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

Hold small meetings for important matters, large meetings for minor matters, and no meetings for crucial matters.

On the second day after Chen Shi took office, he convened the first Party Group meeting of the Bureau, which was held in a small conference room.

Those attending the meeting were Huang Ming, Wang Zhikai, and Li Zhe, members of the Party Leadership Group of the Bureau.

Chen Shi sat at the front of the round table conference room, with Huang Ming to his left and Wang Zhikai and Li Zhe to his right.

Chen Shi said solemnly, "Today we are holding a Party Group meeting to discuss the division of responsibilities."

A new year brings a new atmosphere. Secretary Liu places great importance on education. Chunyang County's education ranks near the bottom in the entire Mingzhou region; for over a decade, not a single student has been admitted to Tsinghua or Peking University.

Wang Zhikai and Li Zhe exchanged a glance. Chen Shi had set the tone for the meeting. Li Zhe didn't care; the department under his supervision had already reached its limit and there was no room for further reduction.

Wang Zhikai thought to himself that he was probably going to lose his position in the personnel and faculty department.

Chen Shi glanced at the three of them and said, "What good ideas do you have for education in Chunyang County? Speak them out and we'll discuss them together. If they're feasible, we'll put them into a written report and submit it to the county party committee and county government."

Wang Zhikai looked at Li Zhe, and Li Zhe looked at Huang Ming. The three of them exchanged glances. Wang Zhikai chose to remain silent, and Li Zhe, unaware of Chen Shi's preferences, dared not speak rashly.

Huang Ming knew that Chen Shi had come to the Education Bureau to implement sweeping reforms, and as a qualified subordinate, he had to convey his leader's thoughts.

He glanced at Wang Zhikai and Li Zhe, then looked at Chen Shi: "Director Chen, I have an idea. Education in Chunyang County is backward, especially high school education. The main reason is that it is too scattered. No. 1 Middle School is in the county seat, No. 2 Middle School is in Huangchang Town, No. 3 Middle School is in Fushan Town, and No. 4 Middle School is in Shangying Town. The schools are scattered and not concentrated, and the teaching staff is weak. High-level teachers are unwilling to go to the townships to teach."

Judging from past college entrance examination results, very few students from No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 high schools can get into undergraduate programs each year; they are mostly college graduates.

To change the backward state of education in Chunyang County, the three township high schools should be closed and moved to the county seat, and three key high schools should be rebuilt and concentrated in the county seat for easier management.

Regarding teachers, they are assessed, and those who fail the assessment are all reassigned to teach in junior high or primary schools.

We will re-recruit graduates from prestigious normal universities to supplement the teaching staff and improve the overall quality of teachers.

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Director Huang's idea is excellent. I think we can develop a feasibility plan based on your idea, submit it to the county party committee and county government for review, and once approved, we can immediately begin closing down the three township high schools and rebuilding three key high schools in the county seat, supplementing the teaching staff."

He looked at Wang Zhikai and Li Zhe: "Director Wang, Director Li, tell me your thoughts."

Wang Zhikai sneered inwardly. The kids haven't even grown up yet, and as soon as they take office, they want to close down three high schools in the townships and rebuild three key high schools in the county seat. Putting aside everything else, where will the money come from?

Chunyang County has a serious fiscal deficit; where would it get the money to build three key high schools?

"Director Chen, this is a big deal. Let's listen to the suggestions of the four high school principals."

The annual government allocation to the education bureau is severely insufficient. Ultimately, the backwardness of education in Chunyang County stems from a lack of funds. Low teacher salaries discourage highly qualified teachers from teaching in Chunyang County.

Chen Shi said loudly, "Director Wang, you don't need to worry about the funding. Secretary Liu attaches great importance to education, and we can apply for an increase in funding for the school."

Wang Zhikai pondered whether Chen Shi had received Liu Youguang's support to come to the Education Bureau to preside over the reforms.

