Pei Yun really doesn't want to be in the spotlight.

He originally thought that he was simply here to attend the celebration banquet, show up in front of the prince, and then go back to the stronghold to continue training as a bandit. He didn't expect it to turn into a question-and-answer session.

I suddenly felt that the ancient banquets were so boring. Wouldn’t it be nice to just eat, drink, and watch singing and dancing? Why do they have to do question-and-answer sessions?

Xiao Zhiruo asked him to speak by name, and immediately everyone's attention was focused on Pei Yun again.

Xie Chen couldn't help but want to confront Pei Yun, "All the captains don't have any good countermeasures, what good plan can a small captain like him have? I think you asked the wrong person, Princess."

Xie Zhaoyun's face twitched. He felt that his younger brother was too forgetful. He had just been slapped in the face by Pei Yun, and he went to provoke him again.

None of the other young masters from the aristocratic families said anything, but you went to confront Pei Yun. He knew that Xie Chen was angry with Pei Yun. He lost two games in a row, and Xie Chen, with his arrogant personality, would definitely not be able to stand it.

But there's no need to be so confrontational. Are you upset just because the princess asked Pei Yun to answer?

Xie Zhaoyun shook his head. His brother was good in every way except that he was a little narrow-minded.

But he didn't think Pei Yun could say anything, otherwise he would have said it long ago. This was a good opportunity to show off in front of the prince. Didn't you see those captains all vying to speak?

If Pei Yun really had a good idea, would he keep it hidden? Therefore, he didn't think Xie Chen would be slapped in the face this time.

Pei Yun originally wanted to just give a perfunctory response, but after hearing what Xie Chen said, he immediately became alert.

Hey! I have a bad temper.

This kid must feel uncomfortable if he doesn't talk back to me, so the perfunctory words that were originally about to come out of his mouth have changed.

"I do have a plan for dealing with the threat from the southern barbarians," Pei Yun said, clearing his throat.

"As long as we trade with the Nanman, it won't be a problem to settle the barbarians."

As soon as these words were spoken, the scene fell into dead silence. Even Xiao Cheng's eyebrows twitched, thinking that Pei Yun was courting death.

Xie Chen stood up with a big laugh, his eyes full of excitement, and pointed at Pei Yun and said, "Pei Yun, you are so bold! The imperial court has issued a clear order prohibiting trade with the southern barbarians, but you dare to openly disobey it. Are you trying to collude with the barbarians and plot something bad?"

After these words were spoken, even Leng Qingqiu suddenly raised his head.

Xiao Zhiruo's face turned pale. She wanted to hear Pei Yun's opinion, but she didn't expect the other party to be so bold.

If the news of trading with the southern barbarians were to get out, the worst punishment would be imprisonment or even death.

Even Xiao Cheng didn't dare to be careless in this position.

Xiao Zhiruo couldn't help but feel anxious. She still admired Pei Yun very much, especially the answer to the first question, which made her feel like she had found a confidant. It was all her fault. Why did she have to call on him to answer when Pei Yun didn't say a word?

If this kills him, how can I feel at peace with myself?

She looked at Pei Yun, but saw that he was calm, not at all panicked. She couldn't help but admire Pei Yun's demeanor even more. He said, "You are still so calm at this time. Do you know what you are talking about?"

Pei Yun saw everyone in the hall looking at him, especially Xie Chen who looked gloating, and couldn't help but laugh: "I haven't even finished my words yet, and you can't wait to jump out. It seems that you are really jealous of me, but I have to say that you are a little too happy."

Xie Chen sneered, "I want to see what you can come up with."

He had already made up his mind to write a letter to his father after the banquet. Even if the prince wanted to support Pei Yun, it would be impossible.

Pei Yun said calmly: "I said that trading with the southern barbarians is just an overview. The specific means are to lure them with benefits and to unite them with culture."

"I don't know if you have ever heard the saying that poor mountains and bad waters produce unruly people. This is the case with the Nanman now. Blocking trade and constantly suppressing them will make them poorer and poorer. When they are so poor that they only have their lives left, they will come to rob, and they will rob desperately."

"They have no money, no property, and when we send troops to encircle and suppress them, they just run away without any worries. Once the troops leave, they come back again. This is why repeated suppression efforts have been unsuccessful."

"The lure of benefits is to trade with them, make them rich, let them live a good life, and see the world, so that they will never want to live a poor life again."

“It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality.”

When everyone heard Pei Yun's words, they couldn't help but fall into deep thought. It seemed that there was some truth in it. If they let these nobles continue to live in poverty, it would be better to kill them.

"In addition, if we allow important figures in the barbarians to own businesses in Yizhou and tie their interests to them, imagine if those tribe leaders had houses and shops in Yizhou, would they still allow people to attack Yizhou? Wouldn't that cut off their source of income?"

"We don't need to take action at all. Whoever attacks Yizhou is the enemy of those clan leaders, and they will fight among themselves."

Having said this, Pei Yun paused.

The hall was extremely quiet, with only the heavy breathing of the crowd. They had never thought that it was wrong not to trade with the barbarians. This was the tone set by the court, and no one dared to object.

But now after hearing what Pei Yun said, it seems that they really shouldn't blockade it. Let the barbarians make money and make them rich. Moreover, they can also trade local specialties with the barbarians. In this way, there is a deep bond of interests. Who would come to rob?

Xiao Cheng was even more excited after hearing this. They had always thought of using military suppression and had never thought of any other way. Pei Yun's words completely opened up a new method, and it didn't require any soldiers to be used.

Xiao Zhiruo's eyes lit up. She had not expected that Pei Yun's words about trading with the Southern Barbarians would be interpreted in this way. Her thoughts were in turmoil. It was indeed a pity that this man was only a thousand households.

"We share the same culture, so what does that mean?" Xiao Zhiruo asked.

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