Everyone looked at each other in suspicion. Although they didn't think much of merchants, they couldn't possibly underestimate the presidents of the merchant guilds. These individuals commanded resources that could enrich an entire state in a short time; they were true magnates in every sense.

"Don't look at me. I don't know how my sister accomplished that, and I can assure you I didn't focus on it," Wu Yi explained immediately when he saw everyone showing signs of doubt.

"You wouldn't be telling me your sister started from scratch and built such a vast enterprise, would you?" Zhang Song rolled his eyes and said, "What a joke!"

"That's not the case. I really did give my sister a lot of support, but all of you here have been working with me for the last two years, so you can probably see the situation of my family." Wu Yi said with a wry smile, "Frankly speaking, now in the Wu family, it's just my sister and me who still have a semblance of sibling ties."

Back when the Wu family was preparing to run away, Wu Yuan wasn't joking. Wu Yuan was supposed to marry Liu Mao, but in the end, she ran away under my indulgence.

Fortunately, when Liu Yan died, he didn't pass the position to Liu Mao, and not long after, Liu Mao died; otherwise, Wu Yi might not have been able to stabilize the clan elders of the Wu family.

Everyone present showed expressions of disbelief, but in the end, they had to nod in agreement. Though the Wu family had many troubles these two years, Wu Yi indeed did nothing that compromised his dignity.

"So you shouldn't expect too much. Although I am his older brother, public matters are public and private matters are private. I can ensure better conditions than others might offer, but it may differ from what you have in mind." Wu Yi warned the crowd without hesitation.

The civil officials nodded silently. After accepting this reality, they felt there wasn't much to be surprised about. It wasn't unprecedented for female magnates to emerge from Ba-shu. Four hundred years ago, the widow Qing possessed wealth equivalent to eight billion silver taels and over five million gold taels; Wu Yuan was just a drizzle compared to that.

Places like Sichuan, Shu, Yong, and Guanzi were more tolerant toward women than others. Over the past few hundred years, these regions have produced either female magnates or talented women. Of the four great female talents of ancient China (there are five), three are from this region.

"Ziyuan can rest assured, as it's not our own property; it's not painful to use it." Huang Quan waved his hand and laughed, "Moreover, with such a channel, when Zichi returns, we will have plenty of places to use it."

"Yes, indeed, Jir Xiu, once I leave, you will take over my duties to collect and organize all information related to Kushan, cooperate with Kushan merchants, and obtain the most authentic accounts about Kushan." Qin Mi said to Yang Hong.

"As for what happens after returning, sacrificing at the Grand Ancestral Temple may lead to other incidents," Qin Mi, although not extraordinarily wise, had a normal political intellect, "It would be good if things could conclude by then."

"Regrettably, throughout history, there has never been a situation where, still having the strength to contend, one chooses to negotiate." Zhang Song sighed and said, "If our lord goes, we will follow to witness the event. It feels like something major will occur."

"Don't be so ominous." Zhang Su said irritably to Zhang Song, "The situation during the Grand Ancestral Temple sacrifice in Chang'an won't be good. The meeting of three houses and the Emperor is both an opportunity and a tribulation for the Emperor."

"As for our previous assessments about Liu Xuande, this time we will see clearly." Zhang Su glanced at the crowd and said, knowing well that many among them retained a fondness for Liu Bei, and even he wasn't immune.

Hearing this, everyone remained silent, and Zhang Su didn't mind much. It was Zhang Song who coughed twice, "Let's see if there's an opportunity then, if there is, solve the trouble of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect."

"Don't hold too much hope." Zhang Su advised, Zhang Song only chuckled; whether it succeeded or not wasn't that important to him. He was mostly going to watch, as even with his wisdom, he couldn't determine what would happen at the gathering of three houses at the Chang'an Grand Ancestral Temple sacrifice.

"Ziqiao, keep a good watch on our lord. If indeed there's a gathering of three houses in Chang'an for the Grand Ancestral Temple sacrifice, there will surely be undercurrents." Zhang Su warned seriously.

"Alright, alright, I'm very aware of that. What we can think of, the civil officials under those three certainly can too. When they attend the Grand Ancestral Temple sacrifice, the biggest issue isn't the undercurrents formed by others, but the conflicts within their own groups." Zhang Song waved off the concerns.

"As long as you're prepared." Zhang Su nodded, trusting Zhang Song's abilities, but worried that Zhang Song might not focus on this, rendering everything useless.

Then Zhang Su no longer spoke much and began discussing with Li Hui, Cheng Ji, and Lyu Kai on controlling various vassal states on the Indochina Peninsula while Gao Pei and others commenced their military clearing operations.

"Report, General, a Kushan envoy has arrived." A few days later at noon, while a group was casually handling official duties, Gao Pei appeared with a herald.

"It seems Kushan is faster than we anticipated." Zhang Song said with a smile, "Invite the envoy in."

Upon hearing this, the herald turned and left, while the civil and military officials quickly arranged themselves accordingly, taking appropriate seats. Once they were properly seated, the Kushan envoy was finally brought into the Han army's camp.

This time, it was quite different from the Kushan envoy Li Xin had seen before. At least, this time, the envoy sported Han attire and observed standard Han Dynasty etiquette. Although somewhat awkward, it was evident they had made an effort.

"Honorable General Yan, our Commander-in-chief Brack extends his highest respect and requests that you accept the agreed bet." After saluting, the Kushan envoy took a scroll made of sheepskin from his deputy and presented it with both hands to Yan Yan.

Yan Yan unfurled the scroll, glanced over, and recognized it as a map representing half of the Baisheng Dynasty's territory, satisfying his expectations of a Presentation Map. He nodded with satisfaction toward the Kushan envoy, though they weren't planning to seize that territory, Kushan's actions pleased them greatly.

"We've received Kushan's sincerity. We intend to reestablish the Southern Silk Road and construct a stronghold here. Would Kushan be willing to re-establish diplomatic relations with us?" Yan Yan rolled up the map, set it aside, and asked the envoy.

"We would be willing to rebuild relations with the Han Dynasty and are open to mutual exchanges, safeguarding the peace between the Wenga and Paesang western regions together." The Kushan envoy nodded and expressed with his Heart Connection to everyone present.

"Thus, Kushan and the Han Dynasty will be like brothers." Yan Yan said properly.

The Kushan envoy came to make peace, and everything they might discuss, including the relevant responses, had long been taught to Yan Yan by Zhang Su and others. Even which words to say or avoid were cautioned early on, while the fine details would later be handled by the civil officials.

As for the state documents and the framework of negotiations, these were naturally deemed spoils of war, presented to Liu Zhang, and tributed to the Emperor.

Subsequently, both sides exchanged pre-drafted provisions, which were reasonably loose frameworks. The remaining complex parts required further discussions between the civil officials from both sides. After receiving the documents, the Kushan envoy's tasks were mostly completed, yet they didn't leave.

"Generals, our Commander-in-chief Brack intends to host you at the Ganges River. Would you honor us with your presence?" Leaning on his Heart Connection, the Kushan envoy's words were humbly translated.