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

Li Hong hung up the phone and called Wang Jianming to his office.

"Director Wang, Director Chen called me earlier. He helped recommend me, the Party Secretary, and you, the Director. The Education Bureau's projects are mainly overseen by Secretary Liu and directed by Director Chen. We can't hold him back."

Wang Jianming nodded: "Yes, Director Chen has been a great help to me. Without him, I might still be struggling in Fushan Town."

"But the infrastructure in the Greater Bay Area, according to my preliminary calculations, will cost at least ten million, and no less. Where are we going to get that kind of money?"

Li Hong had already come up with a plan: "The special fund for new rural construction will reach 15 million yuan. First, use this money on the infrastructure of the Greater Bay Area. When we have more money, we can gradually make up the difference and connect the paved roads in these three administrative villages."

The villagers have been walking on dirt roads for years; they don't care about another year or two.

Wang Jianming was in a dilemma: "Secretary Li, this is a special fund allocated by the province. The document emphasizes that it cannot be misappropriated for other purposes. Secretary Liu and County Chief Zhang have repeatedly stressed in meetings that anyone who misappropriates the special fund for new rural construction will be dealt with seriously."

Later on, the province will conduct random inspections. If they happen to inspect our area, then there will be a big problem.

Li Hong said with a relaxed expression, "Policies are rigid, but people are flexible. The infrastructure in the Greater Bay Area only costs about ten million, right? The remaining five million can be used to develop new rural construction in the villages along the secondary highway. Villages far from the highway will not be developed for the time being, but will be arranged when we have more money."

The inspections conducted by higher authorities are mostly along highways; they don't go to remote villages.

At this point, Li Hong glanced at Wang Jianming, and seeing that he did not express his opinion, he continued, "Chengnan Subdistrict Office has always been one step ahead of Zhongshan Subdistrict Office. Zhao Xiongcai, the Party Secretary of Chengnan Subdistrict Office, has entered the Standing Committee of the County Party Committee. What is the difference between Zhongshan Subdistrict Office and Chengnan Subdistrict Office? Isn't it just that we can't catch up with them economically?"

As an economic development zone, the Greater Bay Area has attracted three key high schools, which has boosted its popularity and paved the way for our future investments. Before investors can come, we must first improve the infrastructure. Without water, electricity, and roads, who would dare to invest?

Once the Greater Bay Area Economic Development Zone is established, this will be a significant achievement for us. If we want to go further, we need to have some impressive achievements to show for it.

Director Chen is Secretary Liu's confidant. With his help in recommending us, and with our achievements to show for it, it's all perfectly reasonable. It would be hard not to get promoted then.

Everything involves risk, and Director Chen is no exception. If he messes up the project that Secretary Liu is in charge of, his career will probably be over.

Wang Jianming hadn't expected that Li Hong had a deeper meaning. He had never thought that he could go further and be promoted to the level of a full section chief. It was beyond his expectations.

When I was in Fushan Town, all I could think about was coming to the Public Security Bureau and becoming the captain of the Public Security Management Brigade.

Even if special funds for new rural construction are misappropriated and discovered during a random inspection, at worst, one will remain stagnant and can retain the rank of section chief. If the inspection is not conducted, the establishment of the Greater Bay Area Economic Development Zone will be a political achievement, laying a solid foundation for further advancement.

Within the system, no one doesn't want to improve.

Wang Jianming shrugged: "Secretary Li, I'll do as you say. Tell me how to do it, and I'll carry it out strictly."

Li Hong said with a serious expression, "Director Wang, this isn't just something I decided on; it's a decision we made together for the development of Zhongshan Subdistrict Office."

Wang Jianming thought to himself, "At this point, they're starting to shift the blame, afraid that I'll deny it later."

We're all in the same boat; if the boat sinks, nobody can escape.

He said in a heavy tone, "Yes, it was a decision we made together."

Li Hong nodded: "We'll be holding a meeting of the second-level leadership team later. You can raise this issue at the meeting, and I will support you."

The two reached a consensus, and any opposition from others was futile.

Two days later, Chen Shi sent Wang Zhikai to the Zhongshan Subdistrict Office to sign an infrastructure agreement. The agreement was signed smoothly, and Wang Jianming also guaranteed that construction would begin immediately to build the infrastructure and that the infrastructure in the Greater Bay Area would be completed before the project started.

Wang Zhikai was full of questions. Didn't they say they had no money? How come they have money after only two days?

He had to admire Chen Shi; if he were in charge, he could not have handled the matter so smoothly.

Chen Shi had always been dissatisfied with becoming the head of the Education Bureau, but from today onwards, he is completely convinced. He truly has the ability to turn the impossible into the possible, which is the absolute authority of the top leader.

The bidding documents were officially issued, and the formal bidding process began. Chen Shi welcomed the county leaders who had spoken to him to submit bids, but they failed the qualification review and were turned away.

A week after the tender documents were issued, only Mingzhou No. 1 Construction Group passed the review. Huang Ming came to Chen Shi's office with great anxiety.

"Director Chen, according to the bidding documents, the bidding companies must have fixed assets of 5 billion yuan. Isn't this requirement too high? So far, a week after the bidding documents were issued, only one company has passed the review for one bidding section. I'm afraid we won't be able to gather three companies, and if the bidding fails, it will waste time."

Chen Shi said confidently, "Don't worry, with a project, there's no need to worry about not having companies bidding. Companies that want to bid are still observing. This is a lucrative opportunity; the conditions are just a bit demanding, but they won't give it up."

Although it involves full upfront funding, I believe that companies with the capability will have at least three partners. Let things develop naturally, and don't panic.

We would rather have none than compromise on quality; we must hold our ground and not yield an inch.

Huang Ming breathed a sigh of relief. If the top leader isn't worried, why should I be? If something goes wrong, there are tall people to take the blame.

Chen Shi asked, "Which company has been approved? Have you looked into it?"

"Minnesota Construction Group is the largest private construction company in Minnesota. They have built many properties in Minnesota and their sales are very good."

In Yizhou, numerous office buildings have also been constructed, with fixed assets reaching over 8 billion yuan.

This surprised Chen Shi, as the company that passed the review was not a state-owned enterprise.

"There's even less to worry about. Mingzhou Construction hasn't even come yet, and state-owned enterprises haven't even stepped in. What are we panicking about? This is a project worth over two billion yuan. State-owned enterprises won't stand idly by."

Chen Shi looked at Huang Ming: "How many days are left until the registration deadline?"

"Ten days"

"It's still early. Do a good job of the review process. We must keep shell companies out, no matter who pleads on our behalf."

Huang Ming nodded: "Many leaders have come to me to plead for leniency. I asked them to submit the tender documents, but they said their qualifications didn't pass the review and asked if the standards could be lowered. I told them that the tender documents had to be reported to Secretary Liu and approved by him. If they lowered the standards on their own, they wouldn't be able to explain themselves to Secretary Liu."

Chen Shi nodded in satisfaction. Huang Ming was capable and efficient. He had the ability to bring up Secretary Liu and plead with him on Huang Ming's behalf.