The game of power begins with the police officers at the local police station.

Chen Shi found only good tea in the drawer. He glanced at the leftover tea on the tea table and took out a packet of the same kind.

If your boss tells you to take whatever you want, you can't actually take what you like to drink; you have to take what your boss is used to drinking.

Chen Shi worked quickly and efficiently, boiling water, washing teaware, and brewing tea, and poured a cup of tea for Liu Youguang and Zhang Xiangdong.

Liu Youguang took a sip of tea; it tasted familiar. He put down his teacup and asked, "Xiang Dong, with so many people going in from your Public Security Bureau, have all the positions been filled?"

Zhang Xiangdong glanced at Chen Shi: "County Chief Liu, this kid is asking for an exorbitant amount. He's arranged for people to fill all the vacant positions in the Public Security Bureau."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "County Chief Liu, Director Zhang, the people I recommended have all made great contributions and are heroes in the fight against organized crime. Such people's police officers should be promoted and given important positions."

Liu Youguang became interested: "Tell me more specifically, how many people did you recommend, and what positions did they hold?"

"Liu Feng and Wang Tao from the Public Security Management Brigade are my capable assistants. They follow me into danger. I recommend them to serve as deputy captains of the Public Security Management Brigade."

"The Public Security Management Brigade now has several deputy captains."

"One went in, only one vice-captain."

Liu Youguang nodded, signaling Chen Shi to continue.

"Zhang Hu and Wang Haiyang from the Criminal Investigation Brigade made great contributions by arresting Fu Biao and finding evidence. The two deputy captains of the Criminal Investigation Brigade were protectors of organized crime and have both been arrested. We recommend them to be appointed as deputy captains."

Li Li, a member of the traffic police brigade, actively cooperated in the arrest of Fu Biao, blocking the entrances and exits of the Da Shi Jie dance hall and making a great contribution. Coincidentally, there was a vacancy for a deputy captain in the traffic police brigade, so he was recommended to take over the position.

The head of the Political Work Section, who was a protector of organized crime, was taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission, leaving the position vacant. The deputy head, Xu Ping'an, cooperated with our operation this time, overseeing the work in the bureau. Without him, we could not have so smoothly eliminated the organized crime team represented by Fu Cheng.

It was only natural to recommend him to take over as head of the political work section.

"Is this Xu Ping'an the nephew of Xu Sanduo, the secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission?" Liu Youguang asked.

Zhang Xiangdong nodded: "He's not only Xu Sanduo's nephew, but also this kid's classmate."

Liu Youguang laughed and said, "You certainly know how to recommend people."

"We shouldn't avoid favoritism when appointing people. He has made great contributions, and we can't not promote him just because he's my classmate," Chen Shi said with a fawning smile.

"If Xu Ping'an wants to promote someone, we can give Xu Sanduo some face. He's currently remaining neutral and not helping anyone. In fact, the scales have already tipped in our favor. His nephew is now one of ours." Liu Youguang looked at Chen Shi with admiration: "Well done, you've brought us an ally."

Chen Shi knew that Xu Sanduo's neutrality and Xu Ping'an's taking sides were essentially Chen Shi's own actions. In crucial moments, he should help Xu Sanduo, or at least not stand on the opposite side and make things difficult for Chen Shi.

Liu Youguang took a cigarette from the cigarette case on the table and just as he put it to his lips, Chen Shi quickly took out a lighter and lit it.

Liu Youguang took a drag of his cigarette and said slowly, "These people you recommended do deserve promotion. They're all just section-level cadres, not up to par."

Chen Shi thought to himself, "You're just a county magistrate, of course you look down on these insignificant officials, but in the eyes of ordinary people, they are the pursuit of a lifetime."

Liu Youguang looked at Chen Shi: "Those who followed you have all been promoted. Don't you, the great hero of the anti-gang campaign, want a promotion too?"

"I do want to," Chen Shi chuckled.

"Why didn't you ask Director Zhang for the vacant deputy director position?"

