Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 325 The Calvin Family Meeting

The Duke of Calvin sat alone in his study, a neatly cut letter in his hand, signed by his eighth son, Louis Calvin.

The letter arrived almost every three months, traveling thousands of miles from Red Tide City in the North to Calvin's residence in the Southeast.

"Tsk...this child is quite well-behaved." Duke Calvin's tone was laced with sarcasm.

He slowly unfolded the letter, his gaze sweeping over the familiar opening words:

"Thanks to the family's protection and supplies, the Red Tide Territory is well-governed, operating smoothly this quarter, with stable public sentiment and adequate preparations for winter..."

The second half of the letter is about exploding gold coins.

"Recently, due to the need for the construction of a new port, we plan to expand the shipyard. We are still short of skilled shipwrights and technicians, and hope that the family can provide assistance in arranging and deploying them..."

Once the port is completed, goods from the southern and northern borders can be transported directly by sea, saving them from excessive travel time.

It is expected to save more than three times the transportation time, enhance the red tide's ability to engage in foreign trade, and at the same time provide synergistic benefits to the southeastern branch of the family business association.

Duke Calvin nodded in agreement without even realizing it.

This is not just a matter of a few horses and a few bags of grain; the transportation capacity, routes, and even bargaining power from the North to other provinces, especially the Southeast provinces, will be affected.

But this son is really greedy; a skilled boatman isn't someone you can just pick up off the street.

The family has already sent two batches of people there, and they still say it's not enough?

"You dare to ask for it?" The Duke snorted coldly, but a hint of amusement appeared on his eyebrows.

But Duke Calvin actually had to consider it.

If Louis can really build that port, it will greatly shorten the time for north-south trade, which will be of great benefit to the family.

Moreover, the Red Tide Territory and the Family Chamber of Commerce will be completely bound together, becoming a community of shared destiny with mutual interests, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

After weighing the pros and cons, Duke Calvin will still send someone over.

Manpower will be provided, and equipment can be approved, but there will be many additional conditions.

Expanding the port is no problem, but the main navigation rights, commercial and tax ports, and control of outposts must all be retained by the family.

Duke Calvin continued reading: "He has been formally enfeoffed as Earl of the North... His youngest son was born this month, and both mother and child are well. Thank you for the family's blessings..."

After reading the entire letter, the Duke raised the corner of his mouth slightly and put the letter back on the table.

The letter was written in a lukewarm tone, neither intimate nor distant, as if it were a formal report.

Even the birth of a child was described with a dry "thank you to the family for your blessings," as if it were just a formality.

"He was granted the title of Earl, had a son... He kept thanking his family while running further and further away. He was quite shrewd."

Unfortunately, this shrewd son clearly had no intention of actually getting close to the family.

He was initially sent to the northern border simply to fulfill the emperor's decree for expansion, using him as a substitute.

Who would have thought that this scrap of material would actually take root in the North and become a local tyrant?

Now even knights, nobles, and merchant guilds are starting to gravitate towards him.

His own spies were either absorbed into his organization or sidelined.

"Still thinks he's Calvin?" Duke Calvin sneered, sitting up straight.

Being able to do this shows that the child is indeed capable, but it also means that he has escaped control.

The real intelligence he had access to came from the family business guild, and every achievement Louis had made surprised him.

Red Tide Territory now controls most of the mineral veins and salt lakes in the North, and controls more than a third of the population of the North. Even the old nobles of the North have been won over by him.

Louis has turned that wasteland into his own kingdom.

The Duke of Calvin leaned back in his high-backed chair, tapping the table as he began to reconsider the question that had been on his mind lately.

Who should be the successor to the clan chief?

This shouldn't have been a consideration.

The eldest son, Gaius Calvin, was the rightful future patriarch, excelling in his knighthood, military prowess, and political skills.

But what about now? Gaius disappeared along with the emperor, his chances of survival are slim, and he has virtually no chance of inheriting the Calvin family fortune.

Let's look at the third son, Eduardo.

Due to special circumstances, he was personally sent to the Golden Feather Flower Church when he was a child.

But precisely because of this, the child was destined from the very beginning not to become the heir to the family headship.

As for the remaining few...

Selton is indeed shrewd, good at business, and ruthless.

But his vision was too narrow and his perspective too limited; he always thought that everyone else was a bunch of brainless idiots.

