"Since Brother Tiezhu has put it that way, it wouldn't be right for me to hold back anymore."
Ming Jiacheng laughed heartily and continued, "I want to go into deep cooperation with you."
"You'll keep an eye on Ming Zhenglong for me and figure out his personnel deployment."
"Besides that, you need to report to me anytime about any plans he has."
"In return, I'll give you ten thousand for each important piece of information."
"Fifty thousand for especially critical intel."
"On top of these rewards, I'll give you eight thousand in monthly pay."
Ming Jiacheng no longer hid his intentions, laying his terms out plainly on the table.
After two rounds of probing, he understood clearly that beating around the bush with Liu Tiezhu would only waste time.
"Brother Ming, you're asking me to betray Third Master," Liu Tiezhu said flatly.
Ming Jiacheng replied, "I'll give you twelve thousand in monthly pay."
"Fifteen thousand per piece of information, fifty-five thousand for critical intel."
He knew Liu Tiezhu's words were just a negotiation tactic.
Talk of betrayal was merely an excuse.
If Liu Tiezhu wasn't willing to betray Ming Zhenglong, he wouldn't have come.
"Brother Ming is truly generous. It's an honor to cooperate with you."
Liu Tiezhu laughed heartily and readily extended his right hand.
Ming Jiacheng's cooperation was like handing him resources on a silver platter.
If he refused such a lucrative deal, he'd be a fool.
He couldn't care less about betraying Ming Zhenglong.
As long as Ming Jiacheng offered enough, he'd even investigate what underwear Ming Zhenglong wore.
After all, whether the Mings lived or died had nothing to do with him.
Besides, his goal was to bring down the Ming family anyway.
"Brother Tiezhu, you're indeed straightforward."
Ming Jiacheng shook hands firmly with Liu Tiezhu, but a flicker of contempt flashed in his eyes.
In his view, someone like Liu Tiezhu, who sold out his master for gain, was utterly beneath him.
Liu Tiezhu saw through Ming Jiacheng's disdain but didn't care at all.
As long as he could stir up internal strife in the Ming family and pocket some benefits, being looked down on by Ming Jiacheng was no big deal.
After sealing the deal, Ming Jiacheng paid Liu Tiezhu one month's salary upfront.
He understood that someone as "greedy" as Liu Tiezhu would only work earnestly once the money was in hand.
Liu Tiezhu didn't stand on ceremony either, taking the cash and leaving Jinyuan Pawnshop directly.
"Ming Ge, what do you think of this guy?" Guo Zhenlong walked in and asked.
"He's got some brains, but controlling him won't be hard."
Ming Jiacheng wore a smug expression, dismissing Liu Tiezhu entirely.
Hearing this, Guo Zhenlong hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself.
Based on his investigation, Liu Tiezhu wasn't as simple as he appeared.
But he knew Ming Jiacheng's temperament—once he made up his mind, he wouldn't listen to anyone else.
Leaving Jinyuan Pawnshop, Liu Tiezhu continued wandering aimlessly around town.
Soon, he noticed two burly men following him at a deliberate distance.
"Ming Zhenglong's men?" Liu Tiezhu frowned and quickened his pace.
He wanted to test if he was truly being tailed.
Seeing him speed up, the two men immediately followed.
After crossing two streets, Liu Tiezhu was now certain he was being tracked.
But he wasn't flustered. He led them on a loop before heading toward the Ming residence.
When he was about fifty meters from the Ming house, the two men stopped.
Liu Tiezhu didn't linger and turned into the compound.
"Manager Zhang, please find Third Master for me. I have urgent news to report."
"Remember, don't let anyone else know. This is very important."
Liu Tiezhu deliberately put on a tense expression and lowered his voice.
Manager Zhang, named Zhang Shuntian, was Ming Zhenglong's trusted aide, in his early fifties and efficient.
Hearing this, he nodded and quickly led Liu Tiezhu to a side hall.
After settling him in, Zhang Shuntian hurried away.
A few minutes later, Ming Zhenglong rushed over.
"Brother Liu, I hear you have urgent news?"
Ming Zhenglong got straight to the point as soon as he sat down.
Liu Tiezhu nodded and said, "Yes, very important intel."
"Ming Jiacheng just approached me, asking me to join his side."
"I said I'd think it over, and then he had people tail me. They're at the teahouse fifty meters away."
He said this deliberately to test something.
To see if the two men following him were sent by Ming Zhenglong.
If they were, then his meeting with Ming Jiacheng could be explained away.
Ming Zhenglong frowned at this, then summoned Zhang Shuntian.
"Send someone to the teahouse across the street and deal with those two tailing him."
After dismissing Zhang Shuntian, Ming Zhenglong's gaze returned to Liu Tiezhu.
"You say my older brother approached you to join his camp?"
"What terms did he offer, and what did he want you to do?"
"He offered me three thousand in monthly pay to keep an eye on you, Third Master."
"And to secretly investigate your deployments and personnel arrangements."
Liu Tiezhu mixed truth with lies, completely selling out Ming Jiacheng.
As he spoke, he pulled out the prepared three thousand from his pocket.
This left Ming Zhenglong utterly stunned.
Liu Tiezhu had taken his brother's money—didn't that mean he'd agreed to his demands?
And he dared to tell him this? Wasn't he afraid of enraging him?
Ming Zhenglong was frozen for a moment, then thought it over and sensed something was off.
With Liu Tiezhu's wits, he wouldn't do something so foolish.
If he truly wanted to side with his brother, he wouldn't have come to report this and handed over the money.
What was Liu Tiezhu up to? Ming Zhenglong couldn't figure it out for a moment.
He snapped back and asked, "Brother Liu, what do you mean by taking my brother's money?"
"Have you agreed to cooperate with him?"
Liu Tiezhu feigned panic and said, "Third Master, am I that kind of person?"
"When Brother Ming had a gun to my head, I had no choice but to take the money."
"If I hadn't, I wouldn't be here to report to you now."
Hearing this, Ming Zhenglong's face darkened, and he said coldly, "Hmph, Ming Jiacheng's schemes are ringing loud and clear."
"He dares to set his sights on me, thinking I'm an easy target."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure you get an explanation for this."
Liu Tiezhu waved his hand and said, "Third Master, don't act rashly."
"Brother Ming's strength isn't as simple as it seems."
Liu Tiezhu paused, then exaggerated the information Guo Zhenlong had given him and laid it all out.
After hearing it, Ming Zhenglong's eyes bulged wide.
"Is this intel accurate?"
It took a long while before Ming Zhenglong came to his senses and asked.
Liu Tiezhu said, "Brother Ming told me this himself. It should be true."
"That bastard, he's been hiding deep."
Ming Zhenglong cursed loudly, then turned his attention back to Liu Tiezhu.
"Brother Liu, you've done well on this."
"I have a plan that needs your help to carry out."
"From now on, pretend to agree to cooperate with Ming Jiacheng and extract his intel."
"Also, I'll give you thirty thousand and a team of twenty intelligence operatives."
"This team will be on standby 24/7, at your command."
"Find out as soon as possible who's secretly backing Ming Jiacheng."
Hearing this, Liu Tiezhu smirked inwardly, knowing his plan had succeeded.