Suddenly realizing that Huang Ming was Liu Youguang's secretary, the fact that Huang Ming was sent to assist Chen Shi explained everything.

I was really slow to react. My mind was focused on becoming the head of the Education Bureau. I failed the competition and didn't do enough research on Chen Shi's appointment as the head of the Education Bureau.

Chen Shi continued, "Since everyone has no objections, Director Huang will be in charge of implementing the plan to abolish the three township high schools and rebuild three key high schools in the county seat. The plan should be put into practice and documented in writing. We will first convene the principals of the four high schools to discuss it together before submitting it to the county party committee and county government."

Wang Zhikai and Li Zhe exchanged a glance, somewhat bewildered. Such a big matter, decided so hastily—wasn't that a bit too hasty?

Building a key high school with about 10,000 students, covering an area of ​​about 300 acres, would cost at least 800 to 900 million yuan. Three high schools would cost nearly 3 billion yuan. Can Chunyang County afford to come up with that much money?

In 2011, Chunyang County's GDP was only over 13 billion yuan.

Seeing that Chen Shi had decided on the plan, the two could only keep their thoughts to themselves and dared not voice any objections.

The second item on the agenda was the division of responsibilities.

Chen Shi said loudly, "The new year brings heavy workload. When I took office, Secretary Liu and County Chief Zhang both talked to me, emphasizing that we must prioritize education and never neglect it, no matter how poor we are."

In addition to centralized schooling, basic education should also be given more attention. A tall building starts from the ground up. Only by laying a solid foundation can one achieve great things in high school.

The three of you will also join me in taking on the responsibility of making some adjustments to the departments you are in charge of.

Director Huang, you are responsible for overseeing the Personnel and Teacher Resources Section, the Finance Section, the Basic Education Section, and the Supervision Office.

Wang Zhikai's face clearly darkened. What did this mean? As soon as he took office, he transferred all the personnel and teacher training departments, basic education departments, and supervision offices under his jurisdiction to Huang Ming. What was left for him to manage?

Even if they are dissatisfied, they dare not object; this is the right of the top leader.

Chen Shi continued, "Director Wang, you are in charge of the Vocational Education and Adult Education Section, the Safety Management Office, and the Physical Education, Health and Arts Section."

Director Li, you are in charge of the Admissions and Examination Office, the Educational Technology Equipment Station, and the Student Financial Aid Management Center.

Li Zhe didn't care; he would still be in charge of those departments, but by transferring the safety management office to Wang Zhikai, he had reduced his workload.

A deputy director's power comes from the work they are in charge of; the more important the work they are in charge of, the more power the deputy director wields.

In the Education Bureau, besides the director, Wang Zhikai's words carried weight. This weight came from the work he was in charge of. Now that Chen Shi had reassigned him, he and Li Zhe were nothing. Huang Ming's status rose sharply, firmly surpassing the two of them.

Chen Shi looked at Yang Xiaobo, who was sitting alone to the side taking notes: "Director Yang, distribute the division of labor among the three deputy directors to the entire bureau."

Yang Xiaobo quickly replied, "Yes, Director Chen."

Wang Zhi felt very uncomfortable. He could have been the director, but now even the deputy director's power was not guaranteed. His face darkened without any attempt to hide it. He thought to himself, "Chen Shi, you're just an outsider. Let's see what you can do. Even with Liu Youguang protecting you, the Education Bureau is a stagnant place that can't be changed so easily. We'll wait and see."

Seeing that Chen Shi had Liu Youguang's support, Li Zhe's face beamed with a smile: "Director Chen, I would like to make a statement: I fully support the closure of the three township high schools and the reconstruction of three key high schools in the county seat. I will strictly implement every decision of the Party Committee meeting of the Bureau and ensure the completion of the assigned tasks."

Chen Shi nodded in satisfaction. As for Wang Zhikai, who are you trying to impress with that long face?

He said in a deep voice, "Meeting adjourned."