Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 302 Mary's Sights and Hearings

The convoy slowly drove into the southern part of the city, where the streets gradually widened and more and more pedestrians appeared.

The sight before her eyes stunned Mary.

Nanshi Square is taking shape. Although there are not many buildings, they are arranged in an orderly manner. On both sides of the stone-paved road, vendors have set up temporary stalls in twos and threes.

The shouts of vendors rose and fell, the air filled with the sweet aroma of dried fruit and the salty fragrance of smoked fish, and in the distance, one could even smell a faint scent of mead.

"Come and see the cotton cloth brought from the south! It's as fine as snowflakes!"

"Freshly smoked dried fish, just dried from the Red Tide Lake!"

"Raisins and mead, specially supplied to Nanshi!"

The sounds of hawking, bargaining, and laughter mingled together, creating a lively atmosphere that Mary hadn't felt in a long time.

Mary was the daughter of a merchant, and her standards were more discerning than others.

Those bolts of fine white cotton cloth could only have been produced in the prosperous southern regions. And that basket of raisins and spices, too, had followed the route of southern merchants.

But there are also local specialties of the red tide: smoked dried fish, mead, and coarse pottery.

This means that goods from the south can be sent here, and red tide products are being produced in an organized manner and entering the market.

"Even more prosperous than Frostspear City."

These words floated gently into Mary's mind, leaving her stunned for a long time.

Frostspear, the former capital of the North, is now in ruins. The embers of war have not yet been extinguished, the market is deserted, there are few vendors, food is scarce, and even if you have money, there is nothing to buy.

But here people are buying and selling, haggling over prices.

Even their smiles lacked that cautious flattery and defensiveness, instead carrying a sense of ease.

A strange mix of sadness and shock welled up inside Mary.

She couldn't explain the feeling, like land frozen for years suddenly bursting into green before her eyes.

In this northern land ravaged by disasters and wars, Red Tide Territory is like an oasis that rises abruptly, with wide streets, prosperous markets, and people with peace of mind and smiles on their faces.

The vibrant market in the Red Tide Territory is no accident; it all stems from the system personally designed by Louis.

It is not as resource-scarce as Frostspear City, nor is it like those southern cities that are exploited by nobles.

Almost all of the Red Tide Territory's resources are controlled by the Lord's Mansion: grain, iron ore, timber, medicine, and even the most basic salt must be registered and allocated through the Resource Coordination Office.

Bulk commodities are not allowed to be bought and sold arbitrarily.

Food, fuel, minerals, etc., are given priority to the legions, construction teams, farms, and workshops.

Every household was registered in the government register and received food and salt rations with ration coupons.

Newly arrived migrants would first receive a basic resettlement package: a warm shelter and a hot porridge allowance. But if they wanted more, they would have to earn it with their own hands.

"Exchanging labor for food." This is the ironclad rule of the Red Tide Territory.

Mary's gaze fell on the street corner, where a group of newly arrived young migrants were carrying gray stone bricks. They looked tired, but they didn't complain.

An official wearing the insignia of the government was recording their working hours. For each task completed, the workers would receive extra ration coupons, or even a few shiny copper coins.

The government's tight control did not make the place lifeless.

On the contrary, the streets of Red Tide were unusually lively because Louis had not completely shut down the market.

At South City Square, vendors are allowed to trade freely, and small workshops are allowed to sell their own products. As long as a small market maintenance tax is paid, the government will not interfere with pricing.

Mary then saw the sounds of vendors calling out their wares from the stalls on the edge of the square, with vendors haggling with customers and children running around the stalls.

At this moment, the air was filled with the breath of life.

Mary watched quietly as the cars and people passed by on the street, the shouts and laughter of the vendors filling her ears.

"Perhaps..." she murmured to herself, "this is the future center of the North."

The convoy continued onward, winding around a wide stone-paved street, and the Liechao Square slowly came into view, filled with a faint smell of lime and wood chips.

Construction is still underway. The half-built platform is surrounded by sturdy wooden frames and ropes, and dozens of workers are working in an orderly manner, with the sounds of hammering and shouting constantly mingling.

The young reception officer turned around and pointed to the center of the square: "This is the Crimson Tide Square, one of the administrative centers of the Crimson Tide Territory."

His voice rose slightly with excitement: "This is the most important heart of the Red Tide Territory. All government orders, mobilization orders, and resource allocations will be issued here first, and anyone can come and see it directly."

