just entered the palace. Suning didn't mind snatching Cixi away to admire her.

After actually playing with this national treasure in his hand, Su Ning couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "It's really top-notch! It seems that the rumors that Mr. Lu is the stingiest person in Shanxi are not to be believed!"

"Serve the Marshal! Lu Dake will do his best." Hearing that Su Ning also knew his nickname, Lu Dake felt embarrassed to express his loyalty.

"Haha, okay! Mr. Lu, Miss Lu, please sit down." Su Ning, who was laughing heartily, then remembered to invite the father and daughter to sit down.

"Thank you, Marshal, for the seat."

"Boss Lu, the Ningyuan Army Central Bank will be opening soon. Please help promote it when the time comes."

"Don't worry, Marshal! When the time comes, Lu Dake will definitely take out all the gold and silver of the Lu family and deposit it in the bank."

"Boss Lu, you Shanxi merchants can rest assured. I, Suning, am not a one-time winner. I am also willing to support the vigorous development of your Shanxi merchants. However, you must accept the supervision of the Ningyuan Army."

"Yes! Marshal, I will definitely spread the word about your policies."

"Master Lu is so righteous."

"Marshal, I noticed that you are still lacking a personal maid to serve tea and water. Could you please let my daughter Lu Yuhan serve you?" Then Lu Dake suddenly changed the subject and offered his daughter to Su Ning.

"Oh? Miss Lu is also willing to stay with me?" Thinking of Lu Dake's preference for his daughter in the original drama, Su Ning couldn't help but feel surprised at this time.

"My Lord, I am willing." At this time, Lu Yuhan quickly stood up shyly and saluted Su Ning.

"Mr. Lu, I promise you that your Lu family will be rewarded handsomely." Then Su Ning understood what he meant and made a promise to Lu Dake.

"It is an honor for me, Lu Dake, and my daughter Lu Yuhan, to work for the Marshal." Lu Dake was naturally surprised and saluted repeatedly. Everything he did was for the prosperity of the Lu family.

"I know that Mr. Lu has only this one beloved daughter. It would be too unfair for her to just be a maid by my side. So, please stay by my side and be a concubine."

"Thank you, Marshal, for your mercy." Lu Yuhan was naturally very surprised at this time.

In my impression, Lu Dake in the original drama of "Qiao Family Courtyard" is a shrewd local rich man, who can be said to be comparable to Grandet in Balzac's works. I just didn't expect Lu Dake to be so shrewd.

Although Lu Yuhan is the heroine of "Qiao Family Courtyard", and taking Lu Yuhan in would naturally change the plot, Su Ning still took Lu Yuhan into the harem without any hesitation. After all, acting on impulse has always been Su Ning's style of doing things.

After Lu Dake left the Marshal's Mansion, Suning did not wait to eat Lu Yuhan. He planned to hold a grand wedding after taking Taiyuan, which was also a way to show the world his relationship with Shanxi merchants. You know, Lu Dake is one of the outstanding representatives of Shanxi merchants.

……

At this time, the city of Beijing was in complete chaos. The urgent military intelligence reports from Shanxi and Guangxi made Xianfeng exhausted. He did not expect to encounter such a rebellion just after he ascended the throne.

"My dear ministers, do you know the origins of Suning and the Ningyuan Army?" Xianfeng, who was only twenty years old this year, still looked so immature. He looked at the important Qing officials in front of him with exhaustion.

"Your Majesty, it seems that Suning and the Ningyuan Army appeared out of nowhere, and we know nothing about their situation." A senior Qing official stepped forward and made a report.

"Know nothing? Is it really the will of Heaven that will destroy the Qing Dynasty?"

"Your Majesty, we are guilty of a thousand deaths."

"Prince Yi, Prince Zheng, Minister of War Mu Yin, do you have any countermeasures?" Xianfeng was naturally too lazy to pay attention to these old sly guys, and instead started to call on them and ask questions about politics.

"Your Majesty, the Taiping rebels in Guangxi are nothing to worry about. With Lin Zexu acting as the military officer for Guangdong and Guangxi, the Taiping rebel rebellion will surely be quelled. On the contrary, it is the monk army in Shanxi that is the real threat to our Qing Dynasty." Prince Yi Zaiyuan, the head of the regents, immediately stepped forward to explain and analyze.

"Hey! The latest Shanxi military report has arrived. Shanxi Suiyuan General Tuo Ming'a and Deputy General Le Bin led a 100,000-man army to suppress a rebellion, but were ultimately killed in a battle in Qi County, Jinzhong, Shanxi. Tuo Ming'a and Le Bin were both killed in the battle."

"What? How could this happen?" The ministers who were unaware of the military situation naturally looked at each other in confusion.

"My dear ministers, the most serious problem is that Datong and Suiyuan in Shanxi have already fallen, and Taiyuan in Shanxi is no longer worth rescuing."

"Your Majesty, I, Zaiyuan, am willing to personally lead the army to Shanxi to quell the rebellion."

"Prince Yi is indeed a loyal minister to me. But where should I send the troops?"

"The generals of Xi'an, Shaanxi, and the troops of Baoding and Zhangjiakou, Hebei will do."

"allow."

After Prince Yi Zaiyuan took the initiative to lead the troops to war, the chaotic court became much more relaxed again.

After all, Prince Yi Zaiyuan was the head of the eight regents left by Emperor Daoguang to Emperor Xianfeng. He was very prestigious both in the army and in the court. Naturally, no one believed that Prince Yi Zaiyuan could not resolve the rebellion in Shanxi even if he personally took action.

However, at this time, the Ningyuan Army had completely occupied the entire Shanxi Province, and Suning, who had already entered Taiyuan, was also considering an advance plan, so there was no chance for the Qing army to breathe.

"General, the Qing troops in Hebei and Shaanxi are gathering faster and faster. Judging from their posture, they are preparing to attack Shanxi directly."

"Well, the Extermination Army has expanded to 100,000, and there are more than 30,000 Class A Extermination Army soldiers. It's time to let them go out and gain some experience."

"Marshal, do you want the Class A and Class C troops to fight the Qing troops in Hebei and Shaanxi?"

"No! All city defenses in Shanxi are still handed over to the Class B combat readiness troops of the Extermination Army, while the Class A and Class C troops of the Extermination Army will fight against General Chang Chun in Xi'an, Shaanxi. The main force of the Ningyuan Army will march directly towards Shimen and Baoding in Hebei."

"Yes! Marshal."

……

(End of this chapter)