Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 309 The North's Most Important Thing is Talent
A soft light fell between the heavy maps, scrolls, and drafts, and the air carried a faint scent of ink.

Outside the window is the main road of Red Tide, which is under renovation, while inside the house are the three people who will decide the future of Red Tide.

Bradley stood by the window, silently turning the pages of the briefing, his expression still the familiar old-fashioned seriousness.

Near the bookshelf, Lana, dressed in a simple navy blue robe, stood silently, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the parchment book clip in her hand, a hint of tension appearing between her brows.

Lana Verdi was once the daughter of the famous Verdi family on the northwestern border of the empire, and was known in the border region for her literary and historical talents from a young age.

If everything had gone as planned, her life would have been filled with poetry and books, and she would have married into another noble family and lived a leisurely life.

But the gears of fate suddenly snapped after her father, Viscount Verdi, openly opposed the land annexation proposals of the powerful figures in the capital.

The Verdi family was instantly abandoned; their noble fiefdoms were revoked, their private army was purged, their elder brother disappeared, and their mother died.

Lana, dressed in commoner's clothes and escorted by several family knights, eventually arrived at Red Tide along with a group of northern refugees from the Snow Oath War.

Because she was literate, she was assigned to teach children to read and write at a school, and she thought that this was all she would ever do in her life.

Until Louis approached her, handing her only a draft bill: "You write an education pilot program."

From then on, Lana concealed the name Verdi and referred to herself only as "Lana," gradually taking over the affairs of the schools throughout the Red Tide region.

Two years later, on the day the Education Department was officially established, she finally became one of the youngest core officials in the Red Tide system as its Director.

But she always remembered Louis's simple words when he handed her the draft bill: "Do something meaningful."

There was no pity, no testing, only trust.

At that moment, Lana suddenly realized that she was no longer a fugitive noble orphan, but a useful person.

On this rebuilt land, she found the dignity and meaning that had been taken from her for so long, and she also found a lord worth following.

Of course, Lana did not disappoint Louis's expectations.

During the rapid development of the Red Tide Territory over the past two years, she gained Louis's trust and full support.

It spearheaded the creation of a network of primary schools covering the main urban area, with a total of twelve primary schools established, and several adult literacy classes also set up.

Her curriculum is designed based on the principles of "practicality first, order as the framework," and systematically teaches the following three basic modules:

The basic literacy program connects to the official document system of the Red Tide movement, covering everything from interpersonal interactions to basic contract formats.

Practical arithmetic, combined with the red tide grain rationing system and market trading system, ensures that students can independently calculate allocations and conversions.

Legal education uses carefully selected, easy-to-understand articles from the "Red Tide Basic Code" and supplements them with story-based teaching to subtly spread awareness of the rule of law and public order and good customs.

To date, nearly 3,000 children of returned migrants aged 7 to 14 have entered school.

In adult education, young people were constantly selected for grassroots clerical positions such as town officials, grain distribution assistants, and border patrol officers after they became literate.

More importantly, Lana helped establish a “teacher assessment and recruitment” system, gradually incorporating the teaching staff into the Red Tide civil service system and enhancing the status of the education profession.

All of this not only earned her the title of Lady Lana, but also laid the first foundation for the inheritance of order in the Crimson Tide Territory.

Today, she has come to report to Louise on the Department of Education's five-year plan.

"It's the Education Department's five-year plan. Please take a look," Lana said softly.

She had never been so nervous.

She could always handle other superiors with ease, but she never dared to slack off in front of Louis.

Louis took the manuscript but did not immediately open it.

He simply looked up at her and smiled, “Lana, don’t be nervous. You’re not here to be judged, but to report something to me…something we all take very seriously.”

Indeed, for Lewis, education was never just about “teaching people to read”.

He came from another world and saw farther than anyone else.

To truly pull this land out of the shadows of war and famine, it will not depend on knights' swords or harsh government decrees.

They are ordinary people who are self-reliant, capable of thinking, and able to change their destiny.

The backward North was a wasteland repeatedly fought over by barbarians and empires, not because the people were not brave enough, but because the technology was not advanced enough, the industry was not robust enough, and the system was not clear enough.

Education is the foundation of all of this and the most essential investment.

