I set out from Fuzhou City in late May, and even if the journey is not delayed, it will take almost two months to arrive in Beijing.

Chen Xi made up his days in his mind and returned to the capital in late July. If the court sent him to the northwest to perform his duties, set out in early August and arrive in about a month, it would be early September.

It is currently in the Little Ice Age, and there are no down jackets and other cold clothes. The cold winter is extremely cold. Unless the court is confident that it can end the war before the end of October, or like the battle in Hongzhi's 13th year, it has been tentatively harassing from the beginning, mainly to show off the power of the Ming army, otherwise it will not work at all.

In other words, if this battle starts, it is likely that it will have to wait for the next year, so I may have to stay in the frontier for the first half of a year or even for a year.

"I can't be with you when Hui Niang gave birth. Could it be that Jun'er gave birth, and I also want to make her have a child in the battlefield due to worry and fear? Thank you, now you can only count on you. Otherwise, if something happens to your granddaughter, you will be the culprit!"

Before leaving Fuzhou, Chen Xi not only asked the court for the soldiers of the three armies to ask for merit, but also wrote an urgent letter to Xie Qian, saying that he was young and energetic and was useless and needed to train in the court for a few more years. He even said that he could put down everything at present and start from the bottom of the Hanlin Academy. To put it bluntly, he hoped that Xie Qian could speak for him.

Chen Xi himself understood that if Xie Qian and Liu Daxia recommended him at the same time this time, the letter would not be of great significance, but it might allow Liu Daxia to "show mercy" and have the opportunity to be a decent governor of Yansui when he performed his duties in the northwest, and to dispatch money and grain in the rear without having to go to the front line to fight desperately.

The generation of thieves along the coast did not calm down, the convenient water was unable to move, and the land was also slow. Finally, on June 17th, the group arrived at Yingtian Prefecture.

Chen Xi is not old, but in recent years, Yingtian Mansion has been here several times in order to take the exam and get off work. He has a different mood every time he goes to Nanjing City. In the past, he could still visit Xie Duo when he arrived in Nanjing. Now Xie Duo is in Beijing, and he is in a dark way when he goes to Nanjing, so he simply doesn't see anyone.

Because Chen Xi had not yet stepped down as the governor of the "Three Provinces", when he went north, he also received reports from the six Nanjing ministries and handled official documents, which was almost a formality.

When he returned from the Six-Department Office in the north of Zhengyangmen, Yu Niang asked Chen Xi if he needed to rest for a few more days in Nanjing. Chen Xi shook his head and said that the faster he set off, the better.

At this time, Chen Xi suddenly realized a problem. If he could not stay in the capital and become an official, it would be nice to seek to become an official in Nanjing.

As the governor of the three provinces of Chenxi, it seems inappropriate to return to the capital and become the right illegitimate son. After all, he has left the Hanlin Academy and the Zhan Shi Mansion. If he returns, he will be reduced to the fifth rank, which is unreasonable.

It is obviously not so suitable to transfer Chen Xiping to the Ministry of Rites. The third rank can already be the assistant minister of the six ministries. The Ministry of Rites was famous for its promotion in the Ming Dynasty, just like Xie Qian, Li Dongyang and others. When they climbed to the position of Minister of Rites, they announced that they had successfully entered the cabinet.

The best place for Chenxi is actually the other five departments except the Ministry of Rites. Of course, the Ministry of Personnel does not need to think that it is the most popular yamen. The other four departments are considered to be the emperor's kindness, and even if they are demoted to be a doctor, it is reasonable.

In fact, you can go to Nanjing City and be the assistant minister of the six ministries in Nanjing. Even if you just have the title of a doctor, you have no real power. Just like Xie Duo, the Imperial College, who has the title of an assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, set your home in the prosperous Nanjing City, raise flowers and birds every day, visit famous scholars everywhere, or "promote" some younger but older juniors, establish their own status in the Confucian community, and symbolically acquire a few disciples... When the throne changes are about to occur, Chen Xi feels that this kind of life is most suitable for him no matter how he thinks.

The problem is that the high-ranking official such as Governor Yansui is waiting for him!

In the eyes of many officials who seek fame, promotion, and wealth, they need money, status, and development. It can be said that this is a rare fatal flaw. If the emperor does not trust him, he would not send anyone to such a position. If the Duke of the National Guardian Zhu Hui took this job when he was on the frontier, he can tell how vital this position is.

But the problem is that Chen Xi is not a nobleman, and even if he is the governor of Yansui, others will not curry favor with him. In the same position, Zhu Hui was responsible for the command of all parties and helped Liu Daxia rectify the troops, food and grass. Others were afraid that they would not be able to curry favor with him. Chen Xi went to help others and deal with the mess.

Chen Xi checked in Longjiang Post in Nanjing. He was about to go to bed that night when he heard a knock on the door and thought it was Yunliu and Xier who came to bring him foot wash.

During this period, Chen Xi found that these two women were a bit too much to show their etiquette to him, and privately speculated that the two women had received instructions from Yu Niang that they had to "get things done". He didn't know that Yun Liu and Xier had been ordered to stay with him, otherwise they would become courtesans in brothels and support themselves by laughing at the scene.

When they are away, Chen Xi has always been clean. In his eyes, Yunliu and Xier's past experiences are too complicated. Even if they are both innocent servants, the question is how to place them after they come back?

