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

In the afternoon, Chen Shi called Xu Mo while he was at work.

Chen County

"Secretary Xu, is Secretary Zhang free? I'd like to report on my work."

"Chen County, please wait half an hour before coming over. Zhang County is receiving leaders from the Municipal Party Committee's Organization Department."

"Okay, thank you, Secretary Xu."

Chen Shi waited for more than forty minutes before going to the county committee and arriving at Xu Mo's office.

Xu Mo stood up to greet him: "County Chief Chen, the leaders from the Municipal Party Committee's Organization Department just left. You can go over now."

Chen Shi thanked Xu Mo and turned to walk towards Zhang Xiangdong's office.

Upon arriving at Zhang Xiangdong's office, Chen Shi greeted him with a smile: "Secretary..."

Zhang Xiangdong glanced at his watch: "We're having a meeting soon, so I'll give you ten minutes to report on your work."

Chen Shi sat down in the chair: "Secretary, I want to replace the director of the Transportation Bureau. I want Liu Feng, the deputy director of the County Party Committee Office, to take over."

Zhang Xiangdong looked at Chen Shi: "Explain your reasons."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Secretary, I won't lie to you. Liu Feng has been following me in the Public Security Bureau. He came to me yesterday, wanting to go to the Transportation Bureau. I happen to be in charge of the Transportation Bureau, so I feel at ease with him there."

Zhang Xiangdong was also considering how to use Liu Feng. Liu Feng was Liu Youguang's secretary, and he was unlikely to give Liu Feng an important position.

Liu Feng is occupying the position of deputy director of the county party committee office. He needs to be transferred to make room for Xu Mo to take over the position.

There's an unwritten rule in the county party committee office that the secretary's secretary is always the deputy director of the county party committee office.

A leader's secretary is an absolute confidant, and they definitely need to be given benefits. Without benefits, they won't wholeheartedly follow their leader.

Zhang Xiangdong thought for a moment and said, "I'll take care of that. Is there anything else?"

"Thank you, Secretary. No, that's all. I won't bother you any longer."

Chen Shi stood up, left the office, and saw Huang Xin walking towards him in the corridor.

Huang Xin is now the head of the Organization Department, the first female head of the Organization Department in Chunyang County, and also the youngest head of the Organization Department in Chunyang County. She is only thirty-one years old this year.

Chen Shi greeted him with a smile: "Minister Huang"

"County Chief Chen has quite the airs of an official," Huang Xin said coldly.

Chen Shi was completely bewildered: "What do you mean?"

"How long has it been since you last attended a class at the provincial Party School?"

Chen Shi then realized that he hadn't attended any classes at the provincial party school for the past six months.

"When school started in September, I went to the provincial party school on time for class."

Huang Xin walked toward Zhang Xiangdong's office. Chen Shi was speechless for a moment. "What business is it of yours if I don't go to the Provincial Party School to attend classes? You're meddling too much."

Huang Xin's feelings for Chen Shi were complicated; she both loved and hated him. Since he didn't attend classes at the provincial party school, Huang Xin had no chance to sleep with him—it was that simple.

Chen Shi arrived at Xu Mo's office: "Secretary Xu."

Xu Mo, from "Chen County," stood up and poured tea for Chen Shi.

Chen Shi sat down: "Secretary Xu, I told Secretary Zhang earlier that I wanted to transfer Liu Feng to the Transportation Bureau, and Secretary Zhang agreed. With Liu Feng transferred, you can take over his position as deputy director."

"The deputy director position will be Xu Mo's sooner or later," Chen Shi said bluntly, "I just want Xu Mo to owe me a favor."

"Thank you, Magistrate Chen," Xu Mo said with a smile.

After exchanging a few words, Chen Shi got up and left.

After get off work, Chen Shi went to Hejia Courtyard to meet with the leadership team of the Education Bureau.

Huang Ming, along with the new leadership team of the Education Bureau, waited at the entrance. Chen Shi's car drove in and stopped. Huang Ming went up and opened the car door.

"Former Boss"

Chen Shi got out of the car: "Director Huang."

Chen Shi shook hands with Huang Ming, and Li Zhe and the others came over. Chen Shi greeted them one by one, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries.

Yang Xiaobo also brought members of the second-level leadership team, and they booked the entire first floor, making it quite lively.

The main table was occupied by the education bureau's top leaders. Yang Xiaobo pulled out chairs, and Chen Shi called out, "Don't stand, everyone sit down."

Chen Shi sat down, and then everyone else sat down.

