Liu Tiezhu's tactic of playing both sides left Guo Qixing utterly impressed.
As things developed, it wouldn't be long before Liu Tiezhu drained the coffers of both Ming Zhenglong and Jiang He.
For the Guo family, this was an absolute windfall.
Where Liu Tiezhu feasted, the Guo family could feast alongside him.
Guo Qixing now realized the smartest move he'd ever made was spending a fortune to win Liu Tiezhu over.
"Alright, no need to butter me up. Get your people ready and wait for my word."
"Also, do a thorough investigation on Ming Jiacheng as soon as possible. I don't want to get caught off guard."
"And help me look into Jiang He and his two partners' assets—see if we can cut them off at the root," Liu Tiezhu said.
Once they finalized the plan, word came from Ming Zhenglong.
When the news broke that the deputy commander was Zhang Tianlong, the entire camp was stunned.
Liu Tiezhu didn't care. Since the higher-ups said Ming Zhenglong personally appointed him, the squad leaders who'd sent gifts couldn't take their grievances out on him.
After dinner, Liu Tiezhu called Zhang Tianlong over.
He ordered him to take two hundred men to the spot two hundred meters from camp and bring back the supplies Zhang Zhiliang had prepared.
Originally, Liu Tiezhu planned to pocket those supplies, but after mulling it over, he thought better of it.
Ming Zhenglong's earlier instruction to "handle it yourself" had been too abrupt, making Liu Tiezhu suspect it was a test.
If it was a test, hoarding the supplies would only invite suspicion.
So, he couldn't risk losing the big picture for small gains.
Those supplies were worth at most thirty thousand yuan.
Losing future opportunities for thirty thousand wasn't worth it.
Zhang Tianlong didn't ask questions. He nodded and went to count his men.
Liu Tiezhu thought for a moment and called Lin Changxing.
He told him to inform Zhang Zhiliang and the others that they were about to move out and to get ready.
Two hours later, Zhang Tianlong returned with the supplies.
Liu Tiezhu did a rough count, then had Zhang Tianlong haul them to the granary.
As he left, Zhang Tianlong was full of questions, but Liu Tiezhu cut him off each time he tried to speak.
Though Zhang Tianlong wasn't savvy about social cues, he understood Liu Tiezhu was hinting that it wasn't the right time to talk with so many people around.
After securing the supplies, Zhang Tianlong dismissed the action team and returned to Liu Tiezhu's side.
"Commander, how did those supplies come from Auditor Zhang..."
Liu Tiezhu knew what Zhang Tianlong was getting at and waved him off.
"This is an internal power struggle within the Ming family."
"Pretend you saw nothing. That's the only way to keep yourself out of trouble."
"What if Ming Zhenglong asks me about it?"
"Don't worry, he won't ask you," Liu Tiezhu said.
This whole matter was something Ming Zhenglong had tasked him with.
If Ming Zhenglong went to Zhang Tianlong about it, that would be redundant.
Hearing this, Zhang Tianlong understood. He said nothing more, nodded to Liu Tiezhu, and left.
The next day, after breakfast, Liu Tiezhu headed to the Ming estate.
He found Ming Zhenglong and gave a detailed report on the supplies brought in the night before.
"Third Master, I estimate Jiang He and his partners took more than just these supplies."
"Based on the population of the Li and Zhang families, the supplies should have been double what I brought back."
After his report, Liu Tiezhu couldn't resist stirring the pot.
Only by keeping Ming Zhenglong and Jiang He at odds could he serve his own interests.
Ming Zhenglong's face darkened at the words.
Even without Liu Tiezhu's reminder, he knew the supplies for the Li and Zhang families couldn't have been this meager.
"Don't worry, I'll make them pay back every bit they took."
"Speed up the investigation. I want to know their full hand."
"As for those two properties, I'll pull my people back tonight. You can notify Jiang He to make his move."
Liu Tiezhu was overjoyed. "Thank you, Third Master. Once I earn their trust, I'll have their secrets in no time."
"Go on. I'll wait for good news."
Ming Zhenglong waved his hand, dismissing him.
Leaving the Ming estate, Liu Tiezhu headed straight for the town.
Once inside, he didn't go directly to the Jinyuan Pawnshop in the north. Instead, he wandered through various shops.
After aimlessly browsing for over an hour, making sure no one was tailing him, Liu Tiezhu slipped into a narrow alley.
From there, he took a side path into the Jinyuan Pawnshop.
"Sir, are you here to pawn something?"
The greeter was a stout man in his fifties, red-faced and thick-necked, speaking with a smile that gave off an oddly friendly vibe.
"I'm here to see someone," Liu Tiezhu said.
He wasn't fooled by appearances.
Anyone who held a position in the Ming family's pawnshop was no pushover.
This fat man was no exception.
"Looking for someone?" The man blinked. "Sir, this is a pawnshop. You've got the wrong place."
"Ming Jiacheng invited me here."
Liu Tiezhu cut the nonsense and dropped Ming Jiacheng's name.
The pawnshop entrance was a mixed bag, and every extra minute increased the risk of exposure.
He didn't want to get caught by Ming Zhenglong's people before he'd even teamed up with Ming Jiacheng.
"You're Liu Tiezhu?"
The man paused, then pointed to the side hall on the right.
"Master Cheng is waiting inside. Go on in."
Liu Tiezhu didn't stand on ceremony. He turned and walked into the side hall.
Inside, Ming Jiacheng had already brewed tea and was waiting for Liu Tiezhu.
"Brother Tiezhu, have a seat."
Gesturing for Liu Tiezhu to sit, Ming Jiacheng handed him a cup of hot tea.
Liu Tiezhu nodded, took the tea, and sipped it quietly.
Neither spoke, and the atmosphere grew tense.
Liu Tiezhu knew the danger of saying too much.
Since Ming Jiacheng had invited him, he'd lay out his terms. Liu Tiezhu just had to wait.
Ming Jiacheng, on the other hand, deliberately stayed silent to see if Liu Tiezhu could hold his nerve under the pressure.
A full minute passed as they drank in silence.
Finally, Ming Jiacheng smiled in satisfaction.
He set down his cup and said, "Brother Tiezhu, I assume Guo Zhenlong told you why I invited you here."
"Since you came, you must have some ideas."
"I don't like beating around the bush. Tell me what you're thinking."
Liu Tiezhu paused, thinking, *What a sly old fox.*
With a few words, Ming Jiacheng had taken the lead, forcing Liu Tiezhu to state his terms first.
But Liu Tiezhu wasn't stupid.
In this quiet contest, whoever spoke first lost their bargaining edge.
After a moment's thought, Liu Tiezhu set down his cup and said, "Brother Ming, Guo Zhenlong did tell me why you invited me."
"But I'd still like to hear your thoughts."
This caught Ming Jiacheng off guard, and he studied Liu Tiezhu with fresh eyes.
He hadn't expected Liu Tiezhu to toss the question back at him.
If he kept silent or made excuses now, it would seem insincere.