For long-term development and for the people to become prosperous, we need more alchemists, engineers, people who can read the law, formulate tax systems, and design irrigation canals, and all of these require education.

Another point is that education offers the broadest path to upward mobility.

Whether a child is an orphan from a fishing village or a barbarian abandoned child, as long as he is willing to study and work hard to build Red Tide, he can become an official who manages a place or a senior craftsman who controls a workshop.

He wants to leave a path for everyone on this land to move upwards.

Moreover, education enables people to distinguish right from wrong, respect rules, and know shame and honor.

When knowledge is instilled, and when generations of children learn to think independently and abide by the law, then the true era of the red tide may finally arrive.

Louis leaned back in his chair, flipping through the five-year development blueprint drawn up by the Education Department.

Lana, standing to the side, couldn't hide her nervousness. She stood ramrod straight, her hands clasped in front of her abdomen, her voice trembling slightly.

"The Education Department's preliminary three-phase plan is largely refined by our team after you proposed the core objectives..."

“Hmm.” Louis nodded, his tone calm. “You may continue.”

Lana continued, "The first plan is basic compulsory education. We intend to establish one hundred town schools outside Red Tide City within five years, covering the entire jurisdiction, especially densely populated or concentrated areas of residents."

Each location is equipped with at least one literacy teacher, several professional teachers who teach according to local conditions, such as the main agricultural teaching in Wheat Wave Territory, and a law and order course taught monthly by a 'lecturing officer' sent by headquarters. Of course, exceptionally bright children can come to Red Tide Territory to study.

Classes are scheduled in concentrated periods to avoid the busy spring planting and autumn harvest seasons, ensuring high attendance.

Louis nodded slightly: "Has the grain rationing subsidy also been taken into consideration?"

“Yes,” Lana replied immediately. “Children enrolled in school receive an additional 10% of their food ration to ensure that families do not prevent their children from attending school.”

Furthermore, all teachers will be formally incorporated into the Red Tide civil service system, enjoying the same benefits as grassroots officials, which will help attract and retain teachers.

“Very good.” Louis closed the file, looked up and stared directly at her. “These, were they drafted independently by you?”

Lana lowered her head slightly, looking a little nervous: "The general direction came from your initial plan; the rest was discussed and refined by the Education Department."

“Very good,” Louis repeated. “Next item.”

Lana turned to the next page, her tone no longer reserved, but carrying a hint of barely perceptible pride: "The second phase is a pilot program for higher education, Red Tide High School. This is a plan you personally proposed. We plan to establish a new campus in the old fort district on the western outskirts of Red Tide City, and name it Red Tide High School."

"How many partitions should we set up?" Bradley interjected.

“Four,” Lana answered succinctly, then added, “The first is the Teachers’ Academy, used to train the core teachers of the town’s schools; the second is the Administrative Department, to prepare the civil service system for the future Red Tide.”

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Louis's expression, and continued, "The third is the craft workshop, which trains alchemy apprentices, craftsmen, and other technical personnel. Finally, there's the basic medical department, which has a huge shortage after the war, and we must fill that gap as soon as possible."

"Admission criteria?" Louis asked, clearly listening attentively.

"The first cohort plans to enroll two hundred students," Lana replied. "They will be jointly recommended and selected by the town mayors and the Supervisory Office. The program will be fully funded and will include ten years of mandatory service. Graduates will be required to serve within the Red Tide system for ten years."

Louis nodded upon hearing this: "Very good."

Lana smiled and turned to the last page: "Finally, there's the publicity and supporting infrastructure construction."

We will form a mobile vehicle fleet, consisting of teams of lecturers and performers, to travel around the country to promote our educational philosophy and benefits, and encourage local children to attend school.

They also established the "Red Tide Talent List," publicly announcing outstanding students annually and giving them priority in being assigned excellent job positions.

Louis closed the proposal, flicked the cover lightly, and leaned back in his chair.

“Well done,” Louis said with approval. “You have truly grasped the meaning of education.”

Lana hurriedly rose and bowed, her voice trembling slightly: "Yes...yes! I will obey Your Majesty's orders!"

In that instant, her eyes welled up with tears, and she tried hard not to lose control of her emotions.

