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

At 3 p.m. sharp, the Party Committee meeting of the Bureau was held.

Chen Shi asked Yang Xiaobo to print out four copies of the plan that Huang Ming had prepared, and to place one copy next to each of the four attendees.

Chen Shi said solemnly, "Director Huang worked overtime for a week to finish the plan. Take a look."

Here, I want to especially commend Director Huang for his enthusiasm for his work. As a high-ranking executive deputy director, newly married, he persisted in working overtime for a week to complete the plan. Such enthusiasm is something we should all learn from.

Wang Zhikai and Li Zhe looked up at Huang Ming, then glanced at the contents of the plan. It was very detailed and could be submitted directly as a report to the county party committee and county government for review.

Chen Shi lit a cigarette and waited for Wang Zhikai and Li Zhe to review the proposal.

The meeting room fell silent. After four or five minutes, Chen Shi asked, "Director Wang, Director Li, have you reviewed the plan? Do you have anything to add?"

Li Zhe smiled and said, "Director Huang is truly remarkable. This plan is very detailed. I think it can be submitted directly to the county party committee and county government for review as a report."

Seeing that the two had no objections, Chen Shi said loudly, "Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, I will have Director Yang notify the principals of the four middle schools, as well as the members of the secondary leadership team, to convene a director's office meeting to solicit everyone's opinions and to compile this plan into a report as soon as possible for submission to the county party committee and county government for review."

Next comes the personnel issue, which is always a key topic at every Party Group meeting.

Chen Shi glanced at the three men, then fixed his gaze on Huang Ming, signaling him to address the personnel issue.

Huang Ming said loudly, "Comrade Ma Guanghui, the head of the Basic Education Section, often makes mistakes due to drinking and is careless. The work of the Basic Education Section is quite meticulous and cannot be taken lightly. I propose that Comrade Ma Guanghui be removed from the position of head of the Basic Education Section and that a responsible comrade take over."

Wang Zhikai and Li Zhe exchanged a glance. They were trying to establish their authority so quickly. Ma Guanghui's cousin was Ma Chunlan, the secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission. Ma Guanghui had connections. They were going straight to Ma Guanghui. Chen Shi and Huang Ming were quite bold. They weren't afraid of offending Ma Chunlan.

Chen Shi looked at Wang Zhikai and Li Zhe: "Director Wang, Director Li, do you have any different opinions on Director Huang's proposal?"

Wang Zhikai felt this was an opportunity to curry favor with Ma Chunlan, and said in a deep voice, "Director Chen, I have a different opinion. Section Chief Ma is a responsible person. She likes to drink a little alcohol sometimes, but as long as she strictly controls herself and doesn't drink during work hours, it's not a big deal."

Section Chief Ma has served as the head of the Basic Education Section for two or three years without making any mistakes. This unjustified dismissal will cause panic among the lower-level leadership team members, making them unable to concentrate on their work and creating unnecessary trouble for the Education Bureau's work this year.

Not wanting to offend either side, Li Zhe played coy: "The work of the Basic Education Section is meticulous, and Section Chief Ma has done a good job overall in the past two years. If there is a more suitable candidate, it is acceptable to switch them."

Make proper arrangements for Section Chief Ma's whereabouts to avoid affecting the work.

After listening to Wang Zhikai and Li Zhe's statements, Chen Shi solemnly said, "Director Huang is in charge of the Basic Education Section, and his proposal is the most convincing. I support the removal of Comrade Ma Guanghui from his position as head of the Basic Education Section."

As for Comrade Ma Guanghui's future, the Shangying Town Central School is short of a vice principal, so Comrade Ma Guanghui will be transferred to fill the position.

Chen Shi looked at Huang Ming: "Director Huang, you are in charge of the Basic Education Section. Who do you think would be suitable to serve as the section chief?"

Huang Minglang said loudly, "The work of the Basic Education Section is meticulous, and it requires a patient person to take on the role. It would be best if a female colleague were chosen, as she is more patient than a male colleague. Li Jing, the deputy head of the Personnel and Teacher Resources Section, is conscientious and responsible, and she would be a suitable candidate to serve as the head of the Basic Education Section."

Chen Shi asked, "Director Wang, Director Li, what are your opinions on the candidates proposed by Director Huang?"

Wang Zhikai thought to himself, "I have voiced different opinions on the matter of Ma Guanghui's dismissal. I have offended Chen Shi. I will continue to offend him. I can no longer agree with Chen Shi."

