"According to the legends, the Emperor drives Eight Steeds for 35,000 miles to the west, arriving at the Kingdom of Queen Mother of the West, where he meets the Queen Mother of the West, receiving a gift of ten carts of Beautiful Jade. When you calculate the distance and the jade-producing area, don't you find it happens to be the place we passed by earlier?" Qin Mi smiled and said. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"That's just a fictional number, and we all know jade is produced near the Yongchang Border (Northern Myanmar). However, the terrain is rugged and difficult to transport back. If you like it, we can get ten carts for you, and you can transport it back yourself." Zhang Su waved his hand, indicating for Qin Mi to stop playing with these nonsensical stories.

"No, no, no, and not only this, but also in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, there's a song by the Queen Mother of the West: 'Venturing to the Western Land, dwelling in its wilderness. Tigers and leopards gather, living among magpies. A blessed fate doesn't move, I am the Imperial Princess. Why does Emperor Taizong of Tang come to take you away? Playing the reed and drum, my heart soars. The sons of the Emperor Taizong of Tang are only the hope of Heaven'." Qin Mi laughed heartily as he repeated.

Instantly, Zhang Su, Zhang Song, and others twitched their mouths. If explained this way, the Southwest indeed fits better than the Northwest, and such an interpretation can indeed be applied.

"Alright, let's stop this nonsense. This is part of the Classic of Western Mountains. You're practically slapping others in the face; don't overdo it." Huang Quan said, turning his head to the side. After all, he had previously worked with Qin Mi to consult classic books and compare maps for a period of time, so he wasn't entirely ignorant.

"Oh well, in any case, you all need not worry. I've fabricated enough of the historical records. Even if it's hard to justify things then, won't we have this?" After being exposed by Huang Quan, Qin Mi showed no trace of embarrassment. Instead, he waved his fists with a smug expression.

"Do we really need this kind of strategy against these small states?" Zhang Su sneered. "Sometimes, Zichi overthinks things. I'll teach you how to govern this place. Although we haven't managed it for many years, we are the true masters here."

After speaking, Zhang Su turned his head and beckoned to his Personal Guard Squad Leader, who then rode up to him.

"Take a team and go to the Manipur Kingdom, have them move over; we need to requisition that place temporarily." Zhang Su instructed his Personal Guard Squad Leader.

The Personal Guard Squad Leader clasped his fists in salute, then led his men rushing towards the East Side. What the Kushan could do, the Han Empire naturally could do as well.

"It's actually that simple. The significance of your map isn't just for showing those small states. Its greatest significance lies in fooling the people back home, making them believe we are righteous, but does the Han Dynasty need righteousness?" Zhang Su sneered and said.

"Speaking of righteousness, does killing another state's envoy within someone else's capital city, beheading that country's National Master in front of their officials and tossing the head onto the King's head, hijacking the King of one state, summoning the officials of that state, then killing the King and establishing a new lord count as righteousness?" Zhang Song turned to chime in.

Wang Lei and others twitch their mouths twice after hearing Zhang Song's words. These are indeed deeds done by the Han Empire before. Diplomacy? I'm this domineering, go ahead and bite me!

Having done such things, the Han Empire indeed would hardly be deemed righteous from any angle in the eyes of other countries. However, what's wrong with lacking righteousness? Between countries, there's no righteousness but strength. Their hero, our archfiend, when have countries ever relied on righteousness to speak?

"That's indeed the reality. Righteousness is not more important to us than strength. Though occasionally we do need some righteousness, when it comes to internal affairs, who dares say we aren't righteous?" Cheng Ji shrugged in agreement.

"Internal affairs?" Li Hui tugged at his lips. Well, from a certain angle, Vassal States are indeed internal affairs. Didn't the Ailao Kingdom submit not long ago?"

Qin Mi tugged at his lips, looking at his map, "All my effort was in vain."

"No, no, no, your appearance matched with fists has significance," Yan Yan, who had been listening and smiling without speaking, remarked, "Appearance is indeed useful. Though it cannot be eaten as food, it can be shown to others."

"That's about its purpose. But this place has vast lands with scarce people. If we consider moving people here, going via Yongchang Prefecture is safe, but it's not a short journey, and the terrain is rugged. Even mountain dwellers might not want to come." Wu Yi turned his head to inquire among the civil servants.

"Hmm, that's indeed true." Zhang Su thought for a moment and sighed, "Yizhou has many poor, forbidding places, but moving them here, just considering the journey, few might be willing."

"This is indeed a very big issue." Zhang Song also repeatedly furrowed his brows.

Obviously, these civil officials, though they've thought about moving people here after victory, haven't given much thought to how to relocate. Yet, governing the realm clearly outweighs conquering it.

"How about building a road? Construct a straight route from Chengdu to Yongchang, then another from Yongchang to here. With such roads, troop movements will be much easier. After all, if we calculate distance, taking the straight road would take only days, whereas we have slogged for over a month." Wang Lei considered and suggested, "What about this proposal?"

"No money." Zhang Song spread his hands, "Building such a long road won't be cheap."

"Ziqiao, that's not a problem." Zhang Su smirked, "We could loot from one country to another, money might even be in excess. Even if it's insufficient, we can recruit labor locally. We may lack money, but these guys don't."

"Then, Ziqiao, you've got good numbers. Bring people and calculate comprehensively the materials, manpower, and other aspects, then give me the figures. I'll distribute the expenses evenly across these states. They haven't paid tribute for many years; it's time to make up all at once." Zhang Song said with a cold glare to Fei Shi about the small states that do not comply, eradicating them directly would suffice.

"Alright, I'll quickly come up with a plan and calculation data. Are we sure there won't be any issues with our conduct?" Fei Shi hesitated.

From their collaboration, starting from inciting mischief among the Southern Barbarians in Yizhou, they've managed to deceive up but can justify it, as there was a constantly berserk Liu Zhang cursing them, and their goals and methods were sound.

But currently, they are intercepting tributes from small states—not just one or two. In this era of Imperial Authority, it's not something to easily talk away.

"We're just punishing the Rebel Faction not respecting the Emperor's orders. As for seizing spoils, I remember it's been always soldiers get three-tenths, we get three-tenths, and the higher-ups three-tenths. This time we made it clear all spoils are for warfare, so there's nothing to worry about." Zhang Song put on a fearsome smile.

Fei Shi looked at all the Civil and Military Officials present, including the formerly loyal Wang Lei, and realized everyone showed the same rightful stance. Instantly, he understood he must keep pace with them.

Because the combined power of these people is enough to dictate everything concerning Yizhou, and any Yizhou person daring to confront such a group would find only one dead-end.

"..." Fei Shi hesitated a bit and sighed, shelving the issue, "Let's proceed with this plan." Having boarded the pirate ship, getting off wasn't really viable.

After a battle beyond Yizhou, Zhang Song and others displayed different resolve, even those loyal to Liu Zhang like Zhang Su, Wang Lei and others had a clearer understanding of state versus Feudal Lords. Liu Zhang was after all, merely a Feudal Lord and not a state.

Thus, under current circumstances where Liu Zhang's interests aren't touched, yet profits are gained for the Han Empire, even Zhang Su and others would have no objections. Between Feudal Lords and states, they might soon make a very clear choice.