Conversation so far:
What happened to E. T. A. Hoffmann in the provinces?
During the summer of 1798, E. T. A. Hoffmann moved to Berlin.
What caused E. T. A. Hoffmann's move to Berlin?
E. T. A. Hoffmann's uncle, Johann Ludwig Doerffe was promoted to a court in Berlin.
How did E. T. A. Hoffmann deal with the move to Belin?
It was there that E.T.A. Hoffmann first attempted to promote himself as a composer, writing an operetta called Die Maske and sending a copy to Queen Luise of Prussia.
Did E. T. A. Hoffmann do caricatures?
E. T. A. Hoffmann's first job, at Posen, was endangered after Carnival on Shrove Tuesday 1802, when caricatures of military officers were distributed at a ball.
What happened with E. T. A. Hoffmann after the caricature complaints?
The problem was solved by promoting E.T.A. Hoffmann to Płock in New East Prussia.
What happened to E. T. A. Hoffmann once he was promoted to Plock?
E. T. A. Hoffmann visited Płock in New East Prussia to arrange lodging before returning to Posen.

Question: before what?
Self-contained rewrite: What was E. T. A. Hoffmann doing before returning to Posen?