Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 268 Changes in the Red Tide Territory
Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the clouds, and the Red Tide Territory enjoyed a rare clear and bright day. There was no snow on the streets, and the air even had a touch of crisp warmth.

Louis Calvin traveled discreetly.

He wore a black cloak, and behind him were several well-equipped but somewhat unassuming knights.

The overall atmosphere was low-key, aiming to maintain safety without disturbing the public.

After all, he is like the sun in the Red Tide Territory. If he goes out too high-profile, it might cause a small commotion or even a stampede, which would be bad.

Today he went to the artisan district to discuss the manufacture of new weapons with the master craftsmen there.

Stepping out of the main gate of the government building, the stone-paved street stretches straight ahead. A cold wind blows, and the pine trees on both sides sway gently. The street is clean and tidy, showing the current order and new look of Chichao.

Despite his deliberate attempt to keep a low profile, some sharp-eyed citizens still recognized him.

After all, the sun's rays are inherently difficult to conceal.

But Louis quickly raised his hand and waved slightly, signaling everyone to be quiet and not to make a fuss.

People immediately quieted down, excitedly watching, but without shouting; they simply bowed their heads quietly to express their gratitude.

Beside Louis was Bradley, the nearly sixty-year-old butler of the Calvin family, who now held a significant position in the Red Tide government—this was no exaggeration.

Today, he personally accompanied Louis, reporting on the latest progress of the urbanization plan as they walked.

As the two walked along the street, with each step, the lines that were once on the blueprints were now taking shape in the bricks, cement, and zoning plans, with clear outlines and tremendous changes.

Bradley chuckled, pointed his cane at the street ahead, and said, "The urbanization plan for Red Tide Territory is gradually becoming a reality, just as you planned it."

While we cannot yet perfectly recreate your ideal vision, we are steadily getting closer.

Louis nodded, his eyes calm but revealing a hint of satisfaction.

The changes in the Red Tide Territory during his three-month absence were indeed enormous; for example, his daily administrative affairs were no longer confined to the earthen castle.

With the new administrative center officially in operation, all departments of Red Tide are now working together in a centralized location, significantly improving administrative efficiency and making the entire city-state run more smoothly.

“Well done, Bradley. As expected of the Calvin family’s old butler, your administrative efficiency has never disappointed me,” Louis praised.

Bradley smiled slightly, clearly pleased with the compliment.

The road they are walking on now is completely different from the one they were on before.

Once upon a time, the streets and alleys of Red Tide Territory were just dirt roads. Although they were kept clean, they became muddy and impassable when it rained, and when it snowed, they became a nightmare that both men and horses hated.

Residents, horse-drawn carriages, and transport vehicles were all mixed together, and no one knew which road to take.

As for drainage? That's practically a pipe dream.
In winter, snow piles up into mountains, and water freezes into ice, making the whole city feel like it's trapped in a cold cage.

It's different now.

Under Louis's planning, the Red Tide Territory completely transformed its urban framework:
The main road system is laid out in three sections: central avenue, branch streets, and residential alleys, with clear division of functions.

The main road is made of thick stone bricks, and some sections have pre-embedded heating channels to be filled with warm water in winter to melt snow and prevent slipping.

Snow removal and drainage ditches are set up along the streets, flowing into specially designed snowmelt pools to prevent them from overflowing and causing disasters.

The alleyways were rebuilt into cobblestone paths, supplemented by a ditch-guided structure, which is both beautiful and practical.

The entire city has uniformly wide and spaced roads, with rows of cold-weather pine and cypress trees lining the roads, which not only provide shelter from the wind and snow but also add a lot of greenery and a sense of order.

Bradley reported in a low voice, his tone carrying an undisguised sense of accomplishment: "One-third of the main street is complete, and according to your blueprints, the heating pipes have been connected to the government building and some residences."

He paused, his gaze fixed on the section of the street still under construction ahead. "It is estimated that the intersection of the main road and the auxiliary road will be completed in another two months."

Louis nodded, his gaze sweeping over the neatly laid new bricks and the cleared drains.

“The next step,” he said calmly, “is to expand into schools and medical clinics first.”

Bradley nodded as he took notes: "Understood, sir. I will have the Planning Department prepare the budget and manpower in advance."

Along the way, the muddy roads of the past are no more, and the city's framework is becoming increasingly clear.

After walking for a while, Bradley suddenly glanced at the familiar building in the distance and said in a casual tone, "Actually, sir... I think it's time to consider rebuilding your earthen castle."

