While Liu Hong was talking with Cao Song and others, Chen Fan, Li Ying, Hu Guang, Yuan Feng, Huangfu Gui, Xu Rong, Huang Zhong and others also arrived at Deyang Palace.

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"

"Gentlemen, please rise and be seated!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!!"

After everyone was seated, Liu Hong turned to look at Zhang Rang beside him.

"Zhang Rang, go and cut up those melons and share them with everyone!"

"promise!!"

Zhang Rang respectfully agreed, and then hurriedly led his men, carrying the watermelons, toward the back hall.

"Your Majesty... what is this??"

Seeing Zhang Rang leave with a watermelon, Hu Guang couldn't help but ask, and the others also looked at Liu Hong with puzzled expressions.

Liu Hong chuckled and said, "Hehe~, the melons in the greenhouse are ripe now. I've invited you all here today so you can all have a taste!"

"Uh... just watching the show??"

Upon hearing this, Chen Fan and the others exchanged bewildered glances. The Emperor had sent people here in such a hurry just for this?

Everyone's so busy, who has time to gossip?

Chen Fan looked at Liu Hong with a helpless expression, "Your Majesty, please just say what's on your mind! You're putting this old minister in a very difficult position..."

The emperor has become increasingly unruly lately. As the Grand Tutor, he naturally has the responsibility to teach and advise him, but when he thinks of how hard the emperor worked last year, he feels a little reluctant to do so.

"Don't rush, my gentlemen, let me explain slowly!"

Seeing Chen Fan's stern face, Liu Hong quickly stopped joking around.

"Ahem~ It's like this, didn't the Royal Trading Company issue a 'slave purchase order' before? The news has already spread to various border regions, and I received the latest news from the Northwest and Northeast yesterday..."

Liu Hong then coughed twice and then explained in detail to everyone the situation regarding the Qiang people, the Shi people, the Wuhuan, and the Three Hans.

Upon hearing the final words, everyone couldn't help but show joy. They quickly realized the immense benefits that the fighting among the various barbarian tribes brought to the Han Dynasty.

It's best to hit them hard; killing one means one less to kill.

Seeing the crowd's eager and mischievous expressions, Liu Hong couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.

"Now, do you all still think this 'melon' is worth eating?"

The crowd exchanged glances before realizing, "Well... so the 'melon' the emperor was referring to had another meaning."

Just then, Zhang Rang and his men brought out the sliced ​​watermelon and placed it in front of everyone.

"Come, come, gentlemen, don't be shy, let's eat together!"

Liu Hong greeted everyone with a smile, then took the lead and picked up a slice of watermelon, taking a bite.

Apart from Xu Rong and Zhu Jun, who were a bit reserved, the rest of them followed Liu Hong and started eating the watermelon in front of them.

The top tier of bigwigs in the Han Dynasty gathered together to watch the drama unfold, making them arguably the most sophisticated group of onlookers ever seen before.

"This taste...!"

Liu Hong frowned after taking a bite of the watermelon; the taste and sweetness were indeed far inferior to those of later generations.

On the contrary, Chen Fan, Yuan Feng, Huangfu Gui and others ate with great relish.

Liu Hong then smiled and shook his head. In this day and age, the taste of this kind of watermelon is considered a rare delicacy.

Soon, the watermelons that Cao Song brought were all eaten up by everyone.

Wiping his mouth, Liu Hong looked at everyone and said with a smile:

"Alright, we've finished with the gossip. Now, gentlemen, let's talk about the matters concerning the Northwest and the Northeast!"

Cao Song spoke first: "Your Majesty, I believe that since they are already in chaos, our Han Dynasty might as well add fuel to the fire and make things even more lively!"

"Oh? Then let the Grand Minister of Agriculture tell us how to add fuel to the fire?"

Liu Hong and the others looked at Cao Song with curiosity, wanting to see what kind of tricks he had up his sleeve this time.

Cao Song smiled and said, “Your Majesty, those barbarians are of varying strengths. Even if they are in chaos now, it won’t be long before the weaker ones are swallowed up by the stronger ones, thus increasing their strength. This is very disadvantageous to our Han Dynasty!”

"Hmm, what the Grand Minister of Agriculture said makes sense! For example, the Qiang people. Once they completely defeat the Shi people, seize their resources, plunder a large number of people, and then use the surplus slaves to exchange for grain, salt, and other supplies from our Han Dynasty, I'm afraid their threat will be even greater than before!"

Li Ying, who was standing to the side, nodded in agreement with Cao Song's suggestion.

"In this way, the small fish will feed the big fish, which is not good for us!"

"Yes, we can't let them use this to grow stronger!"

The crowd couldn't help but chime in, saying that Cao Song and Li Ying's words had directly hit the nail on the head regarding the problem's shortcomings and crux.

"You are all right. So what should our Great Han do?"

Liu Hong nodded, but turned to look at Cao Song, waiting for him to continue.

Cao Song smiled upon seeing this and was about to speak in detail when Yuan Feng suddenly stood up.

Yuan Feng quickly spoke up:

"Your Majesty, I believe that their strengths should be evenly matched. Only in this way can they both suffer heavy losses, and our Great Han can gain the greatest benefit from it!"

"Pah! You, Yuan Zhouyang, how dare you steal my idea?"

Upon seeing that Yuan Feng had beaten him to it, Cao Song immediately glared at Yuan Feng with displeasure.

Yuan Feng chuckled, "What do you mean 'your idea'? I've already said it was my idea...!"

"Ugh~, you you you...you're so shameless!!"

Cao Song stared at Yuan Feng in astonishment. He had always thought that his shamelessness was just an act, but now he felt that Yuan Feng's shamelessness seemed genuine.

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