Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 137 Duke Calvin's Letter

Nora's preparations proceeded with remarkable speed and efficiency.

First, prepare several ordinary-looking carriages. The outside of the carriages is covered with gray cloth, simple and inconspicuous, and the roof is slightly dusty, making them look like old things that have been bumped and snowed on all the way.

The carriage was filled with wooden crates and cloth bags, and from the outside, it looked like a typical container of a traveling merchant.

The so-called "wandering merchants" are a type of traveling merchant commonly found in the North. They do not rely on fixed shops for a living, but instead travel between various territories by wagon, selling silk, spices, medicines, or other daily necessities.

They either exchanged goods for money or bartered with others, wandering for years, almost unnoticed.

Occasionally, a few wandering merchants would visit Red Tide Territory, but Louis controlled the Calvin family's channels.

Most of the supplies were procured through targeted procurement and delivered directly to the designated area.

Therefore, they are not very interested in small business travelers with unpredictable origins.

Then Nora personally supervised the work, arranging more than ten guards behind the carriage.

The armor was all replaced with simple iron armor, with a rustic style, more like temporary guards who were mercenaries, and had nothing to do with noble knights; it was understated and practical.

The final preparation is the most crucial step: disguise.

Nora took out a small wooden box, opened it gently, and inside were clay, lip gloss, dark red powder, and a small amount of dye made from a mixture of herbs.

She picked up a pinch of paint, turned to Emily, and said, "Miss, this is for disguise. Draw a big scar on your cheek, so you won't look like a nobleman anymore."

Emily nodded without hesitation, sat in front of the dressing mirror, closed her eyes, and let others do as they pleased.

Nora's fingers moved deftly, carefully drawing the fake scars onto her fair cheeks.

This old scar, which runs diagonally across the brow bone, is tinged with a faint red and gray.

She then applied dust and dirt to Emily's nose and chin, making her face look less delicate and more weathered.

The person in the mirror was no longer the radiant duke's daughter from Frosthalberd City, but rather a weary yet resilient businesswoman.

Emily looked at herself in the mirror and smiled slightly, indicating her satisfaction: "It really does look quite presentable."

Of course, how could her father possibly keep all these arrangements for a "secret trip" from him?
Emily knew from the beginning that this was nothing more than a "performance".

She acted it out for her father to show him her attitude, knowing he would likely agree.

Sure enough, on the evening before she set off, the old butler whispered the matter to Duke Edmund.

At the dining table, the Duke simply gazed silently at the floating snow outside the window, and after a moment of contemplation, a knowing smile appeared on his face.

"Let her go..." he instructed his bodyguard, "have Victor escort her secretly, without letting her notice."

So, on the morning of the second day, before the fog had dissipated, several carriages discreetly drove out of the west gate of Frostspear City and quietly headed for Crimson Tide Territory.

Emily didn't know if the young viscount was someone she could entrust her life to.

But she was willing to go and see the answer for herself.

…………

On a spring morning, Louis was already seated in his office, ready to begin his day's work.

He held a cup of hot black tea in his hand, with a hint of lemongrass and mint, and sipped it slowly.

The old butler, Bradley, with his usual serious expression, placed a thick stack of documents on Louis's left side.

Actually, there aren't many documents in this pile; this is the norm for winter governance.

Although there are more people in Red Tide Territory, it is, after all, the northern border, and everything is suppressed by snow after winter sets in.

Compared to the hectic task of distributing grain in the autumn and the post-war reconstruction, these daily chores now feel as relaxing as a holiday.

At this moment, Bradley reminded him, "The one at the very top is the master's letter."

“The Duke of Calvin?” Louis raised an eyebrow.

Louis casually tore open the wax seal and unfolded the letter.

The elegant and neat handwriting came into view, so familiar that he knew at a glance that it was written by his father.

As he read, he gently rocked his chair, a playful smile creeping onto his lips.

First came the customary small talk and congratulations.

"Congratulations on finally becoming a viscount. It is truly the result of my years of careful cultivation."

“Carefully nurtured my foot!” Louis thought to himself without any politeness. “From the time I could walk until I came to the North, I’ve seen you less than twenty times, mostly at family gatherings.”

The second paragraph is the key point: the Duke expressed his great satisfaction that he had arranged a "very respectable marriage" for him.

The object of his affections is Miss Emily Edmund, the beloved daughter of the Duke of Edmund.

"what……"

Louis remained calm upon seeing this bombshell news, showing little shock.

After all, the daily intelligence system had already reported this matter several times.

Moreover, he received a piece of information about Miss Emily this morning.

[1: Miss Emily left Frostspear City in the early morning, disguised as a wandering merchant caravan, and set off, presumably heading to Crimson Tide Territory]

This piece of information was quite interesting and piqued Louis's interest.

Of course, he wasn't particularly nervous or in a hurry to respond. Anyway, she hadn't arrived yet, and besides, she didn't intend to come for a blind date openly; she was just "pretending to be a merchant" to see what kind of person he was and what he looked like.

