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

After having dinner at home, Chen Shi went to his office to begin preparing the surveillance plan.

He picked up his phone and called Zhang Hu, asking him to come to his office.

Just as he put down his phone, Zhang Hu, with a broad smile, knocked on the open office door.

"Come in"

Zhang Hu walked into the office: "Chief Chen, you wanted to see me?"

"Sit down," Chen Shi poured Zhang Hu a glass of water; he hadn't had time to make tea yet.

How long did you stay in Longtougou Village?

Zhang Hu became more alert. What did this mean? Did they still want him to go back?

He quickly replied, "Less than three months."

"Your chance has come."

Zhang Hu didn't understand Chen Shi's meaning and looked puzzled.

"This time, we went up to attend a meeting. Zhang Dong, an A-level fugitive, committed a major crime in Yizhou, killing a family of five. He is from Longtougou Village, Fushan Town."

Zhang Hu seemed to understand something.

"You've been in Longtougou Village for so long, you must be very familiar with the environment there. I'd like to entrust this matter to you."

He was about to return to Longtougou Village, but Zhang Hu saw no opportunities; instead, he saw a past he couldn't bear to look back on.

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Don't worry, we won't send you to be stationed in Longtougou Village for a long time. Mobilizing the masses is more effective than having you in Longtougou Village."

The power of the masses is boundless. Having stayed for so long, I must have a few reliable friends. Let's get them involved.

The criminals are highly skilled at counter-surveillance. Sending police officers to the village would only alert them; even if the criminals return to Longtougou Village, they won't show themselves.

Zhang Hu breathed a sigh of relief; he had no intention of going back to that awful place.

Chen Shi asked, "Don't you want to be in charge?"

Zhang Hu quickly replied, "I want to."

"Just think about it. You can't tell a third person about this. It has to be kept secret. You can't tell anyone."

"Don't worry, Chief Chen, I won't say a word, even if you beat me to death."

"Killing him is still an option, but my life is more important," Chen Shi said, quite satisfied with Zhang Hu's performance.

"In the meeting later, I will propose the establishment of a special task force. I will be the leader, and you and Ma Guoliang will be the deputy leaders. We will select seven key police officers to focus on the defense of Longtougou Village."

This is for the benefit of the bureau leaders. Privately, in Longtougou Village, have a few reliable villagers keep an eye on things, and report any suspicious activity immediately.

"Okay, thank you for your guidance, Director Chen." Zhang Hu was secretly pleased, thinking that he was now a leader, no less.

"Give the villagers you find a monthly wage of 500 yuan. People need to eat too, so they will work harder. If you find any clues about Zhang Dong and report them to the authorities and they are verified, you will be rewarded with 50,000 yuan."

Zhang Hu felt that he was indeed inferior to Chen Shi. Chen Shi considered things from all angles, while he could only see one side of the issue and could not take the overall situation into account.

When it was time for the meeting, everyone came to the conference room.

In an effort to regain some authority as a leader, Wang Jianming deliberately arrived ten minutes late.

He walked into the conference room, looked at Chen Shi, and said, "I am the one in charge. You can't hold this meeting without my presence."

Wang Jianming sat down, coughed lightly, and felt a little better.

"I'm calling this meeting today because a major case has occurred. Deputy Director Chen and I..." He raised his voice on the word "deputy" to tell everyone that he was the director and Chen was his deputy. You need to distinguish between the two.

"Deputy Director Chen and I went to the Public Security Bureau for a meeting yesterday. A major case has occurred in Yizhou. The criminal killed a family of five and fled Yizhou."

The criminal's name is Zhang Dong, and he is from Longtougou Village, Fushan Town, which falls under the jurisdiction of our police station. Fushan Town will be the key control center.

Considering the need for funding for the surveillance operation, I discussed it with Deputy Director Chen and we requested 500,000 yuan from the bureau as funding for this key surveillance operation.

A round of applause erupted from below. The institute was very poor, and they had finally gotten the money.

Chen Shi looked at Wang Jianming and said, "Have you no shame? When did you start asking me for money?"

