The next day, Liu Tiezhu summoned Lin Changxing and told him to inform Jiang He that he had important intelligence to report. They would meet at Jiang He’s barracks in two hours.
The previous night, Liu Tiezhu had thought it over carefully and decided to drag Jiang He into the fray, stirring the muddy waters even further. This would not only dispel Jiang He and his two companions’ suspicions of him but also allow him to skim off another round of benefits.
After sending Lin Changxing off, Liu Tiezhu headed straight to the Ming family estate. Last night’s battle must have netted Ming Zhenglong a hefty haul, so it was time to go and claim his share. The garrison post Liu Tiezhu had pointed out to him held nearly two thousand men, meaning plenty of supplies. Beyond the provisions, those posts were sure to have military pay stored there. By wiping out those forces, Ming Zhenglong had not only dealt a severe blow to Ming Tianfeng but also raked in a fortune. He ought to give Liu Tiezhu a taste of the spoils.
Aside from collecting his due from Ming Zhenglong, Liu Tiezhu also needed to leverage Ming Zhenglong’s strength to keep suppressing Ming Tianfeng’s hidden enterprises. Only by continuing to lure Ming Zhenglong deeper into the scheme could he and Guo Qixing reap greater rewards.
Upon arriving at the Ming estate, the steward who received Liu Tiezhu had been replaced by Ming Lei, a man in his sixties with silver hair and eyes that gleamed with intelligence. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ming Lei led Liu Tiezhu into a side hall. Pouring him tea, Ming Lei asked him to wait a moment and then left.
This time, Liu Tiezhu waited a full half-hour before Ming Zhenglong showed up. Seeing the smile on Ming Zhenglong’s face, Liu Tiezhu knew he had made a killing the night before.
Sitting down, Ming Zhenglong handed Liu Tiezhu a cigarette. “Brother Tiezhu, my apologies for keeping you waiting.”
The previous night, he had reaped a bountiful harvest, not only winning over most of Ming Tianfeng’s men at minimal cost but also securing supplies worth over forty thousand. All of this was thanks to Liu Tiezhu’s accurate information. Seeing Liu Tiezhu again, he naturally had to treat this pawn with courtesy.
“No worries, I just got here myself,” Liu Tiezhu said, waving a hand as he took the cigarette and lit it.
After a few puffs, Liu Tiezhu continued, “Third Master, you had a good haul last night, didn’t you?”
Ming Zhenglong nodded in response. “Indeed, quite substantial. And it’s all thanks to the valuable intel you provided.” He understood full well why Liu Tiezhu had come. In his good mood, he had no intention of going back on his word. Besides, Ming Zhenglong knew that to keep someone like Liu Tiezhu working for him, mere talk wouldn’t cut it.
As he spoke, Ming Zhenglong produced a prepared bag. “Brother Tiezhu, I told you that if you work with me, I won’t let you suffer. There’s fifty thousand in here—my reward to you. On top of that, your monthly pay is being raised to five thousand.”
He had pocketed hundreds of thousands in spoils and gained nearly a thousand men. Dismissing Liu Tiezhu with a mere fifty thousand was a deal that, for him, was a massive profit.
“Thank you, Third Master,” Liu Tiezhu said without hesitation, taking the bag directly. His purpose in coming was the money; putting on airs would only arouse Ming Zhenglong’s suspicion. Fifty thousand, plus the previous one hundred twenty thousand—this large sum was enough to form a hundred-man squad and equip them with top-notch gear. But it was only enough for the initial phase. To fully improve the squad’s quality, physical fitness, and combat skills, he would need to keep pouring in money. He needed a team with combat effectiveness comparable to mercenaries.
Of course, training such a squad would require a colossal amount of funds. For now, the fastest source of money was the Ming family. Taking down Ming Tianfeng was just the first step in his plan.
Finishing his cigarette, Liu Tiezhu continued, “Third Master, what are your plans next?”
Hearing this, Ming Zhenglong paused and asked in return, “Brother Tiezhu, do you have a plan?”
Liu Tiezhu replied, “I don’t have a specific plan, but I think the current situation is the perfect time to take advantage of Ming Tianfeng. Why not seize the chance to finish him off? Otherwise, once he regains his strength, he’ll surely launch a vicious counterattack against you.”
Ming Zhenglong thought for a moment and said, “I’ve considered that, but Ming Jiacheng is watching like a hawk. If I fight Ming Tianfeng to the death, he’ll be the one to benefit.” He had indeed thought about striking while Ming Tianfeng was down, but he didn’t know how many hidden men Ming Tianfeng still had. If he went all out against Ming Tianfeng, Ming Jiacheng would surely reap the rewards.
“Third Master, isn’t it possible that Ming Jiacheng also wants to take Ming Tianfeng’s life while he’s vulnerable? I heard that last night, Ming Jiacheng attacked several of Ming Tianfeng’s other posts too.”
Ming Zhenglong was taken aback. “What do you mean?”
Liu Tiezhu said, “I think Third Master could talk to Ming Jiacheng. Since your goals align, why not cooperate for once?”
Ming Zhenglong frowned, mulling over Liu Tiezhu’s words. Liu Tiezhu’s analysis was correct—both he and Ming Jiacheng wanted Ming Tianfeng dead. Once Ming Tianfeng was eliminated, neither would have to worry about a third party profiting from their conflict. With Ming Tianfeng’s visible forces wiped out, this was the best time to strike. If they missed it and Ming Tianfeng recovered, the situation would shift again.
After a few minutes of deliberation, Ming Zhenglong nodded. “Your idea is feasible. I’ll send someone to negotiate with Ming Jiacheng. Also, the troops I assigned to you are stationed in the western suburbs. Take some time to meet them. If you need them to gather intelligence, just say the word.”
As he spoke, Ming Zhenglong handed Liu Tiezhu a token. “This is the signet to command them. Their captain is Chen Hailang, and I’ve already briefed him. With this token, you can assign them tasks whenever you need.”
Liu Tiezhu took the token, but his mind was elsewhere. This squad, ostensibly under his command, was actually a means for Ming Zhenglong to keep tabs on him. Whenever he gave them orders, they would surely report back to Ming Zhenglong in secret. Still, Liu Tiezhu had already thought of a countermeasure. If Ming Zhenglong wanted to spy on him this way, he could simply keep the squad “busy” all the time.
Now that Ming Zhenglong had agreed to cooperate with Ming Jiacheng, everything was proceeding according to plan, which relieved Liu Tiezhu. After a few more casual remarks, Liu Tiezhu, thinking about the trap he still needed to set for Jiang He, made an excuse to leave.
After Liu Tiezhu departed, Ming Lei walked back into the side hall. Ming Zhenglong handed him a cigarette. “Elder Lei, is this kid’s plan feasible?”
Taking the cigarette, Ming Lei asked in return, “Third Master, do you trust this kid?”
Ming Zhenglong lit a cigarette, took a few puffs, and said, “I wouldn’t say I trust him, but so far, the men I’ve sent to watch him haven’t found anything unusual.”
Ming Lei replied, “In that case, Third Master might as well give the kid’s plan a try. Of course, we still need to be wary of Ming Jiacheng—don’t let us capsize in the gutter.”