Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 304 Red Tide's Future Planning

The morning light pierced through the thick clouds outside the window, casting a streak of light that landed perfectly on the huge map on the table, as if in response to Bradley's words.

Louis glanced at the beam of light and chuckled, "The sun? That's a bit of an exaggeration."

“I am merely repeating what my people have said.” Bradley bowed slightly, but his tone was unusually firm.

After a brief silence, Louis didn't dwell on it any longer and simply closed the report in his hand.

He leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over the files piled on the table, a sense of relief rising in his heart.

During the days I was away from Red Tide, government affairs continued to operate smoothly. Whether it was urban construction, granaries, or population management, everything was progressing faster than expected.

This shows that the administrative system he established has begun to operate on its own, and he no longer needs to do things personally.

Moreover, the results have far exceeded those of the Northern Territory, and are even better than those of 80% of the Empire's territory.

Even so, he still felt it wasn't enough.

“You did very well,” Louis said calmly, “even beyond my expectations.”

Bradley smiled slightly, but did not claim credit; he simply bowed.

“But I have an idea about administration,” Louis said casually.

“Please speak, sir.” Bradley quickly pulled out his notebook, waiting to write down every word.

“First,” Louis began slowly, “we must completely restructure the Red Tide’s political structure. A two-tiered system of central and local governance.”

"Level two?" Bradley frowned.

“Yes, the central government is in Red Tide City.” Louis pointed to the map on the table. “I directly rule the entire territory, with all military, political, and financial power centralized. Local decrees are issued from here and delivered swiftly, allowing no room for disagreement.”

As for local authorities, officials were directly appointed; they were only responsible for implementing central government orders and had no legislative power. Every grain of food, every road, and every soldier had to be under the control of the central government.

Bradley couldn't help but sigh softly, "In this way, the hidden dangers of governance can indeed be completely eradicated."

“That’s right.” Louis’s tone was cold. “The people obey not the local officials, but the red tide itself.”

“Second,” Louis exhaled softly, then changed the subject, “I want to subdivide the central communications and government affairs.”

Bradley quickly picked up his pen: "Please explain in detail, sir."

“For example, the Agriculture Department, the Craftsmen Department, the Trade Department, the Education Department, the Defense Department, the Civil Affairs Department, the Health Department, etc.” Louis rattled off seven names in one breath, having conceived them in his mind for a long time.

Bradley looked up: "Sir, this is related to the Empire's departmental system..."

“It’s different.” Louis shook his head. “The corruption of the empire lies in the division of labor without accountability, in having titles but no one truly taking responsibility.”

I require each department to be responsible for a specific task and to establish an evaluation mechanism.

The Agriculture Department is in charge of farming and grain storage.

Spring plowing, autumn harvest, distribution of seeds and farm tools, construction of irrigation canals and greenhouses, ensuring that people have food to eat all year round.

So whether they can feed more people is their test.

The Craftsmen's Office oversaw workshops and handicrafts.

Blacksmiths, carpenters, alchemists, and others were among them, responsible for the construction of armor and weapons, agricultural tools and equipment, as well as the building and construction of city walls and bridges, and inventions and creations.

All production and technology are under the jurisdiction of this department.

Anyone who cuts corners will be punished. But whoever can create new tools or methods will be richly rewarded.

The Trade Office was in charge of trade and the flow of goods.

They maintained market taxes, caravan routes, and road stations, ensuring the smooth flow of goods between the Red Tide and the North and South.

The Education Department is responsible for education and nurturing people, and for cultivating talent for the red tide.

Establish schools to teach children to read and do arithmetic, train clerical staff who can write and calculate, and fill the talent gap in the Red Tide Territory.

We also need to publicize the law so that people know the rules, and when the time is right, we need to popularize literacy.

The Defense Agency is responsible for defense and security; that's handled by the military. I'll have Lambert arrange it.

Responsible for training ordinary soldiers and apprentice knights, patrolling towns, eliminating bandits, guarding the borders, and ensuring peace and order within Red Tide territory during minor crises.

The Municipal Affairs Department records household registrations and allocates land for resettlement.

They accepted refugees, provided them with housing, collected reasonable taxes, and ensured that everyone had a registered address and a place to live.