Mary looked up and saw a tall notice board, the black lettering on it standing out prominently in the sunlight:
"Rations Allocation Order"

"Spring Farming Mobilization Order"

Several civil officials stood in front of the pillars, loudly proclaiming the latest government decrees.

A large crowd of people gathered around, some holding children, others carrying bamboo baskets, their expressions focused.

"The second batch of rations this month will be distributed to the square before the 17th. Please come and collect it with your ration voucher!"

"Spring plowing mobilization order: Residents aged 16 to 30 who sign up to farm will receive additional subsidies and food rations from the Chichao Territory!"

The officials spoke in loud, clear voices, pausing occasionally to allow the audience to process the information. The Red Tide Knights stood quietly by, maintaining order. There was no noise or chaos, only a sense of orderly flow in the air.

Mary stared blankly at the scene, her heart inexplicably shaken.

In any city she had ever visited, she had never seen government decrees so publicly displayed.

Those nobles usually pocket the benefits first, leaving the scraps for the common people, but here the policies are read aloud to everyone.

The official turned to Marys and explained, "These decrees will be posted on the bulletin board immediately, so there's no need to worry about the news being delayed."

The distribution of provisions, seeds, ironware, and oxen is all transparent. The territory will first ensure everyone's basic needs are met, and then allocate additional rewards based on labor and contribution.

Behind all this, Mary vaguely realized that the city was quietly accomplishing something astonishing:
It was absorbing people. Whether they were fleeing refugees, artisans who had lost their homes, or merchants traveling from the north and south, the Red Tide Territory took them all into its fold.

Those with strength were incorporated into construction teams that repaired city walls, reclaimed farmland, and paved roads.

Those with skills were sent to workshops, ranches, and pharmacies to become "Red Tide technicians."

Merchants from the south made a fortune in silver coins at the South Market Square.

Just as Mary was pondering, the convoy slowly drove past the edge of the square, and the outline of a tall building combining wood and stone appeared in the mist.

“That’s the government affairs center.” The young official pointed to the high-rise building. “In the future, if you encounter any problems, such as housing, household registration, rations, or education, you can register and handle them here.”

Mary looked up and saw a majestic three-story building with an exterior wall made of alternating blue-gray stone and cedar, windowsills inlaid with dark gold trim, and the front carved with the emblem of the Red Tide Sun.

In front of the high-rise building, officials dressed in uniform red robes, carrying files, moved briskly and intently. There was no idle chatter, no chaos; the occasional whispers were merely for verifying information.

The young official's voice carried a hint of pride: "Our Red Tide Territory is still small, but its administrative system has already been established."

Household registration, military equipment, farming, education, and workshop allocation—each aspect had a designated person in charge. Every decision and the destination of every resource was written on proclamations, accessible to everyone.

Here, Red Tide Knights maintain order, workers are busy with construction, and officials at the government affairs center never stop.

Despite the large number of people, there was no chaos in the air, only a reassuring sense of order.

Mary closed her eyes, and the rumors she had heard before leaving Frostspear City floated into her mind.

"Red Tide Territory? That place was a wasteland a few years ago, without a decent lord."

"I heard that wild animals often roam that area, and there isn't even farmland."

"That place? It's at best a ghost town where exiles and poor people gather."

But what about right now?

There are city walls, squares, schools, and markets here.

There are complete roads and bustling crowds.

There is an order that makes people feel at ease, and there are guarantees that allow refugees to survive.

"Is this really... a wasteland?" Mary subconsciously looked up at the horizon, where the sun, like a giant crimson wave, swayed wildly in the wind.

She thought of that young lord, who had managed to transform this once barren land into a city even more livable than Frostspear City in just a few years.

She wasn't the only one who thought this way; the families of the Broken Blade Knights who were traveling with her also shared similar thoughts to some extent. However, what they saw was only the tip of the iceberg of the Crimson Tide.

The convoy slowly drove south of the city, gradually leaving the bustling South Market Square.

The noise gradually faded away, replaced by a quiet and open street.

Through the car window, Mary's gaze was suddenly drawn to a strange sight.

It was a neatly divided residential area, with rows of red-tide-style domed houses, their exterior walls painted in a combination of dark gray, indigo red, and dark gold, giving it a dignified yet warm feel.