The chairpersons are Chen Shi, Huang Ming, Li Zhe, Yang Xiaobo, Yang Xiong, and Xu Mengmeng.

Yang Xiaobo said, "Old leader, please say a few words to everyone."

"It's not a meeting, so let's not delay everyone's meal. I won't say anything more, let's start eating right away," Chen Shi said with a smile.

As everyone ate and chatted, they all came to toast Chen Shi. Chen Shi had gotten drunk the night before and was feeling unwell. He solemnly said, "Everyone, please toast each other in order. Start with the members of the second-level leadership team, then go to the leaders of the Education Bureau, and finally toast me."

After a round of toasts, those who couldn't hold their liquor were all drunk, while those who could were quite drunk had also drunk enough.

Chen Shi had also drunk about a bottle of baijiu, but he was not drunk and remained quite sober.

Huang Ming and Yang Xiaobo came to help Chen Shi, but Chen Shi said, "I'm fine, no need to help me. That's enough for tonight, everyone go home and get some rest."

Several members of the Education Bureau's second-level leadership team were carried out.

Chen Shi got into the car, waved goodbye to the Education Bureau staff, and returned to Jingtai Garden. Chen Shi got out of the car.

Yang Bin said, "County Chief Chen, I'll take you back."

"We're at your doorstep. No need to see me off. I wasn't drunk tonight. You didn't go home last night, so go home and rest early."

Yang Bin left only after seeing that Chen Shi was not drunk.

The next day at work, Lu Nan still cleaned Chen Shi's office to show his willingness to follow Chen Shi.

Chen Shi didn't say anything; he wanted to observe Lu Nan for a while longer.

Wang Jianming walked into the office shortly after starting work.

"Former Boss"

"Director Wang, please have a seat." Chen Shi stood up.

"My former boss just calls me Jianming; it sounds more friendly."

The two sat down in the reception room. Wang Jianming said a lot of flattering things, but Chen Shi was busy and didn't want to listen to his nonsense.

"Jianming, just say what you mean, don't beat around the bush. I'm busy, it's nothing, let's catch up another day."

Wang Jianming smiled awkwardly: "Old leader, I originally wanted to invite you to dinner first, but you've been quite busy and haven't had time, so I came to your office to bother you."

"Secretary Li of Zhongshan Subdistrict Office was promoted to Deputy County Head, leaving the position of Secretary of Zhongshan Subdistrict Office vacant. I want to take another step forward and succeed him as Secretary."

Chen Shi thought about it and decided that it was reasonable for Wang Jianming to take over as secretary. In the future, the development zone could only be located in Zhongshan Subdistrict, where there was a lot of idle land.

With three key high schools located there, the area has gained popularity, and the land in Chengnan Subdistrict has been basically developed.

It's better for someone from our own side to be the head of the Zhongshan Subdistrict Office than for someone from Zhang Kaizhi to be the head there.

"I will report this to the comrades in the Organization Department. Go back and work hard, and do your job well."

"Yes, County Magistrate Chen." Wang Jianming didn't expect Chen Shi to agree so readily.

Chen Shi looked at Wang Jianming: "Jianming, you should talk to County Chief Li about this. He is the former secretary, so it is reasonable for him to recommend the next secretary to the Organization Department. He has more say in the selection of candidates."

"Chen County, I mentioned this to Li County. He said he would recommend him to the Organization Department, but he is not a member of the Standing Committee and has no say in the Standing Committee meetings."

"My former leader, as a member of the Standing Committee, you have a voice in the Standing Committee meetings. Without your help, it would be difficult for me to take over as secretary."

The position of Party Secretary of Zhongshan Subdistrict Office is very important, and Zhang Kaizhi is definitely keeping an eye on it. Chen Shi thought for a moment and realized that it would be against the rules for him to go to Zhang Xiangdong to recommend Wang Jianming himself.

Li Hong's request for Zhang Xiangdong's recommendation was even more irregular, as neither of them were in charge of personnel.

"Jianming, wait for my call. Tonight, at Lao Huang's farmhouse, I'll invite Secretary Qin, who's in charge of personnel, and we'll have a couple of drinks together."

"Thank you very much, old leader," Wang Jianming said with a beaming smile.

Chen Shi asked, "Are you still in contact with Xu Linlin?"

Wang Jianming quickly denied it, but in fact the two had been in contact all along, and Wang Jianming had even transferred Xu Linlin to the Zhongshan Subdistrict Office Police Station as the administrative head.

When Chen Shi asked, he knew what it meant: during this period, he couldn't contact Xu Linlin, or he would be finished if someone caught him doing something wrong.