The Department of Health is responsible for disease prevention and territorial health.

Manage medicinal herbs, liaise with physicians, and establish epidemic prevention stations. In the event of an epidemic, immediately isolate and treat infected individuals, safeguarding the lifeline of the Red Tide people.

Bradley wrote down Louis's words with great speed and accuracy.

Although he hadn't fully grasped it yet, he knew it was extremely important and the result of Louis's careful consideration.

Louis continued unhurriedly, "And they have to submit monthly reports to me and are evaluated every year."

Those who fail to perform their duties will be demoted and punished, while those who perform meritorious service will be rewarded and promoted. The order of the Red Tide cannot be relaxed in the slightest.

Of course, the central government is only the backbone; without local implementation, even the best policies are just empty words. Local systems must also be established.

Louis gave Bradley no chance to catch his breath and continued, “Each vassal territory shall have a governor, who is the highest local official appointed by the lord.”

Central government orders must be strictly enforced, such as maintaining public order and collecting taxes. An assistant supervisor should be assigned to oversee this, and can act on behalf of the supervisor when necessary.

He paused, his fingertips lightly tracing across wheat fields, stardust, and other places on the map: "Under their command, other subordinate officials will also be appointed to handle the affairs of the seven departments."

Agricultural officials oversaw cultivation and harvests, patrolled to maintain local order, and tax collectors were responsible for taxation and trade.

All these people are appointed by the central government; local officials are not allowed to appoint them privately.

Bradley nodded slightly, his pen scratching softly on the parchment.

“Government orders must be delivered smoothly.” Louis’s voice was deep. “They must be delivered on time. Every order must be relayed to the local authorities by knights as soon as possible.”

Supervisors are also required to submit monthly government briefings, clearly outlining matters such as food, taxation, and public security.

Moreover, every quarter, they must personally come to Chichao to report on their duties and administration in person, without any ambiguity.

The morning light from the window shone on Louis's profile, casting a sharp arc.

“The central government’s various departments must send people to conduct inspections, and the supervisory department must also conduct independent inspections. With dual supervision, no one can get away with it.”

Bradley replied softly, "Sir, do you really intend to let the Red Tide's hand cover every inch of land?"

Louis's tone was icy: "Only in this way can the order I've established not be easily shaken." "But how do we supervise these things?"

Louis slowly curled the corners of his lips and uttered three words: "Inspectorate."

Bradley's mouth opened slightly, as if he understood something.

"The Inspectorate is directly under my command. It is headed by the person I trust most. Moreover, all inspectors do not serve in local offices and are rotated regularly."

They are my eyes and ears, and can report any official at any time. Anyone, regardless of rank, who dares to be corrupt or derelict in their duty will be immediately dismissed, or even beheaded.

Bradley's palms were slightly sweaty after hearing this.

He knew, of course, that the empire also had a similar oversight system, but for the past hundred years it had been nothing more than a formality, mostly superficial, allowing local powerful figures to bribe officials at all levels, and ultimately becoming a tool for corruption.

But Louis's version is different.

His vision of the Inspectorate was not a mere decoration, but a razor-sharp system: directly subordinate to the lord, not serving in the local area, regularly rotated, and without any entanglement with local interests.

More importantly, it allows for timely reporting and immediate removal from office.

This means that if someone embezzles, they can be dismissed on the spot without having to report through multiple levels or wait for lengthy approvals.

A complex mix of emotions welled up inside Bradley.

This young lord's ideas are far more stringent and more feasible than the old imperial system.

It's not just a paper tiger; it's more like a sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of officials at any moment.

Compared to the loose and crude oversight of the empire, this was the only way to truly bring officials under control.

"Your Excellency is truly a man of great talent for governing the world..."

He sighed inwardly, glancing at the young man behind the table, feeling incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to follow such a great man in his lifetime.

Just as Bradley was still reeling from the shock, Louis changed his tone: "There's one more thing, write it down."

The old man immediately picked up his pen, leaning forward slightly, as if afraid of missing a single word.

"Once all the departments are in place and the framework is in place, I will ask them to submit a five-year plan."

Bradley paused, his pen hovering over the parchment, seemingly not understanding.

Louis ignored his expression and continued, "Short-term measures can at best alleviate the immediate predicament, but they cannot lay a long-term foundation."

