Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 220 Military Power
The day after Louis returned, the clouds hung heavy over Red Tide Keep, as if the entire North was holding its breath.

Louis put on his military uniform and bid farewell to his two wives in the room.

Emily gently straightened his clothes, but her eyes held an unspeakable worry.

Sif didn't say anything, but just held his hand for a while before letting go.

But time is of the essence, and the allure of pleasure cannot hold one's heart.

Louis walked out of the room with firm steps.

Every second of delay means the fall of new territory and the birth of a new insect corpse.

The meeting room of the Red Tide Castle.

This is where they held a meeting a few months ago, but the atmosphere here is completely different from before.

The long table in the hall was filled with nobles from all walks of life. Some looked haggard, some had shifty eyes, and most were silent with their heads down and dejected expressions.

Some of them were rescued from the insect horde by Louis himself, while others desperately fled to the Red Tide before their own fortresses fell.

No one spoke in the hall; only the wind blew in through the cracks in the windows, bringing the icy chill of late winter to Chichao.

Louis stood before the head of the table, offering no pleasantries or small talk, but simply surveying the crowd with a calm yet cold gaze.

The nobles either bowed their heads or stole glances at his expression, all with somber faces, as if they had already sensed that this would not be a lukewarm discussion.

Louis paused for a moment, then raised his hand and pointed to the huge map of the North in the center of the long table.

"You all should know what the situation is like in the North right now."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word resonated deep within everyone's hearts.

"The entire western front has fallen. House Gwent, House Heller... many of you used to call them 'pillars of the North,' and now what?"

He glanced around, and some people instinctively looked away.

"Their territory was taken over by the End Nest and turned into a breeding ground for insect corpses. Family members either died or became insect corpses."

Louis's voice was calm and unhurried, yet it was as if it had been carved into stone, carrying a chilling quality that was hard to look at directly.

"And Frostspear City is also being besieged."

He reached out and placed a crimson stone chess piece heavily on the map of the North, pressing it firmly onto the location of Frostspear City.

The chess piece was surrounded by countless black lines, one after another, dense as a spider web, like a noose slowly tightening.

“I know you don’t have many troops left, and it’s impossible for you to fight the Insect Corpse… So if the Red Tide falls,” he paused slightly, “none of us will survive.”

"Without shelter, without supplies, without a rear base, your family will abandon the city in panic like the Nott family, with no way to escape; your offspring will be disemboweled by insect corpses in the mountains, and your family crest will be nailed to the resin walls of the mother hive, becoming the nest of the next wave of insects."

His tone was completely unpretentious, but it was precisely this calmness that made people feel the undeniable truth.

"As you know, the insect corpses are neither bandits nor rebels. They will not make peace, will not offer ransom, and will not recognize whose descendant you are."

If Snow Peak County is completely destroyed, you will not even receive a dignified death as nobles.

Upon hearing this, a young viscount shuddered and nearly knocked over the water glass beside him.

Another old nobleman gripped his cane tightly, his face as pale as paper, but he forced himself to remain calm and straighten his back.

Several family heads exchanged glances, their eyes filled with complex emotions and fear.

Some complained, some regretted, and some wanted to say something, but after seeing the row of Crimson Tide Knights standing silently behind the main seat, they swallowed their words.

The air seemed to freeze.

"I know you don't have many troops left. But I also know that, whether you like it or not, you can't hold your territory with this little force."

As he said this, his tone suddenly turned serious:
"But can we rely on the Red Tide Knights to come to our aid alone? We only have one direction for rescue, only one supply system, and only limited physical strength and energy."

We cannot save everyone at the same time, unless…

He slowly walked to the table and placed his hand on the map.

"From this day forward, your soldiers will be under my unified command."

These words, like a sharp blade, pierced through the oppressive atmosphere, leaving everyone sitting in shock, their expressions varied.

"From this moment on, the knights in your hands will no longer be 'soldiers of a certain family,' but the defense line of Snow Peak County. I want your soldiers to garrison passes, defend strategic locations, participate in mobile support, and become part of the Red Tide defense system."

Only in this way can we have a chance to hold out and wait for imperial reinforcements to arrive.

As Louis finished speaking, the hall fell into a suffocating silence.

At the long table in the Red Tide, faces appeared even paler under the shadow of the red flag.

Some people clenched their fists slightly, while others subconsciously looked around, trying to find allies, but no one spoke.

It's not that they don't understand what Louis is saying. They just don't want to face the reality:

They have nowhere to retreat.