Unlike the dilapidated stone and wood houses of Frostspear City, the domed houses here are half-buried underground.

The eaves curve gently, as if extending naturally.
A few wisps of morning mist lingered between the snow-covered eaves of the roof, reflecting an almost dreamlike glow.

"Look, everyone." The young official rode forward, his face beaming with pride, his voice slightly raised.

It was as if they were being shown the Red Tide Territory's proudest achievement.

"This is the third batch of residential areas that we completed last year. It uses double-layered insulated walls and a geothermal circulation heating system. Even if the mountains are blocked by heavy snow, the indoor temperature can be kept constant. You will live here from now on."

As soon as he finished speaking, a low gasp of surprise rippled through the carriage.

"My God... Is this the residential area of ​​the Crimson Tide Territory?" The knight's wife, Arlene, sitting opposite her couldn't help but cover her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Her slender fingers gripped the edge of the car window tightly, as if only in this way could she confirm that the scene before her was real.

Several of the younger family members couldn't contain themselves any longer and simply leaned out halfway, craning their necks to look out.

Their headscarves fluttered gently in the morning breeze, their ear tips were red from the cold, but none of them shrank back.

"Are these... are these really the houses allocated to us?"

An elderly woman sitting in the corner of the carriage spoke in a trembling voice, as if she was afraid that she would be awakened from her sweet dream at any moment.

"It can't be... just a show for us, right? Can we really move in?"

The atmosphere suddenly warmed up, and the young official clearly enjoyed the reaction, continuing, "Each dome has a separate kitchen, two-story living areas, and in winter there's a geothermal subsidy and hot water thermos supply. The lord said..."

He paused slightly, lowered his voice, and mimicked Louis's tone: "The knights risk their lives on the front lines, so their families should live better than others."

These words were like a warm current flowing into Mary's heart.

She hugged Ini tightly, her nose tingling slightly, but she couldn't say a word.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone pavement, making a low, rolling sound.

Finally, the convoy slowly came to a stop on a wide, straight main street. The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and pale golden sunlight peeked through the gaps in the clouds, casting a soft halo on the dark gray dome.

At the street corner, Bradley was already waiting there.

"Thank you for your hard work, everyone." He bowed slightly. "The housing has been assigned to everyone. Please follow the receptionist to complete the settlement procedures."

Mary looked up and saw that behind Bradley, there were more than ten young civil servants lined up on both sides, dressed in uniform dark red robes with the same red tide sun pattern embroidered on the cuffs.

It was an order and sense of ritual they had never seen before in Frostspear City.

The civil officials quickly stepped forward, guiding each family to get off the vehicle and checking the roster one by one.

“Knight Commander Smith’s family? Please follow me.”

They were greeted by a cheerful young official. He carried a neat stack of registration books, and as he turned the pages, he explained to them:
"This is the third batch of dome houses. Every house is connected to the geothermal circulation system, and the room temperature can be kept at around 18 degrees Celsius in winter. You and your children no longer have to worry about getting cold."

He spoke with a hint of pride in his eyes, as if he were introducing his own home, not just an ordinary residence.

"In addition, each household will receive an initial resettlement subsidy, including grain, cured meat, and fifty gold coins. If additional supplies are needed later, they can be collected at the distribution center of the government affairs center by presenting their household registration."

Mary listened quietly until the money bag wrapped in fine cloth was handed to her, and its heavy weight settled in her palm, giving her a sense of reality.

Following the officials to their house, a warm breeze wafted out as the door was pushed open.

Flames leaped in the fireplace, casting a soft glow on the warm wooden walls.

A wooden staircase winds its way up to the spacious second floor.

A cotton and linen curtain hung on the windowsill, the bed was neatly made, and a few dried flowers were placed in a ceramic jar in the corner, as if silently welcoming them.

Mary gently stepped across the threshold, carrying Inee in her arms. The thick blanket beneath her feet was soft and warm, as if the entire ground was gently comforting her weary nerves.

Her husband, Smith, arrived shortly after, opened the door, and stood frozen in place, speechless for a long time.

He looked around the room slowly and silently, until his gaze finally settled on Mary and her daughter.

After what seemed like an eternity, he finally murmured, "We...live here?"

Mary pursed her lips and slowly nodded.

She heard a "bang" somewhere deep inside her heart, and a heavy burden that had been hanging in the balance finally fell.

(End of this chapter)