In terms of feelings, he admires the two daughters very much. As a woman who has been working hard outside for so many years, he has also helped him do a lot of things. He remembers the goodness of the two daughters, but this emotion has not been sublimated to love.

The two girls are not as simple as Yin Wen and Xie Hengnu. They are "old fried dough sticks". Staying around has a unique purpose. Chen Xi feels that he should put this aside beforehand. Even if he really wants to stay by his side in the future, he will treat it as a subordinate, and let them be responsible for helping him collect information like Yu Niang.

Chen Xi's opinion, if you want to marry a woman, you either want to live with her and let her give birth to children and complete the family lineage. You are pampering and loving, and you can comfort yourself when you are lonely, just like Xie Yuner and other daughters you married back from your family.

Either it has a political purpose, and it is a forced marriage to get closer. Although he had such an effect on marrying Xie Hengnu, he and Xie Hengnu did not want to mix these things. Xie Hengnu fell in love with him early in the morning, and he also liked Xie Hengnu's intelligence and obedience. The two were in love.

If you want to keep Yunliu and Xier by your side, you obviously cannot regard them as women who live at home, but should regard them as Li Jin, and in order to seek some benefit, you can appreciate and possess their beauty. This is almost the same.

Chen Xi can't find a reason to keep Yunliu and Xier around him now. Since he accepts it, he has to be responsible. He must consider it clearly before making a decision. In his opinion, this is the minimum respect for women.

If he was the native of this era, he would be like Jiang Li, and Yu Niang would not have time to give two beautiful women a smile. If he thought they had a different purpose, he could just treat them coldly after enjoying it.

It’s because of responsibility!

...

...

"Who?" Chen Xi asked.

"Sir, I'm a slave."

What came from outside was not the voices of Yun Liu and Xier, but Yu Niang.

Chen Xi couldn't help but frown. It was already blown out the candlelight and was about to fall asleep. Yu Niang actually came to knock on the door. Does Yu Niang think that his "taste" may be different, so she personally went on the battlefield to be the "pioneer" for Yun Liu and Xier?

Chen Xidao: "It's getting late, I'm already asleep. I'll talk about it tomorrow if I have something to do!"

Chen Xi's intention of expelling guests was obvious. He believed that Yu Niang would not make things boring. But he heard Yu Niang say, "Sir, I have just received news from the capital in the middle of the night. It may not be very good for me, but I need to come and tell you so that I can have a clear idea!"

Yu Niang moved out of business, and even if Chen Xi didn't like it, she would still sort out her clothes and go to open the door.

When Yu Niang opened the door, she gave a graceful salute.

Chen Xi did not mean to invite Yu Niang into her room. This is the official office, with many guests coming and going. In addition, the room is narrow and the lonely man and widow are living in the same room. Even if nothing happens, the people who are traveling with you may spread gossip.

"What's the matter?" Chen Xi asked.

Yu Niang is not a ignorant person. She knew that Chen Xi would not invite her into the room late at night. She knew etiquette, righteousness, integrity and shame, so she immediately said a short story:

"Sir, I just got the news from the capital. The Ministry of Personnel ordered the Lord to go back to Beijing to discuss with you as appropriate. If you don't go northwest for the time being, you will not take over as the governor of Yansui."

Chen Xi looked at Yu Niang's expression carefully. If he hadn't heard it seriously, he would have thought Yu Niang was here to entertain him.

What is "maybe not very good" news?

It's good news at all!

Chen Xi had a thought in his mind. God opened his eyes and actually heard my thoughts. Don’t I have to go to the northwest?

"Speak downstairs!"

Chen Xi was about to ask about the situation and went back to sleep with his head covered. When he heard the good news, he lost all sleepiness. He was so depressed that he had been wiped out along the way, and even wanted to have a few glasses of wine to celebrate.

Yu Niang was a little surprised and asked, "Sir, don't you worry about not being able to go northwest?"

Chen Xi walked in front without looking back, shrugging slightly: "Good luck is a disaster, how can you be an official different?"

When he arrived at the flower hall downstairs, Yu Niang handed over the court's official documents to Chen Xi, but it was a document sent by the Ministry of Personnel. When Chen Xi went to the six ministries in Nanjing to hand over the official documents, he had not yet taken away his official position as the "Governor of the Three Provinces" but this time he made it clear that he was no longer the Governor of the Three Provinces, and the title of the Right Deputy Censor is still retained because this involves his official positioning, which means that he is still in the third rank.

As for the new official position, there is no confirmation at present, so as to describe it as appropriate. That is to say, after he returns to the capital, he will see what appropriate official vacancies are given to him and ask him to take the errands.

With Chen Xi's understanding of the Ming Dynasty's officialdom, it is not easy for each government agency to make him a vacant seat of the third rank for him for no reason, so this discretionary statement is just a guise. After returning to the capital, he is likely to be idle as a third rank, and he will not be arranged to be a real lack of money for the time being. He will fill it up when the court has a lack of official position or if he is needed.

In the official document, it was also revealed that the new Yansui Governor had a candidate, which was considered an "old acquaintance" for Chen Xi.

Zhu Hui, Duke of the State.

Emperor Hongzhi's meaning is obvious:

You, Zhu Hui, aren’t you very capable. Did you help Liu Daxia win the battle against the Tatars a few years ago? I am now using a shortage of people. Since I cannot send Chen Xi to the Governor of Yansui, it is you!

***************

ps: The second update is here!
Chapter completed!