I can't make any big arrangements myself.

Then came the third thing, which Louis was unaware of.

"In order to fully support the family, His Majesty the Emperor issued a new 'Decree for the Expansion of the Northern Territory'."

It has been decided to send your two elder brothers, Veris and Pal, to explore the territory. If they encounter any difficulties, please look after each other.

"Of course, you remain the Calvin family's representative in the North, and all matters concerning the family in the North are decided by you."

Upon seeing this, Louis raised an eyebrow: "Make me, the county magistrate, their babysitter?"

His fingers tapped unconsciously on the edge of the letter twice as he quickly weighed the options in his mind.

The names of the two brothers, Willis and Parr, are somewhat unfamiliar, and I don't even have much of an impression of Louis.

"Well... if my two brothers come to me for help, I'll help them if I can, but I won't cling to them."

But if you're truly dissatisfied and act foolishly, don't blame me for standing by and watching coldly.

He harbored no ill will towards these brothers, but he also felt no affection for them.

Blood ties cannot represent everything, especially this kind of "blood ties" that have no emotional connection whatsoever.

In this northern land where cold winds and war intertwine, only reliable partners and formidable strength are worthy of discussing the future, forming alliances, and receiving help.

He shook his head, folded the letter, put it in the mailbox, took out a sheet of paper, picked up his pen, and quickly wrote a reply.

The message was brief, roughly stating: "I am aware of the Northern Expansion Order. Thank you for your concern, Father. All is well in Red Tide Territory. May the glory of the Calvin family endure."

He didn't write anything more; it was brief and polite, with neat sentences but a calm and distant tone.

After finishing writing, he put the letter into an envelope, sealed it with wax, and handed it to Bradley, who was standing next to him: "Send it back."

"Yes." The butler carefully put away the reply and then said, "Sir, there are still some local matters. Although they are trivial, they need to be dealt with as soon as possible."

“Hmm.” Louis nodded and turned to the first page.

The first document was a report from the river management team.
"As the snow melts in the upper reaches of the Chiyan River, the water level is rising, and there may be flooding."

Louis glanced at the map and quickly circled the section of the river: "Have the river work team set off tomorrow to retrieve timber from the lumber warehouse, and bring the heavy rivet hammer with them."

He said it bluntly, "And also call two militia teams to help, so the houses don't get flooded."

“Yes.” Bradley noted it down.

The next document was a request from the road maintenance team: "Snow melting is accelerating, making the roads muddy and difficult to travel."

"Put together ten cartloads of wheat straw to pave the road. Don't spread it too thickly, or you'll sink in."

"clear."

Next, the workshop reported: "There is an oversupply of winter clothing; we recommend reducing production."

"Leather gloves and wool boots are suspended and replaced with repair and inventory management. Manpower is freed up to arrange bridge repairs and snow barrier construction."

……

Louis put down his pen, and one by one, the tasks were arranged smoothly by him, like bricks being laid steadily.

Bradley stood to the side, somewhat surprised, watching the lord make various decisions with nonchalant ease from his chair.

Although he had seen him countless times, his smooth and composed demeanor still made him sigh inwardly: "Although he is young, he is already more like a true ruler than many old lords."

Louis closed the last report, leaned back in his chair to rest for a while, and looked out the window at the street scene where the snow was gradually melting.

The ice on the eaves of the street corners had long since melted, and the snow at pedestrians' feet had turned into puddles of dark brown mud. Car ruts were deep, dogs were barking frequently, and sparrows had returned to the eaves, chirping incessantly.

He let out a soft breath and muttered to himself, "Spring is coming, it's that time of year again..."

That was not a simple change in temperature, but a sign that an entire territory was about to awaken.

Next came the thawing of ice, the release of livestock from the pen, the reopening of workshops, and the planting of seeds...

Louis thought that perhaps he could plan a holiday to celebrate.

So he took out a clean piece of paper, dipped it in ink, and picked up his brush.

Before long, a well-thought-out holiday planning proposal was completed.

He spread the paper out on the table, examined it for a moment and found nothing missing, then called Bradley over.

“I want to hold a celebration,” Louis said calmly, “for three things: first, to celebrate the arrival of spring; second, to celebrate the first anniversary of the establishment of the Red Tide Territory; and third, to celebrate my investiture as a viscount.”

He pushed the paper he had written on in front of Bradley.

Bradley looked down and read it, then his eyes widened slightly.

He had seen nobles hold festivals before, but most of them were just banquets and drinking parties, and had nothing to do with ordinary people.

In this plan, every design by Louis clearly points to a single goal.

Let the entire territory participate, from the old to the young, from slaves to farmers, so that everyone can find a sense of belonging in this celebration.

“This…is indeed quite novel.” Bradley was momentarily speechless, then said after a long pause, “I have never seen such a comprehensive and humane festival plan. I will arrange for its implementation immediately.”

(End of this chapter)