Louis paused slightly, turning to look at him: "Reason?"

Bradley coughed and said very tactfully, "It's a bit out of place with the overall style of the Red Tide main city area now."

"..." Louis was silent for a moment, then looked up at the old castle.

With complete functions and a sturdy structure, it was the first base he personally planned.

"I think it's actually pretty good."

“Of course, its practicality is undeniable,” Bradley added respectfully, “but in terms of appearance… it is indeed somewhat, well, plain. To be honest, many people think it doesn’t look like a lord’s residence at all, but rather like a granary tower.”

"A grain storage tower?" Louis's lips twitched.

Bradley bowed very earnestly: "Moreover, you are now the brightest sun in the North... Your residence should, of course, be worthy of this status. Even just standing there should inspire awe."

“…” Louis sighed.

Okay, it wasn't just Bradley; even his personal knight and the head chef mentioned it.

Since public opinion is pointing in one direction, then this lord, who prioritizes the people's welfare, has no choice but to...

“Then…we’ll wait until the plans for other areas are finalized before demolishing and rebuilding,” Louis finally said, his tone tinged with a hint of helpless concession.

Upon hearing this, Bradley visibly relaxed, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Thank you for your wisdom, sir." He bowed respectfully, but a hint of smugness flashed in his eyes.

Sure enough, he knew how to persuade this rational yet stubborn young lord.

Bradley knew that Louis didn't really miss that earthen building.

That was merely a practical fortress he planned for efficiency and security when he first built Red Tide; it was a tool, not a symbol. He always adhered to the philosophy of "if it works, it's good enough," and never wasted resources for vanity.

But things are different now.

Red Tide is no longer a remote and wild outpost, but one of the fastest-rising cities in the North, with a population boom, stable order, and a prosperous economy.

Louis was no longer the boy who sat in a construction site tent drawing blueprints; he was now one of the most powerful and popular nobles in the northern border of the empire.

He must possess a castle befitting his status. Towering and majestic, inspiring awe in visitors and terrifying enemies.

“The castle is the face of the lord,” Bradley thought to himself. “We cannot let the lord’s face be as plain and unadorned as a granary.”

Today, Red Tide Territory not only has the ability to build a new castle, but also the right to establish a symbol of a new era for this new city.

Looking at the ambitious Bradley, Louis thought to himself, "I didn't expect this old guy to be a spectacle enthusiast as well."

Next, the group arrived at the core residential area of ​​Red Tide Territory, the earliest place in the entire territory to be revived.

This place is home to the first group of "people" of the Red Tide, or more precisely, the nameless people who were once called slaves, refugees, and natives.

They were the backbone of Louis during the most chaotic period of the Red Tide's development, helping him to build the city's initial form.

They are now the core residents of this city, and Louis's first move to renovate their neighborhood is what they deserve.

The neighborhood has been completely transformed, with rows of new buildings featuring uniform shapes and rounded lines replacing the mud-brick huts buried in the ground.

Louis named it: Red Tide Dome.

Bradley stood in front of a newly completed dome, slightly raising his head, and introduced it with pride:
"This area is 80% complete in its reconstruction. It adopts the semi-buried structure you envisioned, with geothermal heating that can circulate in winter, an automatic skid roof to prevent collapse, and double-layered insulation on the walls... making it an ideal residence in cold regions."

Louis nodded, his gaze sweeping over every door and window around him. Those who had once huddled together in the snowstorm could now open their doors and breathe warm air. This quietly eased a heavy feeling in his heart.

“The population density has decreased by half, but the space per household has nearly tripled,” Bradley continued.

"Indoor temperature control, water purification, and street numbering systems have been implemented. Sanitation issues have also been resolved; since last winter, there has not been a single case of infectious disease in this area."

The streets are wide and straight, with cobblestone paths crisscrossing the landscape, ditches extending along the way, and pine and cypress trees providing shade, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The exterior walls of each house are uniformly painted in three colors: dark gray, dark red, and dark gold, exuding a sense of warmth and solemnity.

Bradley chuckled softly, his tone brimming with undisguised pride: "It's been completely transformed."

Louis smiled faintly, his voice carrying a hint of gentle approval: "Well done, Bradley."

This is the biggest difference between Louis and the traditional aristocracy.

Other lords were thinking about how to exploit, tax, and conscript soldiers.

His thoughts were on getting heating, clearing snow, and building his territory...