Wang Zhikai looked at Yang Xiaobo, a plan forming in his mind, and slowly said, "Director Chen, Comrade Li Jing is a good and suitable candidate to take over as the head of the Basic Education Section. However, the work of the Basic Education Section is complicated and the workload is heavy. Female comrades have limited energy, so it would be better to let a male comrade with energy take over the position."

Director Yang Xiaobo has worked in the Party and Government Office for many years and is meticulous and responsible in his work. I think he is more suitable than Li Jing for the position of head of the Basic Education Section.

Yang Xiaobo broke out in a cold sweat. Wang Zhikai was setting him up, making Chen Shi suspect that he was one of his men. In fact, Diao Kuan, the deputy director of the Party and Government Office, was Wang Zhikai's man.

Chen Shi had only been in the bureau for a short time and was not yet familiar with the situation. If he had any doubts, he would feel at ease knowing that the position of director of the Party and Government Office was important and needed to be filled by someone he could absolutely trust.

Yang Xiaobo's hand holding the pen trembled slightly. Wang Zhikai was too insidious. He looked at Chen Shi, who remained expressionless, wondering if Chen Shi would fall for his trick.

If he were to be transferred to the Basic Education Section to take over as section chief, Diao Kuan, as deputy director of the Party and Government Office, would have the opportunity to succeed him as director of the Party and Government Office.

At the Party Group meeting, I am not a member of the Party Group, so I have no right to speak and am just an outsider recording the meeting.

Everyone turned their attention to Yang Xiaobo. Chen Shi thought to himself, Yang Xiaobo's overall performance was not bad, so he couldn't possibly be one of Wang Zhikai's men.

He was so certain for two reasons. First, Yang Xiaobo was indeed Wang Zhikai's man. With such a trusted confidant monitoring his every move, how could he have transferred him away from such an important position?

Secondly, Wang Zhikai is cunning and wouldn't be foolish enough to expose himself. He's trying to sow discord and make Yang Xiaobo suspicious. No leader would keep someone they don't trust by their side.

Having figured all this out, Chen Shi looked at Li Zhe: "Director Li, do you have any different opinions?"

Li Jing and Li Zhe had a good relationship, so he was happy to do this favor.

"Director Chen, I agree to appoint Comrade Li Jing as the head of the Basic Education Section. Women are more meticulous and patient than men. As for the heavy workload, it can be assigned to subordinates. She just needs to oversee things properly."

Chen Shi had considered replacing Yang Xiaobo, the director of the Party and Government Office, since Yang was, after all, a man of the former director Li Changming.

Having only been in the bureau for a short time and not knowing the people there, he noticed that his trusted confidants had already been promoted in the Public Security Bureau and were now deputy section-level cadres. He felt that no one wanted to be transferred to the Education Bureau to serve as section-level cadres, and he himself would not do so.

Li Changming has left the education system to become the vice chairman of the National People's Congress. He will retire in a few years. If Yang Xiaobo wants to advance further, he can only cling to Li Changming's coattails.

Chen Shi decided not to replace Yang Xiaobo. He had been in the Education Bureau for many years and was quite familiar with him. He could treat Yang Xiaobo as his eyes and ears and keep track of everything in the bureau.

He glanced at the three people and said solemnly, "The Party Group meeting is a meeting of democratic centralism, not a one-man show for me. Everyone has the right to express their thoughts. Since we don't agree on anything right now, I'll share my opinion."

Director Huang is in charge of the Personnel and Teacher Resources Section. He knows the section chief better than we do. I agree with Director Huang's suggestion to appoint Li Jing as the head of the Basic Education Section.

Chen Shi looked at Yang Xiaobo: "Director Yang, please take notes. If there are any differing opinions, we will vote by raising our hands."

The first item on the vote is to remove Comrade Ma Guanghui from his position as head of the Basic Education Section and transfer him to Shangying Town Central School as vice principal. Those who agree, please raise your hands.

Huang Ming was the first to raise his hand, followed by Li Zhe. Chen Shi then raised his hand: "Three votes in favor, the first item passes."

Wang Zhikai remained expressionless, his arms crossed over his chest.

Chen Shi continued, "For the second item on the vote, please raise your hand if you agree to appoint Comrade Li Jing, the deputy head of the Personnel and Teacher Resources Section, as the new head of the Basic Education Section."

Huang Ming was the first to raise his hand, followed by Li Zhe, and then Chen Shi: "Three votes in favor, the second item passes."

Chen Shi looked at Yang Xiaobo: "Director Yang, go and distribute the appointment and dismissal documents."

Yang Xiaobo's heart, which had been in his throat, finally settled down.