I was the one who got the note from the leader; you didn't do a single thing. Now you're running around trying to steal the credit from your subordinates so they'll remember your kindness.

Wang Jianming was, after all, the top leader, so Chen Shi certainly wouldn't expose him to his face. If he did, the two would have completely broken off relations.

Chen Shi is no novice in the workplace; doing this is pointless and will only make him enemies.

Wang Jianming continued, "After careful consideration, I have decided to focus on key areas and have entrusted Deputy Director Chen with full responsibility. Now, I will have Deputy Director Chen arrange the specific tasks."

Wang Jianming looked at Chen Shi and thought, "You little brat, trying to steal my control of the station? I arranged for you to be in charge of the surveillance, and we got the money together. In the eyes of my subordinates, I will always be the head of the police station. They can't do without me."

Having finally won a round, Wang Jianming was beaming with pride.

Chen Shi cursed Wang Jianming's ancestors for eighteen generations. There was nothing he could do; that was the privilege of the top leader. Even though he knew Wang Jianming was stealing credit, he couldn't expose him to his face.

He gave Wang Jianming a meaningful look, as if to say, "Watch how I retaliate against you."

He said in a loud voice, "The bureau leaders attach great importance to the burglary case. The Public Security Bureau has issued an A-level wanted notice. Director Zhang has instructed that the criminal's hometown, Fushan Town, be designated as the control center."

As the person in charge, I established a special task force at the police station to cooperate with the Provincial Public Security Department in arresting criminals.

I served as the team leader, with Ma Guoliang and Zhang Hu as deputy team leaders. We selected seven key police officers to be responsible for the deployment.

Officers who wish to join the task force should contact the two deputy task force leaders to register after the meeting.

Wang Jianming's smile faded, and he could hardly smile. "I am the director. Did I agree to you setting up the special task force?"

Thinking back to what he had said earlier, that Chen Shi should be fully in charge, he couldn't find an excuse to object. He was the one who told Chen Shi to take charge, and now he was jumping out to oppose it. Clearly, he was being seen as untrustworthy in front of his subordinates.

Chen Shi continued, "Each police officer participating in the special task force receives a monthly allowance of one thousand dollars."

Wang Jianming wanted to jump out and say, "You're trying to win people's hearts," but he could only stare helplessly.

To gain the loyalty of your subordinates, you have to give them benefits. Everyone knows that criminals are not stupid enough to escape back to their hometowns. This benefit of one thousand is like finding a treasure. Everyone is eager to try it out. After the meeting, they will sign up to join the special task force.

Chen Shi smiled at Wang Jianming, knowing the real show was yet to come.

"The police station's office equipment has been used for many years without being replaced, and much of it is no longer usable, which seriously affects office efficiency. I have decided to take 100,000 yuan from the deployment fund to purchase a batch of office equipment for the police station. This matter will be handled by Zhang Youcai, the head of the logistics team."

Since Zhang Youcai was following him, he had to find some benefits for him, and he had to give him the kickbacks from the procurement.

Zhang Youcai beamed with joy. Of the 100,000 yuan procurement fee, he could pocket at least 20,000 yuan. "Director Chen, I, Old Zhang, swear to follow you to the death!"

A round of enthusiastic applause erupted from below.

Wang Jianming wanted to object. Didn't you say that the funds were for specific purposes? How come you took out 100,000 yuan to purchase office equipment? Did I agree to that?

Do you understand? I'm the one in charge.

He dared not object, for Chen Shi was acting in the best interests of the institute, and objecting would provoke public outrage.

You can't even show your dissatisfaction on your face; you have to have a forced smile on your face.

Xu Linlin was also unhappy. Zhang Youcai got 100,000 yuan in procurement kickbacks, and Ma Guoliang became the deputy leader of a special task force. The budget for the operation was 500,000 yuan. He took out 100,000 yuan, leaving 400,000 yuan. There was a lot of kickbacks in there.

Even Zhang Hu rose to the position of deputy group leader, while I, the head of the administrative group, have received nothing. Is that reasonable?

Chen Shi just wanted to say, you've followed the wrong person.