Ming Zhenglong transferred personnel to him, indicating he had gained preliminary trust.
But that wasn’t the key point.
The key was that he had once again extracted benefits from Ming Zhenglong and successfully ignited conflict between Ming Zhenglong and Ming Jiacheng.
As for Ming Jiacheng’s side, he could use the same method he had against Jiang He and the others, continuing to reap rewards from both sides.
Leaving the Ming estate, he happened to run into Zhang Shuntian, who was just returning.
Liu Tiezhu handed over a pack of high-end cigarettes and asked, “Manager Zhang, is it all settled?”
Zhang Shuntian nodded. “It’s done. It was Jiang Tianliang’s people.”
“Brother Tiezhu, you need to be careful lately. Jiang Tianliang might make a move against you.”
“Thanks, Manager Zhang.” Liu Tiezhu nodded and left the Ming estate.
Once outside, Liu Tiezhu’s expression immediately darkened.
He hadn’t expected that in just over ten days, that bastard Jiang Tianliang would already be unable to hold back.
“Bastard, still thinks I’m a pushover he can mess with.”
“Since you’re asking for death, I’ll give it to you.”
Liu Tiezhu let out a cold laugh and then returned to the military camp.
Back at the camp, he immediately summoned Zhang Tianlong.
“Tonight, quietly take two hundred men and sweep all three of these properties.”
As he spoke, Liu Tiezhu handed Zhang Tianlong three coordinates.
After reviewing them, Zhang Tianlong said, “Captain, these are Jiang Tianliang’s properties.”
“If we sweep them, won’t that cause trouble?”
“Are you worried?” Liu Tiezhu stared at Zhang Tianlong, countering.
Zhang Tianlong replied, “I’m not worried about Jiang Tianliang, just whether it might spark a war between the Second Master and the Third Master.”
“If that happens, we can’t bear the responsibility.”
“Relax, as long as you don’t leave evidence for Jiang Tianliang, I’ll handle the rest,” Liu Tiezhu said.
Without evidence, Ming Tianfeng couldn’t do a thing to him.
Just like the earlier incident when Jiang Tianliang colluded with the Li family.
Besides, Ming Zhenglong still needed him right now.
Even if Zhang Tianlong left evidence, Ming Zhenglong would unhesitatingly side with him.
“Alright, I’ll take the men and sweep those properties tonight.”
Zhang Tianlong didn’t waste words and left after making up his mind.
After dinner, Liu Tiezhu called for Guo Qixing.
“Tonight, Ming Zhenglong will pull his people out. We can make our move.”
Hearing this, Guo Qixing broke into an excited grin.
He had thoroughly investigated those two properties of Ming Zhenglong.
The supplies inside were worth no less than fifteen thousand.
Even splitting half with Liu Tiezhu, he’d still pocket several thousand.
“When do we act? I’ll arrange the men right away,” Guo Qixing said.
Liu Tiezhu thought for a moment and said, “Around nine in the evening. No noise.”
“Get your people ready first, and we’ll meet at the Apricot Blossom Tavern.”
Guo Qixing checked the time—it was nearly six—and didn’t dare delay further.
After seeing Guo Qixing off, Liu Tiezhu pondered and then called for Lin Changxing.
He told him to notify Jiang He that there was something to report.
Zhang Tianlong’s troop movements couldn’t be hidden from foxes like Jiang He.
He had to find a way to talk to Jiang He and dispel the suspicions of the three.
Half an hour later, Liu Tiezhu slipped into Jiang He’s tent.
“Brother Jiang, Ming Zhenglong is planning to strike at Ming Tianfeng.”
“Zhang Tianlong has already pulled two hundred men on standby.”
As soon as he sat down, Liu Tiezhu spoke in an urgent tone.
He deliberately framed it as Ming Zhenglong targeting Ming Tianfeng, first to shut down Jiang He’s desire to grab benefits.
Second, since it was Ming Zhenglong’s move, Jiang He and the others wouldn’t dare dig too deep.
Another key reason was to use this chance to squeeze some benefits out of Jiang He.
Of course, Jiang He and the others weren’t fools, and he wasn’t sure if they’d take the bait.
Hearing this report, Jiang He immediately frowned.
“Brother Liu, you’re not handling this well.”
“Why didn’t you report such an important matter sooner?”
With the operation imminent, Liu Tiezhu only now shared the news.
This made Jiang He suspect whether Liu Tiezhu was doing it on purpose.
Facing Jiang He’s doubt, Liu Tiezhu had already prepared his response before coming.
“Brother Jiang, it’s not that I didn’t want to tell you earlier.”
“I only found out this news after hearing Zhang Tianlong’s report.”
“After sending Zhang Tianlong off, I came straight here.”
Hearing this, the three frowned even deeper.
If Liu Tiezhu’s words were true, then Ming Zhenglong hadn’t fully trusted him yet.
Zhang Zhiliang said, “Looks like we underestimated Ming Zhenglong’s cunning.”
“This arrangement clearly shows he doesn’t fully trust Brother Liu.”
Jiang He and Liu Zhigao thought it over and agreed with Zhang Zhiliang’s assessment.
“By the way, did Zhang Tianlong say where the supplies would be taken?”
After a moment of silence, Jiang He asked again.
Liu Tiezhu nodded in response. “He did report that—all supplies will be sent to the Ming estate.”
Sent to the Ming estate?
Hearing this, Jiang He was taken aback, then said, “It seems if we want to grab some supplies, we’ll have to act during the chaos.”
“Zhang Tianlong’s two hundred men are split into three groups, so each group has about seventy at most.”
“If we concentrate our fire and seize one property, it shouldn’t be a big problem.”
Zhang Zhiliang thought it over and nodded directly. “I think this plan is feasible.”
Liu Zhigao said nothing but nodded as well.
Liu Tiezhu hadn’t expected Jiang He and the others to be so bold as to strike during the chaos.
If the three sent people in, it would completely derail his plan.
He was mulling over what excuse to use to stop them when he suddenly noticed all three staring intently at him.
“Brother Liu, what do you think?” Jiang He asked.
Liu Tiezhu paused for a moment, then said, “The plan is feasible, but I’m worried it might be a trap.”
A trap?
Jiang He was startled and quickly asked, “What trap? Explain clearly.”
“Brother Jiang, if Ming Zhenglong wanted to guard against us, why would he let me know this news? Isn’t that contradictory?”
“I suspect he’s using this news as bait to lure us into sending people, then strike from the shadows.”
Liu Tiezhu put on a thoughtful expression as he analyzed.
Hearing this, Jiang He and the others were stunned.
This analysis wasn’t impossible.
If it was a trap set by Ming Zhenglong, then the men they sent would be wiped out.
For a moment, the three frowned, unable to come up with a better plan.
Seeing their expressions, another idea sparked in Liu Tiezhu’s mind.
“Brother Jiang, how about this?”
“We set up an ambush along the route first, and when they transport the supplies back, we intercept them midway.”
“That way, we avoid Ming Zhenglong’s trap and still get the supplies.”
Hearing this, the three slapped their thighs and burst into excited laughter.
“Brother Liu, you’ve got the sharpest mind.”
“When do they move? We’ll get our side ready.”
“This time, we’ll make Ming Zhenglong fume in the outhouse.”
Liu Tiezhu laughed along, but his mind was elsewhere.
Now that the three had fallen into the pit he’d dug, the next step was to arrange for the dirt to be shoveled in.