Even with the huge upheaval of Louis's rise, he thought it was just good luck and that he caught the right trend.

"He has clever tricks, but lacks a broad perspective." He shook his head.

As for the other sons...

Duke Calvin sighed, rubbed his temples, and looked down at the family tree on the table.

How many sons did she actually have?
A dozen or so? Twelve? Fifteen?
He can't remember very clearly.

But the truly impressive ones... there are only a handful on my fingers.

“On the contrary, the one that was least favored,” he said in a low voice, “has now become the only reliable pillar of the family.”

Louis, Earl of the North, Lord of the Red Tide.

His mother was a maid from a humble background, but now he has relied on his own strength to build up a wasteland into the heart of the North, starting from the most remote fiefdom.

“The most suitable child right now.” This was the conclusion he was unwilling to voice.

Unfortunately, despite having the name "Calvin" etched in his blood, he always seems to be trying to distance himself from it.

They always maintained that distant yet intimate relationship, and even grew closer to the Edmund family.

In recent years, almost all the "pawns" sent to fight the red tide have been wiped out.

Some were absorbed and became Louis's confidants, some became estranged and no information could be obtained about their core, and some went missing without even a report... their fates are unknown.

The entire red tide is like an airtight iron barrel, so tight that even its tentacles cannot penetrate it.

"Am I too smart?" he murmured, staring down at the letter with a complicated expression.

He folded the letter and slowly threw it into the fire.

The flames licked the letter, turning it to ashes word by word.

Staring at the few remaining bits of burnt writing, Duke Calvin's lips curled into a cold smile: "You want to get rid of the family? Don't forget who paved the way for you."

His tone carried a hint of sarcasm, yet couldn't hide a certain... joy.

This son, the one he once sent to the North as scrap, is now a dignified earl, the most powerful man in the North.

That's really unexpected.

"Your Grace," a servant whispered from outside the door, "the clan assembly is about to begin, and all the dignitaries are seated."

"understood."

Duke Calvin slowly rose, straightened his sleeves, and regained his usual composure.

The council chamber was located in a secluded room deep within the mansion, with thick stone walls.

Participation was limited to the very core family members; there were no recorders, and no advisors were allowed. The stated agenda was to analyze the situation in the capital after the emperor's disappearance and assess the regent's ability to govern.
But the real question is only one: which prince should our Calvin family bet on?
They bet right; the status of the eight major families remains as stable as ever.

If we bet wrong, we might not even be able to keep our territory in the southeastern province.

Duke Calvin entered and calmly took his seat in the main seat.

On both sides of the long table were already seated his brothers, several family elders of considerable status, and several sons who were the backbone of the next generation.

The candlelight illuminated everyone's faces: some ambitious, some shrewd, some silent...

But in the Duke of Calvin's eyes, their thoughts were almost written all over their faces.

Especially his son, Selton Calvin.

This young man, who started his business through his family's trade routes, now controls nearly 30% of the family's business revenue.

He exuded confidence in every move he made, sitting there as if the main seat was something that would be his for the taking sooner or later.

But he didn't know that the real game had already taken a different turn, and he didn't even understand who the players were and who the pieces were.

Duke Calvin's gaze swept over the crowd, and he spoke casually, "The capital is in turmoil. It seems the Regent won't be able to hold on for much longer. Tonight, let's talk about which prince we should bet on."

After he finished speaking, the council chamber fell silent.

Selton Calvin sat at the right end of the long table, his gaze slowly sweeping over the crowd.

These people will eventually become supporting characters on his future throne.

He was the third son in his family, controlling 30% of the family's business system and managing four of the most crucial inter-provincial trade routes.

In terms of real power, apart from his father, few people present could surpass him.

Big Brother Gaius? He's in a coma, his fate unknown, and even the Emperor is nowhere to be found.

Louis? Well, Selton admits that guy is a problem.

They managed to create something out of what should have been a dead wasteland in the north.

Now he has not only been granted the title of Earl, but also controls several knightly orders and half of the Northern noble class. He has even turned around and borrowed several old business lines of the family business guild.

To have risen from humble beginnings to where I am today is a lie.

But he has already settled down in the North.

Then let him stay obediently in the North, as far away from the Southeast Province as possible.

Even if they have some influence, they are still a distant threat.

As for the remaining brothers?

