Crossword Genius

Brief answer received by staff in commercial channel (4,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

silk road

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'commercial channel' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't tell whether it can be defined by this definition.

'brief answer received by staff' is the wordplay.
'brief' becomes 'silk' (I've seen this before).
'answer' becomes 'a' (abbreviation eg in Q and A).
'received by' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'staff' becomes 'rod' (both can mean a pole or stick).
'a' inserted inside 'rod' is 'road'.
'silk'+'road'='SILK ROAD'

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for silk road that I've seen before include "Ancient trade route from China" , "Old trade route to China" , "Caravan route" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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