Chen Zhaoci said, "Then you should find a way to select an official to be sent to a remote area."
Xu Di said with some difficulty, "But Yuexi is due to give birth next April, and I have to be with her during the delivery."
Chen Zhaoci said, "Yuexi won't give birth until April next year, which is still half a year away. Why are you in such a hurry? If it really doesn't work, you can have Yuexi accompany you."
Xu Di quickly waved his hand and said, "Mother, how can this be? Yuexi is pregnant, how can she travel with me? If anything happens on the way, I will be held responsible for her death."
Chen Zhaoci smiled and said, "With me here, what are you afraid of? Although I'm not an obstetrician, I did all sorts of jobs when I was in Africa, including helping with deliveries. We've brought all the medicines, and we'll travel slowly. The carriage will be more comfortable, isn't that safe?"
Xu Di was very interested after hearing this, but felt that he couldn't make the decision on his own, so he said, "Then I'll go back and ask Yuexi what she thinks. If she's willing, I'll make preparations as soon as possible."
Seeing that he was about to leave, Chen Zhaoci called him back and said, "You'd better discuss this matter with your grandfather again. After all, it's a big deal, and you should listen to your grandfather's opinion."
Xu Di agreed, and as he walked, he pondered the benefits of being sent to the capital. The biggest benefit was that he could temporarily escape the environment of the capital. If he wanted to do something, such as investigate something, he could just send someone secretly. Even if the capital noticed, would they be able to come all the way there to question him?
The only concern is Li Yuexi's health. She has passed the most dangerous three months and her pregnancy is going well. However, the journey to another city is long and bumpy, and there is a fear that something might happen.
Marquis Yongning was about to have dinner when he saw Xu Di arrive. He invited Xu Di to eat with him. After having dinner with Marquis Yongning, Xu Di told him about the Sixth Prince that he had inquired about, as well as about the Shen Family Manor in the suburbs of the capital.
The more Marquis Yongning listened, the more his brows furrowed. After Xu Di finished speaking, he asked him, "Brother Di, do you have any thoughts?"
Xu Di said frankly, "Grandfather, I went to my maternal uncle's estate early this morning. My maternal uncle suggested that I find an opportunity to be sent to a post outside the capital and not get involved in the struggle between the princes in the capital. I thought about it all the way here and I think my maternal uncle's idea makes a lot of sense."
After listening, Marquis Yongning pondered for a long time and said, "What your maternal uncle said makes a lot of sense, but you have just entered the Hanlin Academy. If you leave now, you will miss many opportunities to make friends."
Xu Di naturally understood the Marquis's meaning and retorted, "Grandfather, we can make friends at any time, but now, if we don't lay low for a while, all our previous efforts might be in vain, and our whole family might be put in a dangerous situation. Grandfather, this is something I am extremely unwilling to see."
Marquis Yongning naturally understood his eldest grandson, who was a man who valued his family highly and would consider everything in order to avoid harming his family. Marquis Yongning thought that Xu Di had both good and bad qualities in this regard.
Well, naturally, valuing family ties and protecting one's family is a very good quality. However, sometimes, because someone like Xu Di values family ties too much, he has to give up some other things. Marquis Yongning was carefully groomed by his family to be his successor, so he naturally knows that sometimes, some unavoidable sacrifices must be made.
Marquis Yongning sighed and said, "Di'er, this is your strength and your weakness. Sometimes, when your opponents use any means necessary to achieve the same thing as you, and you think things through for the sake of those around you, you have already lost."
When Xu Di heard what the Marquis of Yongning said, his heart only felt a slight chill, but he was not disturbed in any other way. He just listened attentively to what the Marquis was going to say next.
The Marquis continued, "Of course, your grandfather still admires your character. Just as you said, you must never abandon or give up on your family and your companions. In the future, you will not only be dealing with your relatives, but also your colleagues. Sometimes, it's not just about not needing feelings between colleagues, but also about being wary of them stabbing you in the back. Di'er, after a few more years of experience in the capital, you will learn many things that no one else can teach you."
That's true. Although Xu Di had always been a student, he was well-versed in the ways of office life and naturally understood that what the Marquis said made a lot of sense.
Seeing that Xu Di was listening attentively, Marquis Yongning said, "However, since you already have an idea, it's good for us to avoid it for now. Sometimes, not competing is the best way to compete. Just remember one thing: do your job well, whether you are an official or doing anything else. With your father ahead of you, you can only do better than your father so that others can feel your presence. This is quite common in many families where fathers and sons serve in the same court. Fathers and sons are the easiest to be compared."
This was very sincere advice, and Xu Di naturally nodded in agreement. After thinking for a moment, the Marquis of Yongning said, "I will handle the matter of your posting. What I mean is that I want you to go to Dengzhou."
Xu Di was somewhat surprised and said, "Dengzhou?"
The Marquis nodded and said, "Yes, it's Dengzhou. This is the place I wanted to plan for you from the very beginning. Come and see."
Marquis Yongning took out the crudely made map, pointed to a place, and said, "Look here, this is where Dengzhou Prefecture is located. Dengzhou Prefecture governs four counties: Penglai, Muping, Huangxian, and Wendeng."
He could only make out a general outline. Xu Di admired the ancients. With just a few strokes and a rough sketch, they could talk eloquently about it. But when he looked at it, he couldn't make it out at all. Xu Di felt that if he didn't have a general idea of the map of China in his mind, it would be impossible for him to distinguish which place was which, which was which mountain and which was which river, when looking at this map.
Marquis Yongning continued, “Dengzhou Prefecture is a very important place. You see, it faces Liaodong Prefecture across the sea, but it is not far from Goguryeo. There are also the Japanese from Goguryeo. The Japanese once came from Goguryeo. Dengzhou Prefecture has a very important military position.”
Xu Di naturally knew that a famous national hero had fought against the Japanese pirates here. How could he not understand the important position of Dengzhou Prefecture? Moreover, he had traveled to this place before and had visited the ancient forts there.
Thinking about his upcoming assignment to a post outside the capital, Xu Di asked the Marquis, "Grandfather, I am just a newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination). If I am to be assigned to a post outside the capital, I can only serve as the magistrate of a county at most. I have no connection with Dengzhou Prefecture."
Marquis Yongning said very seriously, "That's why I want you to rise from county magistrate to prefect in a very short time. You must govern Dengzhou better than your father governed Hexi, and you must be praised by everyone."
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