They're just a bunch of worthless scoundrels wearing family names.

Everything is ready; all that's missing is the opportunity to shine.

And now is my chance to take over, Selton knew it all too well.

“Father,” Selton spoke up at the right moment, his tone sharp, “I think we must clarify our position and decide which prince to support; this is the most crucial issue at the moment.”

All eyes turned to him, and he continued, "The Fourth Prince has a good relationship with the Censorate, ensuring a stable civil service system that can protect the capital. The Second Prince has the military power to stabilize the borders."

The Crown Prince is weak and incompetent, a mere empty shell; the Fifth Prince is even less trustworthy, and intelligence suggests he's colluding with foreign powers. If we bet on the wrong horse… the family's century-old foundation will be destroyed in an instant.”

He paused deliberately, scanning the room: "Therefore, I advocate choosing the strongest among the princes to support."

“We are not philanthropists; we must support the side that can seize power.”

These words were resolute, logically clear, and sounded very reliable.

On both sides of the long table, many elders nodded frequently, and some even whispered their approval, saying, "What you say makes sense."

Selton was secretly delighted.

But the Duke of Calvin, sitting in the main seat, remained completely unmoved.

He simply lowered his head, picked up his wine glass, took a small sip, and already had his own opinion.

That's too safe. Selton is always good at guessing what his superiors want, but that's precisely why he's never been able to get ahead.

These words are as good as saying nothing at all. They seem to be analyzing the situation, but they are mostly useless and just rely on petty cleverness.

Duke Calvin put down his wine glass, his tone calm: "I've noted your thoughts. Let's hear what others have to say first."

Selton maintained a composed expression, but his fingertips unconsciously clenched his knees as he silently returned to his seat.

He understood that his father was dissatisfied, but unwilling to refute him in public.

“Brother,” Earl Aubert spoke first, his younger brother, the Duke, always mature and composed.

"Although the Second Prince holds military power, he has also offended many people. The Censorate, the Ministry of Finance, and the civil service are all at odds with him... If the three parties join forces to launch a counterattack, the outcome could be unpredictable."

“I think the Fourth Prince could also keep an eye on this,” Ninth Prince Bran whispered from his seat.

“Ha,” someone sneered, “The Fourth Prince? That bookworm who hides in his study all day writing ‘Imperial Governance Proposals’? The Empire values ​​military achievements and practical work, not fancy words.”

The atmosphere became somewhat tense at one point.

Elder Isaac slowly spoke up: "Actually... there are still some voices discussing the Fifth Prince."

There was a sudden moment of silence around the long table.

This is the prince who "disappeared for many years and returned to the capital recently." It is rumored that he had secret dealings with the Golden Feather Flower Church, but of course there is no evidence to support this claim.

“That road is too dangerous,” the Duke finally spoke, but no one could discern his true feelings.

No one knew that at that moment, the contents of a secret letter were flashing through his mind.

The letter was personally delivered by Eleanor, Eleanor's sister, to a manor on the outskirts of the capital.

That was the secret hideout he had arranged to make contact with the Fifth Prince's faction.

More importantly, Eduardo had already converted to the Golden Feather Flower, becoming a core member of the Papacy and having some connection with the Fifth Prince.

All of this was completely unknown to those present.

Just as everyone was expressing their opinions, the Duke turned his gaze to an old man at the end of the long table.

Carter Calvin, one of the oldest elders in the family, is a man of few words, yet his words carry considerable weight.

Carter nodded slowly, his tone unhurried: "If I had to choose one, I think... the Second Prince is worth the gamble. He has connections in the army, his reputation is still quite good, and he's still recognized in the capital."

The Duke of Calvin did not respond immediately.

He simply nodded slightly, his expression calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

But this action, in the eyes of everyone present, was like a seal, gently stamped on the Second Prince's column.

Some people's eyes lit up, while others pondered silently.

No one knew that Duke Calvin did not truly agree with this statement at that moment.

This is fake news, a phishing attempt.

The statement that "the Calvin family favors the second prince" was bait he himself had laid out.

If within a few days, rumors suddenly spread in the capital that "the Calvin family is planning to support the Second Prince"...

Then he can follow the clues and find out exactly where the wolf in this meeting is hiding.

Before the storm that would sweep through the empire arrives, he must first clean up his own ship.

(End of this chapter)