If the red tide wants to go further, it needs a blueprint that lets its people know what to do and where to go in the next five years.

Louis paused for a moment, then pondered, "For example, how many acres of land should be expanded in agriculture, how much should the capacity of granaries be increased, how many workshops should be built, how much should the population increase, how many civil servants should be trained in schools, and how much should the army be expanded in size."

You should understand the necessity of doing this. If we only focus on the harvest of grain once a year, the red tide will forever remain a surviving stronghold in the northern wilderness.

With a long-term plan, even the heaviest snowstorms can give us a glimpse of the future.

At this moment, Bradley understood that Louis's thoughts and plans were, in the manner of a king, writing the future for the Red Tide, and even for the entire North.

Louis leaned back in his chair, speaking calmly and deliberately: "I'm just suggesting some directions; specific goals will need to be proposed by each department itself."

However, this must be done after investigation; it cannot be fabricated arbitrarily to exaggerate achievements. Of course, I will be the one to review it in the final step.

His tone was devoid of any exaggeration, only conveying a convincing pragmatism.

Bradley lowered his head slightly: "I understand."

The old man felt a complex mix of emotions. This young lord not only had extraordinary foresight, but also knew not to rush things and not to let his decrees become empty words.

Bradley then fell silent for a moment, as if considering his words.

“My lord…” He leaned down slightly, his tone tentative, “Besides the integration of government affairs and the five-year plan, there is another matter worth considering: annexing the territories of the surrounding minor nobles.”

Louis smiled dismissively upon hearing this: "Indeed, although we have taken control of most of the southeastern territory, it is still scattered and we cannot connect our own territories."

Many minor noble families were already depleted, as insect plagues and wars had devoured nearly half of their labor force and land.

The granaries were empty, the mines collapsed, and seven or eight out of ten of the Knights were wiped out.

What allows them to barely survive now is not their own strength, but the support of our Red Tide.

In other words, they may seem independent, but they are actually like pockets tied to our waists; we just need to reach out and take what we want.

Once these strategic locations are brought under control, the red tide can form a complete network.

Then, by completely transforming this chaotic southeast into a unified core of order, we will have the power to conquer the entire North and become the true ruler of the North.

His tone was calm, yet it conveyed a chilling decisiveness: "The Red Tide Territory should take the initiative to gradually annex them through exchange, cooperation, or even force."

He then began to explain his methods, as if he were describing a winning game of chess inch by inch:

"We can exchange some peripheral territories and supplies for their strategic locations."

Louis's fingertip lightly traced several plots of land on the map, "or propose joint reclamation and territorial development, making them feel that it is profitable, so that they will voluntarily hand over power."

Louis pondered for a moment, then said, “Supply first, then restrict. When they have no more rations for their knights and servants, no more raw materials for their workshops, no more iron for their armaments, and they are all dependent on the Red Tide… then they will be unable to struggle any longer.”

“Of course, there will also be stubborn old fogies clinging to their ancestral territories and refusing to cooperate.” Louis narrowed his eyes slightly.

“We must strike hard against these diehards. We can provoke a border clash or send troops to suppress them under the guise of ‘bandit suppression.’ Taking down one of them will be enough to deter the rest.”

As he finished speaking, the red tide marker on the map flickered slightly in the firelight.

Bradley paused for a moment, then slowly exhaled, his brow relaxing.

“My lord… I understand.” He bowed. “First divide them, then integrate them. Use both soft and hard tactics, leaving them with nowhere to retreat.”

Louis nodded slightly, his expression completely calm, as if this was how it should be.

“The territory and influence of the red tide must be expanded in the shortest possible time,” he said in a calm and steady voice. “We need to proactively shape the situation, rather than reacting passively.”

Bradley responded, his tone no longer hesitant but rather fervent: "This is the most direct and effective method."

I will make arrangements immediately to gather intelligence from various sources, assess which minor nobles are suitable for cooperation, and which should be reprimanded.

Louis didn't look up, but simply uttered two words: "Very good."

Those two short words fell like a hammer blow.

Those minor noble territories still marked on the map are now like chess pieces, at the mercy of others.

With just a few words from the young lord, their future had been laid out in a crystal clear.

(End of this chapter)