During her two years in Red Tide, she had already learned restraint and composure.

But these words suddenly gave weight to the exhaustion of preparing day after day and proofreading night after night, and stirred up her emotions.

“All of this… is thanks to your excellent teaching.” Lana said, bowing her head, her words rapid and solemn. “If you hadn’t personally guided us and established the system, we would never have gotten to this point. It was Red Tide that taught me what mission is, and it was you… who helped me find the meaning of life.”

She wasn't the type of person who was good at expressing herself, but at that moment, all the gratitude that had been building up in her heart turned into sincere words.

Louis didn't respond immediately, but smiled slightly: "I only did a small thing, mainly you did a good job, keep up the good work."

Lana nodded vigorously, her eyes shining like stars.

"Please take a look at these newly written preschool textbooks."

Then Lana respectfully took out three newly bound textbooks from her leather briefcase and handed them to Louis.

There was a hint of nervousness in her expression, but more than that, she couldn't hide her pride.

Louis took it, glanced down at the first page of the cover, and saw a bright red title written on the thick paper:

Our Great Lord Louis.

He read the book title softly, his lips twitching slightly, feeling himself radiating heat.

“Storybooks. We try to make them easy for children to understand,” Lana explained.

She added, "We selected three events as the main storyline: the Red Tide City Defense Battle during the insect plague, the Red Tide City Restoration Project, and the Burial Valley Rescue. The core words are courage, protection, dedication, and order."

Each lesson has a concluding phrase, such as this one…

She turned to the last page, pointed to the beautifully written subheading, and read it aloud:

"When you encounter danger, remember what the lord said: Protect those you love and be someone others can rely on."

Louis looked down at the words and remained silent for a moment, wondering if he had actually said those words.

If you're unsure who said a famous quote, just say it was said by a great lord.

Louis flipped through the illustrated pages again, and one page showed him wearing a red cloak, riding a horse at full speed through the snow.

Another page shows him building the city wall with the people, and another page shows his silhouette as he raises his spear and charges toward the front line in a valley shrouded in red mist.

"That's ridiculous," he thought to himself, even wondering if if he continued drawing, Louis would ascend to godhood and slay evil gods with his sword.

Louis then opened the second book: "A Little Textbook on Red Tide Common Knowledge".

The content is more practical, covering territory division, geographical knowledge, basic agricultural knowledge, and key points for identifying cult members, etc.

The simplified legal provisions are clearly marked, such as "no carrying a knife at night" and "changes in household registration must be reported," which are easy to understand yet serious.

The third book, "Three Thousand Questions about the Red Tide," uses a lighthearted format of one question per day to repeatedly impart knowledge.
Do you know who dug the first well in Mailangling?

"Who will lead us out of the winter disaster?"

Why are cult members so terrifying?

Louis closed the last book and gently pressed his thumb against the cover.

"Well done," he commented, placing the three textbooks on the side of the desk, his tone as gentle as ever. "However... isn't the content about me a bit too exaggerated?"

“No,” Lana answered almost immediately, her tone unwavering. “This is necessary education.”

Her gaze was sincere and unwavering, as if she were explaining an absolute truth to him.

Bradley, who was standing nearby, glanced at the illustration and nodded. "Hmm, it's quite moving... I think it's good."

“You too?” Louis looked at him with a slight headache. “I was just saying that we could cut a little bit, instead of it all being me charging into battle on horseback and waving to help those in need. Add some paragraphs about ordinary citizens, artisans, and children making huge contributions as well.”

He paused, then added, "Red Tide wasn't built by me alone."

Lana's eyes lit up, as if a creative passion had been ignited: "I understand! I will write another section, telling the touching story of how the lord led the people through the cold winter, rebuilt the ruins, and ignited the flame of hope!"

"No...that's not what I meant."

Louis opened her mouth, but ultimately couldn't stop her from rapidly memorizing the draft.

She seems to have misunderstood something.

Louis sighed as he watched Lana, her face flushed with excitement, furiously scribbling in her notebook.

Never mind, I'll revise it myself after the draft is finished.

"At least, don't draw me jumping into the fire with a spear anymore," he muttered.

(End of this chapter)