“If you still want to retain any ‘lordly dignity,’ then go back to your ruined territories.” Louis’s voice was emotionless. “I will not stop you, but I will not send a single soldier to rescue you a second time.”

As he spoke, he slowly took half a step back, making way for the map.

"Choose now. Will you hand over your forces to me to rebuild a real defense line, or... keep them and let them be buried with your names in the swarm of insects?"

These words struck everyone's hearts like a hammer blow.

The first to stand up was Jon Harvey.

Without hesitation or delay, he stepped forward, knelt on one knee, presented the insignia representing military power with both hands, and said in a deep voice:
“I, Jorn Harvey, am willing to submit all the remaining troops of my territory to the unified command of the Red Tide Command.”

His voice was exceptionally clear in the silence.

Immediately afterwards, Mrs. Grant stood up.

Her movements were slow but extremely firm. She carefully removed the family crest adorned with silver thread and handed it to the messenger beside her, who then presented it to her.

“My territory has been destroyed, but my family still exists. I understand that the Red Tide is our last line of defense... We will no longer act on our own.”

She lowered her head slightly, as if bidding farewell to a period of history, or perhaps welcoming the arrival of a new order.

Roland Sirius then nodded slowly, his wrinkles seeming to deepen further.

He didn't speak, but simply took the ring engraved with the Sirius emblem off his hand and placed it on the table.

It was a symbol, a symbol of power belonging to an old era, which he had now abandoned with his own hands.

The minor nobles exchanged glances.

Some hesitated, some showed signs of struggle, but in the end, under the cold gaze of the Crimson Tide Knights, they stood up one by one and handed over their family crests, which represented the right to command their private armies.

“You have made a wise choice,” Louis said calmly. “From now on, the Red Tide Command will coordinate the deployment and troop movements of all fortresses, natural passes, and village strongholds. Your troops will be incorporated into the theater system for rotation and frontline support.”

He raised his hand, and a series of defense deployment maps were unfolded on the long table.

On it, black lines outline the mountain terrain, yellow sun patterns mark the controlled areas, and blue indicates the next key areas for defense deployment.

"The northern blocking position in the Glacier Canyon will be defended by the Red Tide Heavy Cavalry; the Snow Forest Valley is a key supply route, and will be incorporated into the Noble Forces, with Red Tide Surveillance Bureau personnel stationed there together."

"The supply depots and logistical points in various locations will no longer be managed by you individually, but will be jointly controlled by the Red Tide Finance Bureau and the Quartermaster Department. At the same time, I will send knight commanders and inspectors to each location to ensure the implementation of these instructions." No one voiced any objection.

The arrogance of the old nobility died quietly within this fortress.

No bloodshed or weapons were needed; a single troop mobilization order and a silent meeting were enough to overthrow and rebuild the entire Xuefeng old system.

They once held the power of life and death in this region, took pride in their family's honor, and looked down on all emerging forces.

But now, their city is burned, their people devoured, their knightly ranks shattered, and their centuries-old medals and battle flags are discarded. Their fate rests in the hands of the young man sitting at the end of the Crimson Tide table.

On this night destined to be remembered, a new and stark order of war was born from the fortress:

With the red tide as its core, it dominates resource allocation, coordinates combat force mobilization, and controls the issuance of commands.
With Louis as the guiding principle, the system integrates administrative command, tactical execution, and psychological control, permeating every garrison camp and every valley outpost with the "unity of military and government."

But this is not just about war.

Louis stood by the high window of the fortress, overlooking the continuous flames of the Red Tide garrison camp. There was no arrogance in his eyes, only a faint certainty and a certain... quiet ambition.

His goal for this meeting was never just to "defend Xuefeng County".

“Xuefeng County must be defended,” he murmured to himself. “But if all we do is defend it, it would be a waste.”

What he had to do was to instill the order of the Red Tide into every fleeing knightly force before the flames of war had died down.

It's not just about unified troop deployment or defensive line construction; it's about implementing the Red Tide ideology...

Stability, efficiency, obedience to orders, avoidance of aristocratic cliques, emphasis on coordination and systematic warfare—these qualities were thoroughly ingrained in the very marrow of these noble knights.

He wanted to show them what "systematic warfare" meant.

He wanted their knights, officers... to learn on the battlefield to obey the command headquarters, instead of waiting for the patriarch to give orders.

When the war ends, these families will become unfamiliar and vulnerable, while their soldiers, their heirs, their offspring... will become more accustomed to living under the Red Tide system, and may even be unable to live without it.

By then, without any political struggle or the overthrow of anyone, the future landscape of Xuefeng County for the next few decades will have already been written.

