South of Luoyang City.

Commodus and his group of Roman merchants, while marveling at the grandeur and height of Luoyang's city walls, also turned their attention to the city gates.

It was midday, and the number of merchants and ordinary people entering and leaving Luoyang was exceptionally high, with a constant flow of traffic and people.

There were six passages set up at the city gate: two were for horse-drawn carriages of merchants, two were for pedestrians, and the other two were for people leaving the city. The six passages were clearly defined and well-ordered.

Four groups of people were lined up in front of the city gate. The two shortest groups of pedestrians were nearly two kilometers long, while the caravan of merchants stretched for a full five kilometers. And people kept joining the procession.

"As expected of the capital of the Han Dynasty, just looking at the pedestrians and merchants entering the city, one can feel its prosperity!"

"Yes, and look at the clothes those people are dressed in, they're so much better off than the people of Rome!"

Watching the people queuing to enter the city, the Roman merchants discussed among themselves with great curiosity.

At the same time, Yang Ci, who was in charge of welcoming the Roman delegation, also arrived before Commodus with a group of officials from the Ministry of Rites.

Yang Ci smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "Welcome Prince Kang Maode to the Great Han Dynasty! His Majesty has specially sent this old man to express his welcome to Your Highness!"

The guide accompanying them immediately translated Yang Ci's words to Kang Maode, also including Yang Ci's identity.

Upon learning that the old man before him was actually a high-ranking official in the cabinet who managed all the etiquette affairs of the entire Han Dynasty, Kang Maode immediately bowed to Yang Ci in accordance with the etiquette he had learned.

"Thank you for your kind invitation, Grand Secretary Yang. Please convey my highest respect to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Han Dynasty on my behalf!"

"Very well, I will certainly deliver the message!"

Seeing Kang Maode's good manners, even the usually strict and rigid Yang Ci couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

"It's getting late, everyone, please follow me into the city!"

With that, Yang Ci led Kang Maode and the others to the back of the procession entering the city.

"this……"

Seeing that Yang Ci had actually led him to join the queue, Kang Maode asked in confusion, "Grand Secretary Yang, do we also have to queue?"

Yang Ci replied matter-of-factly, "Of course, this is a rule set by His Majesty. Except for emergency military situations and soldiers returning in triumph, everyone else must queue to enter the city!"

"I see!"

Upon hearing Yang Ci's explanation, Kang Maode nodded, but a hint of disappointment flashed across his face.

When the Han envoys arrived in Rome, the city cleared the streets and laid out red carpets to welcome them to the horse farm with the highest honors.

As the son of a Roman emperor, he had traveled thousands of miles to the Han Dynasty on a diplomatic mission. As a nation known for its etiquette, the Han Dynasty should at least show him the appropriate level of hospitality.

However, now he had to queue up behind a group of people to enter the city, and the contrast between the two made Kang Maode feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Seemingly noticing Kang Maode's subtle expression, Yang Ci smiled and said, "Your Highness, don't overthink it. In our Great Han, we treat all people equally, whether they are locals or outsiders."

Those who come from afar are welcome, and our great Han Dynasty will treat them with courtesy, but we will never allow our local people to suffer any injustice because of this.

"After entering the city, the imperial court will provide appropriate hospitality, but before entering, you must still follow the rules of our Great Han!"

Yang Ci's words were very clear, making it clear to Kang Maode that although he was a guest of the Han Dynasty, the Han Dynasty's way of treating guests was still in accordance with the rules, and the Han people would not feel discriminated against just because of a group of outsiders.

"I understand now. The Han Dynasty is indeed an extraordinary nation. No wonder the people love and respect His Majesty the Emperor so much!"

Upon hearing this, Kang Maode's displeasure vanished instantly, and he began to praise the Emperor of the Han Dynasty.

In his eyes, this was perhaps the main reason why the subjects of the Han Dynasty so adored and loved the emperor.

A monarch who always considers the interests of his people should naturally enjoy the rights he is entitled to.

Thinking of this, Kang Maode couldn't help but feel a deep longing for this mysterious Emperor of the Han Dynasty.

While queuing to enter the city, Kang Maode respectfully inquired about the affairs of the Han emperor from Yang Ci.

Upon hearing Kang Maode's question, Yang Ci chuckled and recounted the performance at the previous royal banquet to Kang Maode.

After all, the purpose is to promote the emperor's wisdom and prowess to others, so the emperor's resume, which has been carefully compiled by countless experts, is the most suitable.

"Oh my God, His Majesty the Emperor of the Han Dynasty is truly a great ruler!!"

After listening to Yang Ci's introduction, Kang Maode couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, his face full of longing and anticipation.

At a time when the Han Dynasty was in turmoil, he ascended the throne at the young age of twelve and successively balanced the court, developed people's livelihood, and reorganized the military.

In the following decade, they built invincible armies, not only completely eradicating the centuries-old threat posed by the nomadic tribes of the grasslands to the Han Dynasty, but also opening up vast territories, bringing the Han Dynasty's influence to an unimaginable height.

According to Commodus, even all the emperors of Rome combined could not match half of this Han emperor's achievements.

For Commodus, whose admiration for strength was ingrained in his very being, this was undoubtedly like a divine intervention.

At this moment, he finally understood the meaning of the title "Son of Heaven". If it were not for the protection of Heaven, how could a mortal do such a thing?

At this moment, he couldn't wait to pay homage to the emperor, who was revered as a god by the people of the Han Dynasty, and to offer him his highest respect.

At the same time, the group passed through the city gate and entered the city.

Standing on the wide and clean street, looking at the neat shops and the dazzling array of goods on both sides, Commodus and the group of Roman merchants were once again astonished.

This corner of the city gate alone is far more prosperous than the most bustling areas in Rome.

Just how wealthy was this man?

With their doubts in mind, Kang Maode and his group followed Yang Ci toward the inn.

The deeper they went into the city, the more shocked they became. The shops in the city were much more luxurious and had a wider variety of goods than those at the city gate.

Besides shops, the royal restaurants, royal opera houses, martial arts halls, teahouses, chess clubs, painting studios, and other entertainment venues broadened the horizons of these Romans.

In their view, compared to the entertainment of the Han Dynasty, the gladiator battles that the Romans used to be obsessed with were no different from those of barbarians.