Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 165 A Small Note on Writing Chinese Characters

After bidding farewell to the excited and grateful faces, Louis turned and left.

The unconscious mage was personally handed over to the medical staff of Hanshan Territory.

"Take good care of him, and let me know immediately once he wakes up."

Several medical staff initially thought it was just an ordinary injured person, but when they lifted the blanket on the makeshift stretcher, they couldn't help but gasp in shock.

"This...this person is still alive?"

"Was his chest... gnawed on by something?"

"And she can even breathe... It's... unbelievable..."

Although they were shocked, they were novices and quickly realized what was happening, nodding repeatedly: "Understood! We'll handle it right away!"

The stretcher was carefully pushed into the town's clinic. In the room filled with the aroma of medicine, a life-or-death emergency was about to begin.

Louis did not linger and stepped into the government hall of the Fir Territory.

Although it's called the "Government Affairs Office," its appearance is far from what most people imagine.

In reality, this is just a large, semi-basement dwelling that has been converted.

Located in the town center, the building is constructed from local timber and stone. Its simple structure is exceptionally sturdy, and the mottled marks on the corners of the walls clearly record the erosion caused by the wind and snow of the North.

As you push open the door, the warmth of the fireplace rushes in, driving away all the chill from outside.

The interior was not luxurious, but it was extremely clean.

Several notebooks and territory documents were arranged on the wooden bookshelf, along with a few practical writing desks. The one in the very center had been polished to a shine, clearly prepared especially for the lord.

The town mayor, agricultural official, civil officer, sheriff, medical officer, and others were already waiting and rose to bow.

These officials were mostly experienced, reliable, and loyal men transferred by the Duke of Calvin from the Calvin family.

Several others were "potential candidates" selected by the daily intelligence system: young, energetic, and, most importantly, absolutely trustworthy.

Louis removed his cloak and gloves, looked around at everyone, and said in a gentle tone, "I'd like to hear about the current situation in Fir Territory."

The mayor immediately replied, "My lord, thanks to your policies and support, we have survived the winter and are preparing for the spring."

The agricultural official then reported: "The ice has just receded, and the shallow soil has loosened. It is expected that the land can be fully plowed within ten days. Seeds and farming tools have been distributed by the Red Tide Territory, and sowing can begin."

"This year, we've also cultivated more than ten acres of new land," the town mayor said with a smile. "It was done voluntarily by the migrants. They said that since they survived, they wanted to grow something to repay you."

Louis nodded, indicating that he was satisfied.

The fir forest lacks geothermal heat and has harsh conditions, so the sowing time is roughly the same.

Louis sat in the main seat, listened to the agricultural report, and then asked softly, "Is the population settled after winter? What is the recent resettlement situation?"

A civil official immediately stood up and replied, "Your Excellency, the population count this spring has been completed. The mortality rate of migrants who spent the winter was less than 10%, and there has been a continuous influx of people from outside the region into Hanshan Territory recently."

He unfolded his notepad, speaking slightly faster as if suppressing some kind of excitement: "We have already expanded two migrant communities outside Hanshan Township, and their housing and water needs are now basically guaranteed."

Most of the displaced people are willing to work or learn a trade, and arrangements are being made. The permanent population of Fir Forest Territory is now approaching one thousand.

Louis nodded, a satisfied look on his face: "If more refugees come, try to accept them. As for food, Red Tide Territory can still allocate it, so try to keep people here."

"What will the security situation be like next?"

A tall, imposing knight stepped forward and knelt on one knee: "Reporting to you, sir, the overall order within Firwood Territory is good. Two small groups of bandits were discovered in the woods outside the town at the end of winter, but no one was injured and they have been driven away."

In addition, some bankrupt former noble soldiers from the surrounding area have come to join us, and we are gradually accepting and integrating them according to plan. So far, there have been no problems.

“Very good, if they are willing to follow the rules, we can take them in.”

Louis then inquired about several matters: the stockpiling of medicinal herbs, the repair of ironware, and the progress of clearing the mountain roads.

The government officials answered one by one without hesitation, clearly having been prepared in advance.

"The thermal energy device for the fire-backed turtles is operating stably," the agricultural official added, "and the survival rate of livestock in the breeding area is exceptionally high."

