"Brother Ming, you lost quite a bit in that game last night."
"Ming Zhenglong also took a heavy hit, and even Jiang He suffered major losses. In the end, Ming Tianfeng came out on top."
"If things keep going like this, Ming Tianfeng will be the biggest winner."
Liu Tiezhu didn't hide his plan and began steering Ming Jiacheng deliberately.
"Brother Tiezhu, get to the point."
"I have a plan. Brother Ming, listen and see if it works."
Liu Tiezhu used the same trick again, pulling out the same spiel he'd used to fool Ming Zhenglong.
He believed that with Ming Jiacheng's shrewdness, he wouldn't turn down such a good deal.
A few minutes later, Ming Jiacheng finished hearing Liu Tiezhu's plan.
He didn't rush to answer but casually lit a cigarette and handed one to Liu Tiezhu.
He needed to calm his mind.
Judging by the timing of last night's events, Liu Tiezhu had no reason to lie to him.
But this plan was too risky; if it went wrong, he could be dragged down with it.
Liu Tiezhu didn't push further. He lit his cigarette and smoked quietly.
He knew Ming Jiacheng was weighing the consequences.
Pushing now would only make him seem suspicious.
The two smoked in silence until the cigarette was finished.
Ming Jiacheng stubbed out the butt and turned his gaze back to Liu Tiezhu.
"How sure are you about this plan?"
Liu Tiezhu replied seriously, "If Brother Ming gives me full support, I'm ninety percent sure."
Ninety percent sure?
Ming Jiacheng looked up, his eyes sharp as knives, staring straight into Liu Tiezhu's.
If Liu Tiezhu was lying, he'd catch it.
But Liu Tiezhu remained calm, meeting Ming Jiacheng's gaze without flinching.
After staring for dozens of seconds, Ming Jiacheng suddenly laughed.
"Brother Tiezhu is putting himself on the line. How could I not back you fully?"
"When the time comes, go ahead and stir things up. I'll stand firmly behind you."
With those words, Liu Tiezhu knew it was settled.
Ming Zhenglong and Ming Jiacheng were both handled. Now he had to figure out how to face Ming Tianfeng.
Leaving Jinyuan Pawnshop, Liu Tiezhu went straight back to the barracks.
When he returned to his quarters, Guo Qixing was already waiting inside.
"Brother Tiezhu, you're back. Here's what you asked for."
As he spoke, Guo Qixing pointed to the documents on the table.
Liu Tiezhu picked them up and smiled.
After reading through the three files in over ten minutes, he was secretly shocked.
He hadn't expected the Ming family's influence to be so vast, with businesses spread across the entire county.
Beyond that, the strength of the three Ming brothers stunned him.
The personnel Guo Qixing had investigated numbered over ten thousand.
And that was just the visible force of the three brothers.
If you added in the hidden operatives, it probably exceeded twenty thousand.
Liu Tiezhu put down the documents and said, "Brother Qixing, are these numbers accurate?"
"Brother Tiezhu, I was shocked too when I saw this."
"If you hadn't warned me earlier, I wouldn't have believed the Ming family had so many people."
"It looks like my Guo family's previous intelligence was worthless," Guo Qixing said.
In fact, when he got the data, he was even more stunned than Liu Tiezhu.
According to his original plan, once the Guo family had ten thousand men, he'd launch a full assault on the Ming family.
Now, that plan seemed like a joke.
The Ming family alone had over ten thousand visible members, and he had no idea how many were hidden.
If he'd attacked the Ming family as planned, the entire Guo family might have been wiped out.
"Keep digging deeper. Don't let us get caught off guard."
"Also, prepare a hundred men for me and hide them near the barracks."
"I might be in danger in the next few days."
In danger?
Guo Qixing was taken aback. "Is this trouble from Jiang Tianliang's three businesses?"
Liu Tiezhu nodded. "We hit their stronghold. They won't let us off easy."
Guo Qixing thought for a moment. "Should we strike first and take out Jiang Tianliang?"
Liu Tiezhu said, "No need. Jiang Tianliang is just a pawn. Killing him won't solve anything."
"This time, our real opponent is Ming Tianfeng."
"That bastard hasn't made a move yet, which means he's cooking up something bigger. I need to be careful."
Given Ming Tianfeng's usual style, he should have acted by now.
But so far, there's been no sign from him.
As the saying goes, when things are abnormal, there's a trick.
Ming Tianfeng's silence either meant he was ignoring it or plotting a bigger scheme.
Liu Tiezhu ruled out the first option.
That's why he asked Guo Qixing to prepare a hundred men, just in case.
Guo Qixing didn't waste words. He nodded and left to arrange it.
The Guo family's rise depended on Liu Tiezhu.
At this point, he'd do anything to keep Liu Tiezhu safe.
Not long after Guo Qixing left, Jiang Tianliang arrived at the barracks with Ming Tianfeng's steward, Chen Zhiqiang.
Seeing their grim faces, Liu Tiezhu knew the inevitable had come.
Enemies meeting face to face, eyes burning with hatred.
Jiang Tianliang glared at Liu Tiezhu, his murderous intent plain on his face.
Ever since he'd clashed with Liu Tiezhu, his life had gone downhill.
He'd lost the lucrative position of auditor and had several businesses shut down.
If not for some savings, he'd be down to eating plain bread.
All of this was Liu Tiezhu's doing.
"What's wrong, Captain Jiang? Someone die at home?"
Liu Tiezhu didn't hold back, hitting Jiang Tianliang where it hurt.
He'd never cared about Jiang Tianliang when he was an auditor.
Now Jiang Tianliang was just a captain of the Ming family's guard unit.
By rank, Jiang Tianliang should be smiling at him.
But Jiang Tianliang dared to act high and mighty, practically asking for a slap.
Jiang Tianliang couldn't take it. He pointed at Liu Tiezhu, ready to curse.
*Slap...*
Liu Tiezhu backhanded him across the face.
"Who the hell do you think you are, pointing at me?"
"You looking to die?"
Jiang Tianliang clutched his face, his eyes wide as saucers.
*Slap...*
Liu Tiezhu didn't hesitate, slapping him again.
"Can't take a little talk? Still glaring at me?"
Jiang Tianliang's face turned green, his lungs about to burst.
But remembering he was in the barracks and Liu Tiezhu's position, he gritted his teeth and swallowed his rage.
Chen Zhiqiang stepped forward and said coldly, "Chief Liu, aren't you going too far?"
"Captain Jiang is one of Second Master's men. Are you showing any respect to Second Master?"
"Oh, so he's one of Second Master's men. Why didn't you say so earlier? I'd have gone easier."
Liu Tiezhu's nonchalant attitude was downright arrogant.
"Fuck you, Liu Tiezhu! You've gone too far!"
Jiang Tianliang couldn't hold back and cursed.
*Slap...*
The moment the words left his mouth, Liu Tiezhu's palm hit his cheek, sending a few front teeth flying.
Before Jiang Tianliang could scream, Liu Tiezhu kicked him in the gut.
"Can't even act like a proper dog. You've wasted your life."