He incorporated his knowledge from his previous life—urban functional zoning, road classification, heating systems, and architectural aesthetics—into the blueprints, which have now been transformed into bricks and tiles, integrating into this territory.

And Bradley always stood by his side, turning those fantastical tales into tangible brick walls and streets.

“Next, we will extend this standard to the entire Red Tide City,” Bradley said softly. “All new districts will use domed roofs and a unified three-color design to ensure a consistent urban landscape.”

Along the way, they also passed by an unfinished plaza construction site.

The wind stirred up a thin layer of snow, and the gray-white stone bricks were already more than half laid. The foundation in the central area was being compacted, and the framework of several tall pillars was beginning to take shape.

Although it is not yet completed, one can already imagine the magnificent scene of crowds gathering here in the future.

Bradley stopped and pointed ahead, saying, "This is 'Blazing Tide Plaza,' right next to the government building. According to your design, it will be used for issuing government decrees, public rallies, and military parades. The ground paving is expected to be completed next month, and it will be open to the public before winter."

Louis nodded.

“The other two plazas,” Bradley continued, “are planned in the west of the city, near the newly built school and theater, as an amusement plaza; the other is in the south of the city, connecting the market, warehouses and commercial streets, and will become the market plaza for the Red Tide.”

"Recreation, gathering, and trade—three squares, three functions," he nodded in summary.

Along the way, Louis nodded frequently, his gaze sweeping over the new buildings on the street, the road signs at the intersections, and the busy craftsmen and surveyors in the square.

The lines on those blueprints are becoming reality, and the blueprint for the future is being realized brick by brick.

Finally, the two arrived at their destination – the Chichao Territory Industrial Zone.

Located on a gentle southern plateau, this site is close to the main source of the red tide river and connects to multiple raw material transportation routes. It was the result of Louis's personal survey and site selection.

“It’s sheltered from the wind in winter and well-ventilated in summer,” Bradley said with a smile as he walked ahead. “Being close to the storage area and material transport channels, raw materials can be brought in immediately, and processed goods can be transported directly out of the city.”

Looking around, the workshops stand in orderly rows, and although white smoke rises from the chimneys, there is no chaos or noise.

The buildings, varying in height, are precisely divided according to their craftsmanship: metallurgy area, carpentry area, alchemy and magic experiment area, weaving and leather area... neatly distributed and clearly layered.

“This is the final version of the third reconstruction,” Bradley said softly, his tone carrying a hint of respect.

Yes, this is no longer a temporary production site in a certain territory, but the future "heart of industry".

A multifunctional base integrating production, training and technological research and development.

Firebreaks were strictly divided, and sufficient safety distances were maintained between workshops; the main roads were wide and straight, facilitating the passage of large transport wagons and official inspections.

Furthermore, there are centrally managed public tool warehouses and material distribution stations, ensuring unified and efficient resource distribution and eliminating waste.

Artisan rest rooms, canteens, shift work systems... these are all "details" that traditional nobles never considered, but they are the parts that Louis valued most.

The industrial park's apprenticeship training camp has also begun operation, with a new batch of young people receiving instruction from experienced craftsmen. In the future, they will become the first generation of artisans who will support the industrial backbone of this land.

“In other territories, workshops are the noisiest and most chaotic places; but here, they are a symbol of discipline, production, and technology going hand in hand,” Bradley remarked, gazing into the distance.

Louis stood on the high ground, watching the entire industrial zone operate smoothly under the winter sun, and a slight smile appeared on his face.

He had no doubt that this industrial area might still be seen by some old aristocrats as "a gathering place for crude craftsmen".

But in his eyes, this is the starting point for the future.

Louis had just stepped down the stone steps, his steps not yet fully steady, when a rough, loud voice came from ahead: "Yo! Our lord has arrived!"

The man had a full beard, wore a heavy leather apron, and had a piece of oilcloth that hadn't been wiped clean draped over his shoulder.

He is Mike, who is now also the chief craftsman in the entire Red Tide Industrial Zone.

“Mike.” Louis looked at him and nodded with a smile.

Mike strode over with a bold and unrestrained manner, but subconsciously toned down his rudeness as he got closer. He wiped his hands, which were covered in burn marks, on the hem of his clothes a few times before giving a solemn bow: "Sir, the craftsman management team has arrived and is waiting in the conference room."

Although his tone was bold, anyone could hear the seriousness and expectation in it.

Today they are going to talk about a new weapons system development plan that will affect the future of the entire Red Tide.

(End of this chapter)