"As for the school," another young officer looked up and smiled, "more than sixty children have already enrolled, and this spring we will double the enrollment. The school mainly teaches general knowledge and handicrafts, and also teaches literacy, but the results are so-so."

……

After listening to everyone's reports, Louis did not speak immediately, but he had already nodded silently in his heart.

These people certainly did not disappoint him.

He set the policy, but it was these people who shouldered the burden and carried it out step by step to make it truly effective.

This place faces numerous difficulties: no geothermal energy, no surplus food, no convenient transportation lines...

But Hanshanling held on, the population stabilized, the fields were planted, and even the refugees were settled in an orderly manner.

Louis turned around and said in a calm but firm tone, "You did a great job."

The officials in the hall were taken aback, and then they all stood up and bowed.

Louis continued, “Winter is over, spring has come, and it is a new beginning. You maintained order in the fir forest during the most difficult time, and you also protected the hopes of these people. I remember that.”

Upon hearing this, the town mayor became excited and couldn't help but say, "Lord, this is all thanks to you. It was because of the policies and supplies you prepared in advance that we were able to hold on."

To be honest, without you, we...couldn't get anything done with just enthusiasm alone.

The civil officials nodded in agreement: "We were just following the framework you set out, and the results we have achieved are all thanks to your foresight."

Although the words were sincere, they still contained a hint of flattery.

Upon hearing this, Louis slightly curled the corners of his mouth: "There's no need to exaggerate. It's not that miraculous."

But I know that Hanshan has been able to hold on because of people like you who are supporting it. Words are no substitute for concrete actions.

He reached out and patted the box on the table, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.

An attendant, who was already prepared, took out small cloth bags and handed them to each official.

The bag wasn't big, but it was heavy.

“There are ten gold coins inside,” Louis said casually. “They are what you deserve. Not a reward, but your due.”

The officials were stunned for a moment.

Ten gold coins.

Many of them had never even touched so much gold in their entire lives, let alone received it all at once.

The mayor's mouth gaped open, and he could only stammer, "This...this is too valuable..."

After a brief silence, a complex emotion quietly spread through the government office.

Looking at the heavy bags of gold coins in their hands, some had reddened eyes, while others gripped the bag tightly.

That wasn't a bag of gold, but a sign of respect and trust that was truly appreciated.

“Thank you, sir.” The mayor bowed first, his voice low and hoarse, yet revealing undisguised excitement. “We…we will definitely continue to work hard to build Fir Territory into an even better place!” “When my child was born, our family didn’t even have enough to eat,” the young agricultural official said, his hands trembling as he clutched the bag of gold coins, his eyes already reddening. “Now he can learn to read at the school, has food to eat, and a place to sleep, all thanks to you…”

Faced with the grateful looks from the crowd, Louis simply smiled.

He did not put on any airs; he simply accepted their gratitude with composure.

“I’ve said before that if you work hard under me, you’ll be rewarded. You’ve achieved results, so you deserve what’s rightfully yours.” His tone carried a sense of entitlement.

“I manage the territory, but its fate rests on your shoulders. I believe in you and hope you will continue to persevere.”

After he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall became quieter.

“However,” Louis suddenly shrugged and joked, “I’m not made of iron either. I haven’t had a break since this morning, so I’m a little tired. Take me to my place, I want to rest for a while.”

"Yes!" Everyone responded in unison.

The town mayor personally led the way, with a large group of people following behind, as they slowly made their way along the streets and alleys of Hanshan Town in the early morning.

The streets of Fir Town remain simple, with low and practical houses. The stone-paved roads are covered with newly melted snow, but every inch of the ground has been carefully swept, and even the puddles have been swept into the drainage ditches.

Wherever they went, people stopped what they were doing.

They were old men shoveling snow, young people repairing roofs, women carrying wooden buckets back from the well, and children munching on dry bread by the window.

They looked up at the figure walking slowly in the middle of the street, surrounded by officials.

They wanted to cheer, but were afraid of disturbing the great lord; yet, Louis could still feel the burning passion in them.

Finally, the group arrived at the gate of a courtyard.

"This is... the best house in Fir Town right now." The mayor introduced with a slightly nervous expression, pointing to the newly built semi-basement house in front of him.

It is said to be "the best," but that is only relative.