Chen Shi's eyes lit up. Could it be that he was going to be promoted and take over the position that Song Youming had left vacant?

Zhang Xiangdong chimed in, "You're still not bold enough. You don't want what you should. This deputy director has a lot of power; he's in charge of both the public security management brigade and the criminal investigation brigade."

Chen Shi gritted his teeth, knowing he couldn't miss this opportunity: "County Magistrate Liu, Director Zhang, is it too late for me to ask now?"

Zhang Xiangdong looked at Liu Youguang, who smiled and said, "There's still time. The candidate hasn't been decided yet. We're not forcing you; it's your own choice."

Overjoyed at this good news, Chen Shi immediately stood up and saluted Liu Youguang and Zhang Xiangdong.

"I will never forget the kindness and support of the two leaders. I will definitely complete the mission and wipe out the criminal gangs in Chunyang County."

Liu Youguang nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. Make a pledge. If you can't keep it, I'll dismiss you from your post."

You old fool, I was just saying it casually, and you took it seriously. You forced yourself to say, "I guarantee I'll complete the task. If I can't, I'll resign without waiting for County Chief Liu to be dismissed."

Zhang Xiangdong and Liu Youguang exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.

Chen Shi felt that he had been tricked by these two old men, but he had no evidence.

Liu Youguang waved his hand: "Sit down. Sign a pledge, and this is no joke. If you fail to complete the mission, I will dismiss you from your post."

Chen Shi sat down and then made tea for the two of them.

Liu Youguang looked at Zhang Xiangdong: "Xiangdong, this crackdown on organized crime has dismantled many protective umbrellas, leaving many positions vacant. I recommend you to Secretary Wang to take over as the executive deputy county head and enter the county party committee standing committee. At the standing committee meeting, we can get another vote."

Secretary Wang said that there shouldn't be a big problem, but you can no longer serve as the director of the Public Security Bureau.

I saw that Hu Hai was also active in the city. I heard from Secretary Wang that he recommended Lei Heng to take over as the director of the Public Security Bureau and concurrently serve as the deputy county head.

If Secretary Wang disagrees, Mayor Yang will also disagree with your entry into the Standing Committee of the County Party Committee and your appointment as Executive Deputy County Head.

Zhang Xiangdong nodded: "Political struggles always involve compromise and progress. As long as the Public Security Bureau is properly arranged, even if Lei Heng becomes the director, he can't control everything and run a one-man show."

"Xiang Dong, I'd like to hear your plans."

"With Lei Heng appointed as the director and Lao Song concurrently serving as the executive deputy director, plus this kid, the party committee can keep Lei Heng in check at the bureau's party committee meetings. Deputy Director Zhu Jianming is about to retire; he doesn't help either side and plays the good guy in the middle, so he can be ignored."

Liu Youguang thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll tell Secretary Wang that this matter is settled. At the Standing Committee meeting, we are outnumbered and outmatched, so you must be included."

Listening to their conversation, Chen Shi realized it truly reflected a popular saying: "Hold big meetings for small matters, small meetings for big matters, and no meetings for important matters."

Such important leadership positions—a member of the county party committee standing committee, the executive deputy county head, and a public security bureau chief who also serves as deputy county head—were decided in just a few words.

Zhang Xiangdong looked at Chen Shi: "You brat, don't you have anything to say?"

"Director Zhang, your idea is brilliant. With Political Commissar Song concurrently serving as Executive Deputy Director, the two of us working together will definitely be able to suppress Lei Heng and ensure that the work of the bureau proceeds in a way that is in our favor."

Chen Shi thought for a moment: "If I take over as deputy director, who will take over as the head of the public security management team?"

"This requires the bureau chief's recommendation, discussion at the bureau's party committee meeting to determine the candidate, and then recommendation to the county government and the organization department," Zhang Xiangdong explained.

Chen Shi nodded, confident that the person chosen to take over the public security management brigade was one of his own.