A slight smile played on his lips, a smile that didn't belong to a young lord still struggling in the quagmire of war, but rather to a chess player who had already foreseen victory.

"It's not just about winning, it's about making them remember who led them to victory."

This was not pride, but a rare moment of genuine joy that truly belonged to Louis.

In the midst of chaos, carnage, and a constant stream of bad news, the ability to calmly and clearly set up his own chessboard gave him an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

…………

A quiet room on the sanatorium floor, south of Red Tide Fortress.

Morning light streamed through the half-open window, casting a soft glow on the greyish-white stone floor of the room. The air was filled with the slightly bitter aroma of boiled herbs.

Flora sat back on the bed, her body thickly wrapped in animal skins and cotton blankets, with layers of snow-white bandages wrapped around her from the chest down.

Her right arm had completely lost sensation and was fixed to her chest with a sling, while only her left hand could still move slightly.

She gently scooped up a spoonful of porridge, swallowed it slowly, and her expression still betrayed a hint of weakness. But she straightened her back and did not show any sign of distress in front of others.

"Lord Louis has arrived," a servant announced in a low voice from outside the door.

Before she could answer, the door was gently pushed open.

Louis Calvin arrived through the snow, draped in a black cloak, with his leather armor and badges still hanging on his shoulders, and snow clinging to his boots, as if he had just stepped in from the cold wind.

His gaze was steady, and his clothes were neat, but the slight weariness in his eyes betrayed that he had been traveling for a long time.

"I'm sorry to have disturbed your rest." He nodded slightly in greeting, his voice gentle and restrained.

Flora looked up, a slight smile appearing on her tired face.

"You've come at the right time. This old man of mine must thank you," she said softly.

“You don’t have to do this.” Louis stood by the bed, his tone polite and sincere. “Red Tide was just doing its duty. It’s lucky that it saved you.”

Flora shook her head, a serious look appearing in her eyes.

"It's not luck, it's a life-saving grace."

If your knightly squad hadn't arrived in time…we'd probably be buried under the snow and ice by now. You saved us…Louis, I owe you my life.”

She paused for a moment, then, as if feeling it wasn't enough, changed her words again: "No, it's us all who owe you."

At that moment, her gaze towards Louis was devoid of any wariness, filled only with heartfelt gratitude and respect after experiencing such a devastating blow.

Louis lowered his head slightly, did not interrupt, but walked to her bedside and glanced at the notebook she had placed beside the couch.

The surface was covered with lines and annotations: the structure of the mother nest cocoon, the trajectory of magical fluctuations, the pattern of broken silk threads, and a few blurry, strange symbols.

“…I know this is all very messy,” Flora said softly, “but I’m afraid I might faint one day and forget everything, so I’ll write down as much as I can.”

Louis nodded slightly: “Very valuable. More meaningful than many ‘full reports’.”

Flora glanced at him, seemingly surprised. She had thought the young lord would just exchange a few polite words and that would be it; she hadn't expected him to take it so seriously.

She suddenly smiled: "The mages in the forest have received the request for help that I left. A stronger group of mages is on their way and will contact the governor's office directly."

“This is good news for the whole of the North,” Louis replied softly, his tone lighter.

Flora leaned gently against the cushion, looked at him, and suddenly said, "You are an extraordinary young man. To be able to defend a territory like this amidst such great turmoil... I truly did not expect it."

She looked at him without any suspicion or wariness, only pure admiration.

"Perhaps, it is truly the North's good fortune."

Louis smiled slightly but said nothing more. He simply folded the sketch of the mother nest carefully and put it into the inner pocket of his cloak.

He stood up and nodded to her: "Please rest assured and recuperate. I have already given instructions regarding the surgical treatment and protection. Chichao will do its best to take care of you."

As he reached the door, he paused, then added softly:
"Flora... Red Tide will not forget everything you brought back, nor will it forget the price you paid."

Louis closed the door, his footsteps echoing down the hallway.

He didn't turn around, but just let out a soft breath.

"Successfully increased favorability... right?"

He wasn't there to get emotionally involved. He was a knight, but not the kind who charged into battle on moral high ground.

He came today to make arrangements.

Flora is still alive, which means the gates of the Mage Forest are still open.

Chi Chao saved her, so she had to repay the favor. And that was exactly the favor he wanted.

It would be good if more archmages could be sent to support the Northern Territory, even if they came with selfish motives.

Understanding the magical structure of the mother nest would be a sure-fire way to make money.

"More combat power means a higher chance of winning."

"Get rid of that thing as soon as possible... so that the North will have winter to get through."

(End of this chapter)