This is a modern dwelling nestled into the hillside, made of rammed earth and stone, with heavy doors and windows, and a roof covered with hay and stone slabs to prevent the cold from seeping in.

Although it is still somewhat rough and simple, it is clearly a product of thought and effort.

The courtyard in front of the door has been paved with tiles, and a bunch of early spring wildflowers are stuck in the corner of the wall, their bright colors clumsily decorating this solid space.

"This is the best house in Fir Town right now," the mayor repeated in a low voice.

They seemed worried that this simple style was not worthy of the new prefect who had returned from the battlefield.

“Very good.” Louis’s tone was not loud, but it relieved the mayor.

Then he said, "You can all leave now. I want to be alone for a while."

No one dared to ask any more questions, and they all took their leave, leaving only their attendants to put down his luggage and light the fire in the stove before quietly leaving and closing the door behind them.

The moment the door closed, the noise and salutes finally subsided into silence.

The fire crackled in the stove, and the sounds of a woodcutter chopping wood and roosters crowing drifted from afar outside.

Louis took off his cloak, placed his sword against the wall, sat on the edge of the bed, and quietly watched the flickering firelight for a moment.

He was alone, not to rest, of course.

The main purpose of coming to Hanshan is to rescue people.

But how could he just leave after saving Lyshill?

"Take advantage of this time and get everything done," he muttered to himself.

Louis pulled a small notebook from his pocket.

It was a notebook that had been read many times; the edges of the pages were curled up, and the cover was worn white.

Even so, Louis's movements when he opened it were still careful and solemn.

The cover was covered with rows of neat, square characters.

To people in this world, those were nothing more than an ancient, lost cipher.

But only he knew that he had deliberately written it in Chinese.

A writing system that only he can understand in this world.

“After all, if this book is lost one day and someone accidentally picks it up…” A bitter smile appeared on Louis’s lips. “I don’t want anyone to guess that I can predict the future.”

This notebook contains not just scattered thoughts, but a dense collection of information.

These are all daily intelligence alerts from the intelligence system.

Louis didn't believe his memory could remain perfectly intact for ten years.

For this reason, he would meticulously record every piece of intelligence here and categorize it carefully.

He flipped through the pages, stopping at one of them, which was titled: "Summary of Resources in Hanshan Territory".

"There are quite a few usable things after all," he murmured to himself.

“Cold gravel...produced from the Beiling Mine.” He read aloud, his fingertip pointing to the line of words. “Although it is only a low-grade stone, it is sturdy and durable, barely qualified for building roads, ramparts, or even city walls...Red striped fir is also available, which is not easy to warp or crack, and is cold-resistant and tough.”

He leaned back in his chair, a slight smile playing on his lips: "If these two are combined properly, they will be perfect for building my earthen-building-style castle... It will not only withstand wind and snow, but also help defend against foreign enemies."

He then moved his gaze downwards, where he saw various food items.

Cold-berry bushes, wild plums, frozen scale fish...

These names held no romantic or poetic meaning in his eyes, only stark value.

"Hmm... Although it's a remote place, the quality of these grains is much better than in the early days of the Red Tide Territory." Yulan murmured softly, tapping her fingertips lightly on the table.

Cold berries are rich in energy, and although they are sour, they are extremely durable and can be stored for a long time. They are excellent for making jams and wines.

Wild plums are a good product because they are easy to dry and sun-dry, and they are excellent as a snack after being air-dried.

Frozen scale fish is a specialty of the frigid river sections. Its flesh is firm and naturally has a slightly icy texture, making it an excellent nutritional supplement.

“These… can be consumed by the people themselves, or they can be cultivated and sold on a large scale.”

He had already quickly visualized the scene in his mind:

After being collected, cold berries and wild plums are handed over to fruit processing workshops, where they are boiled, pickled, dried, packaged, and sold.

Frozen fish can be stored in a simple smokehouse and cold storage room without any problem for a long time.

If the smoking technique from the Red Tide Territory is added, the commercialization of these products will be almost a natural outcome.

"Centralized acquisition, processing, and storage..."

“As long as there is a system, we can directly enter the market through the Calvin Chamber of Commerce under our control.” His eyes lit up. “This is not just about grain, but about the entire industrial chain of the Fir Territory.”

(End of this chapter)