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

Chen Shi arrived at Zhang Xiangdong's office with a smile: "County Magistrate Zhang..."

Zhang Xiangdong put down the documents in his hand: "Even if you hadn't come to me, I would have come to you. So don't sit down, stand up and report. Report what I don't know, and don't report what I do know."

Chen Shi understood that he was being asked to report on how he would carry out his work and change the poor results of this year's college entrance examination.

After thinking for a moment, he solemnly said, "County Chief Zhang, I'm not taking the blame for the poor results in this year's college entrance examination. I've only been at the Education Bureau for less than half a year, and I'm cleaning up Li Changming's mess."

Zhang Xiangdong snorted coldly: "Did I say that this year's college entrance examination results being at the bottom is your responsibility?"

Chen Shi smiled apologetically: "No, I was afraid you would say it was my fault later, so I said it in advance."

"Stop talking nonsense. No one will blame you for how you did on the exams this year. If it's the same next year, you can quit being the director of the Education Bureau."

Chen Shi said, "Secretary Liu talked to me earlier and made me make a pledge that next year's college entrance examination results would improve from third to last to sixth place."

Zhang Xiangdong said solemnly, "You agreed."

Chen Shi looked troubled and said, "I can't refuse. If I don't agree, Secretary Liu will think I lack the courage and ability to shoulder important responsibilities, and he might remove me from my post this year."

"I agreed. At least I still have a year to figure out a solution."

Zhang Xiangdong pointed at Chen Shi: "You young lad, you're fearless and dare to promise anything. This is a military order, not child's play. If you can't fulfill it, the consequences will be severe, understand?"

Chen Shi nodded heavily.

Zhang Xiangdong continued, "Changing the poor college entrance examination results in Chunyang County is not something that can be done overnight. You actually agreed to Secretary Liu's request and made a pledge, so you must have some ideas in mind. Tell me, I'm all ears."

Chen Shi didn't have any particular thoughts; he was forced into a corner, so he agreed first and planned to figure out a solution later.

He forced a smile: "County Chief Zhang, do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"

Zhang Xiangdong glared at Chen Shi: "Tell the truth."

"The truth is I have no idea right now. Secretary Liu made me sign a pledge, and I had no choice. I'm going to die either way, so I might as well die later and maybe I can find a way to come back to life."

Zhang Xiangdong leaned back in his chair, stared at Chen Shi, and said sternly, "You have no political experience at all. The leader asked you to sign a pledge, and you dared to do so without any thought in your mind."

Even if you have ten thoughts in your mind, you can only make a five-fold pledge to your leader. Don't you know that promises made to your leader must be fulfilled without fail, and you know the consequences if you fail to do so?

If your boss makes a promise and doesn't keep it, will you still be loyal to them in the future?

Chen Shi was taking things one step at a time and didn't think too much about it: "County Chief Zhang, I'll go down and find a way to fulfill my military order."

Zhang Xiangdong pondered to himself that Chen Shi was now a section-level cadre, so there was nothing wrong with him doing things this way. Liu Youguang just wanted to put some pressure on him and didn't expect him to actually complete the task.

Moving up the ranks to deputy director level and above, Chen Shi's approach wouldn't work. It's too reckless. You can't make definitive statements in front of your superiors, leaving yourself no room to maneuver.

At that time, the power of speech will be in the hands of the leader; whether or not to use it will be up to the leader's whim.

Zhang Xiangdong's tone softened: "Don't just stand there. Go back and submit a plan for next year's college entrance examination. Don't make any empty promises. If you make a promise, you must keep it. You must do what you say."

"As long as next year's undergraduate enrollment rate is higher than this year's, you, as the director of the education bureau, will be considered qualified."

Chen Shi understood Zhang Xiangdong's meaning: this year's undergraduate rate was 15.7%, and when making plans, next year's undergraduate rate would be considered satisfactory as long as it exceeded 15.7%.

"Zhang County, I'm going back."

"Let's go, don't forget to report to your supervisor, County Chief Gao."

Chen Shi left Zhang Xiangdong's office and called Zhang Song.

"Secretary Zhang, this is Chen Shi. Is Gao County available? I'm in the government office and would like to come and report to Gao County."

Zhang Song smiled and said, "Director Chen, you're in the government office. Come to my office first, I'll go report to County Chief Gao."

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Song went to Gao Rong's office: "County Chief Gao, Director Chen is in the government office and wants to report to you."

Gao Rong thought to himself that Chen Shi's visit to report to him was just a formality, and the poor results of this year's college entrance examination had nothing to do with him.

"Have him come to my office."

Zhang Song walked out of his office and saw Chen Shi waiting at the door of his office, so he quickly went over to him.

"Director Chen, County Chief Gao wants you to go to his office."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Thank you, Secretary Zhang."

Chen Shi arrived at Gao Rong's office: "County Chief Gao..."

Gao Rong stood up with a broad smile to greet him: "Director Chen, please have a seat."

The two sat down in the reception room. Zhang Song followed them in, poured Chen Shi a cup of tea, and then left the office.

Chen Shi said with a heavy expression, "County Chief Gao, I've come to apologize to you. This year's college entrance examination results were very poor, with an undergraduate admission rate of 15.7%, a decrease of 5.3 percentage points from last year."

Kao Jung said softly, "Director Chen, you've been with the Education Bureau for less than six months. This year's college entrance exam results have nothing to do with you. Just do well next year."

Chen Shi still looked grave: "County Chief Gao, no matter what, I am the director of the Education Bureau. This year's college entrance examination results are the worst in Mingzhou, so I bear the responsibility. Please criticize me, County Chief Gao."

Gao Rong cursed Chen Shi in his heart. "If you say that, I also bear responsibility. I am the deputy county head in charge of education. If anyone should be criticized, it is me."

He still had a smile on his face: "Director Chen, if you put it that way, the one who should be criticized is me, the deputy county head in charge of education, not you."

Chen Shi thought to himself, "You know you're the deputy county head in charge of education, and you can't help at all. Who else should I criticize if not you?"

Gao Rong thought to himself, "Do you even consider me your supervisor? Relying on Liu Youguang and Zhang Xiangdong's backing, you completely disregard me, the deputy county head in charge of education."

Liu Youguang's influence is too great; I can't control him even if I want to, and nobody listens to me.

Chen Shi smiled and said, "County Chief Gao, you are my supervisor. Your criticism is also a way of teaching me how to improve the teaching quality in Chunyang County. I have been at the Education Bureau for less than half a year, and there is a lot to learn. Please guide me on how to improve the teaching quality in Chunyang County."

Gao Rong said calmly, "Director Chen, you are the head of the Education Bureau. The education of Chunyang County depends on you. How to improve the teaching quality? You should visit Mingzhou No. 1 High School and learn from their teaching level. High schools from other cities send students to Mingzhou No. 1 High School to learn every year, and even students from other provinces come. We are right here, yet we have not gone to Mingzhou No. 1 High School to learn from their teaching level."

Chen Shi sneered inwardly. As the deputy county head in charge of education, don't you know how weak the students' foundation is in Chunyang County? The students at Mingzhou No. 1 Middle School are all top students. How can they learn from their teaching level?

He still had a smile on his face: "What County Chief Gao said is very true. We'll organize a trip to Mingzhou No. 1 Middle School for study later."

Gao Rong smiled broadly: "Mingzhou No. 1 Middle School is providing one-on-one support to the newly built No. 6 Middle School. This is a great opportunity to learn from their management methods and teaching standards. I believe that education in Chunyang County will experience a qualitative leap."