The government office arranged a small courtyard for the Liao family father and son in the backyard. The largest room in the courtyard was set up as a study. There was a large table in the room with many models of waterways on it. When Xu Di arrived, the old man Liao was giving a lecture to the young men. The old man Liao had followed his ancestors and fathers in managing waterways and building canals since he was a child. He was very knowledgeable and shared his experiences with the young men, which they listened to with great interest.
Seeing Xu Di arrive, Grandpa Liao, who was giving a lecture, quickly stood up. Xu Di waved his hand, signaling him to continue, and he sat down in the back to listen. This time, Grandpa Liao was talking about his early years when he followed his father to the Northeast to repair waterways. Grandpa Liao not only talked about the waterways, but also about the local customs and culture of the places he had visited. Even Xu Di, who had been to the Northeast, found it very vivid.
After class, Old Master Liao hurried over to bow to Xu Di. Xu Di took the old man's arm and said, "Old sir, I've come here to tell you that the Third Prince has been executed and that His Majesty personally ordered the poisoned wine."
Upon hearing this, Old Master Liao exclaimed in disbelief, "The Third Prince? Is the Third Prince really dead?"
Xu Di smiled and nodded. Old Master Liao confirmed it again, then covered his face and burst into tears.
Upon hearing Grandpa Liao's cries, Liao Zhiqi rushed over from outside, took Grandpa Liao's arm, and said, "Father, Father, why are you doing this?"
Grandpa Liao stopped crying, wiped away his tears, and said to his son, "Qiu'er, the Third Prince is dead, he's dead! Our family is truly safe now. We can go back to our hometown to pay respects at your grandfather's grave." As he finished speaking, Grandpa Liao started crying again. The man, over fifty years old, cried with a mixture of relief and grievance. To avoid the Third Prince, they hadn't been back to their hometown for many years. The old man had always longed for the opportunity to return and pay respects at the graves, and now this unexpected good news had arrived so suddenly.
Xu Di smiled and said, "Sir, if you wish to go back to your hometown with Mr. Liao to pay respects at his grave, I will arrange for someone to take you back right away."
Mr. Liao waved his hand and said, “There’s no rush, there’s no rush. We’ve waited for so many years, a little longer won’t make a difference. Lord Xu, the flood season is approaching. Nothing is more important than repairing the river before the flood season. There’s something I need to discuss with you, Lord Xu. Please have a seat.”
Xu Di sat down, and Mr. Liao took out a blueprint and said to Xu Di, "I have calculated that if we want to repair this section of the river, we will need a lot of money. Lord Xu, I wonder if you can get the money?"
Xu Di nodded and said, "When I returned from the capital this time, I naturally brought back silver. This silver has only two uses: one is to repair roads, and the other is to repair waterways. These are major events that benefit the country and the people. Now everything else has to give way to these two things. Old sir, don't worry about anything else. I don't understand professional matters, but it is my duty to ensure that you are protected."
Working with such local officials is the most pleasant; they won't interfere in professional matters, and they certainly won't lower the quality of the waterways they build due to financial difficulties.
When Xu Zhi received Xu Di's letter confirming that he was safe, she and Zheng Boyuan both breathed a sigh of relief. Xu Zhi said, "Thank goodness my brother is back safe and sound. I was so scared. I had no idea how thrilling his experience was."
Zheng Boyuan naturally knew that the capital city was now a den of dragons and tigers, and one careless move could lead to being trapped and unable to get out, or even losing one's life. Knowing that Xu Di had returned safely, Zheng Boyuan was naturally overjoyed.
Thinking of the intensive military training along the border river every day, and then of the Great Yan's long period of inaction and silence on the other side, Zheng Boyuan's heart was in his throat. Because he didn't have enough intelligence resources, Zheng Boyuan couldn't tell whether the Great Yan was accumulating strength and waiting for an opportunity or had abandoned Luzhou. Zheng Boyuan now urgently needed someone to analyze the situation on the other side with him and then make the next deployment.
Xu Di was the most suitable person. Zheng Boyuan even wanted to discuss with Xu Di whether to lay more landmines on the shore to give Great Yan a deterrent effect.
Xu Zhi wanted to visit Xu Di in Miaozhou, but it was the time when the bamboo paper workshop was cutting bamboo and preparing to make bamboo paper for the first time. Xu Zhi couldn't leave for the time being, so she could only suppress her anxiety and carefully guide the workshop staff through each step of the bamboo paper making process.
Without making the two of them wait, Xu Di arrived very quickly. Not only did he come alone, but he also brought Granny Lu and Li Yuexi and their two children with him.
Although the road was still not easy to travel, because there was no need to take a long detour through the mountains, the thirty-mile journey was completed quickly.
When Xu Zhi saw her, it was as if a relative had suddenly appeared in front of her. She was so excited that her eyes welled up with tears. She hugged Granny Lu, kissed her two nieces and nephews who looked like little pink dumplings, and finally stood in front of Xu Di, smiling as she said, "Big brother, you've come. I was thinking that once things were going well at the workshop, I would go to Miaozhou to see you."
Xu Di smiled and said, "Now is the most crucial time for you. How can you leave so easily? Luzhou and Miaozhou are now interdependent. It is only right that I come here to help Luzhou with its defenses. Where is Boyuan? Has he gone to the garrison?"
Xu Zhi nodded and said, "Brother Boyuan has been busy with the garrison recently. He said that the Great Yan on the other side has been very quiet lately, and he doesn't know what they are going to do next. The guard along the river has not been relaxed. He hasn't been home for several days."
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