Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 331 Difficulties and Plans

In the early morning at Dawn Harbor, before the morning mist had dissipated, the air was filled with the work chants of craftsmen and laborers.

"Hey hoo - hey hoo -"

What they are building is the future largest and most important port in the North.

Several oddly shaped machines were roaring in the construction site.

The white mist ejected from the valve churned in the air, and the heavy iron hammer, lifted by the steam, crashed down, causing the mud on the ground to bubble violently.

This steam-powered pile driver is the latest product of the Red Tide Steam Craftsmen Group.

At Louis's suggestion, a slide rail and counterweight were added above the steam hammer frame.

Therefore, it is more accurate and faster than ordinary manual methods, with almost no deviation.

Several young workers were adding fuel to the furnace, while others held the posts and shouted slogans to keep their movements synchronized and orderly.

Meanwhile, Elliott, the governor of Dawn Harbor, was carrying finished timber stakes toward the steam engine with several laborers.

He was one of the first knights to follow Louis to the North, and was so loyal and reliable that Louis sent him to Dawnport as overseer.

Under Louis's guidance, he always took the lead in everything he did after arriving in Dawn Harbor, so no matter how hard or tiring it was, no worker dared to complain.

Meanwhile, Russell, the chief engineer of Dawn Harbor, was squatting in the mud, discussing with the craftsmen who had come to the North with him how to build a port in this mudflat.

But they were indeed somewhat pessimistic, after all, the port was located in a mudflat, where the repeated erosion by the tides made the pile foundations prone to sinking or tilting.

Traditional construction methods require several years and a large amount of stone to stabilize the structure.

Someone muttered under their breath, "This mud puddle could probably swallow a house... No matter how deep the piles are driven, I don't know if they can hold up."

Russell didn't say anything, but his brow was furrowed.

Just then, a young knight ran over through the mud and whispered to the two officers of Dawn Harbor, "Lord Louis is on his way and will arrive within two days."

Upon hearing this news, Elliott immediately smiled with relief.

Although he was highly regarded by Louis, this was the first time he had independently supervised such a large territory, and Louis had also told him that this was the most important project for the Red Tide Territory in the next few years, which put him under tremendous pressure.

Sometimes I can't sleep at night, worrying about whether I can shoulder such a heavy responsibility and live up to Lord Louis's trust.

Now that I heard that Louis was coming, a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.

In Elliott's mind, Louis was omnipotent; as long as he came, this matter would definitely be accomplished.

But Serar, standing next to him, was somewhat stunned.

He had only arrived in the North last fall and had met Louis a few times, but they had only had two truly effective conversations.

On one occasion, when they first arrived in Red Tide City, the young lord warmly welcomed them.

On one occasion, before setting off for Dawn Harbor, Louis met with them privately, offered them words of encouragement, and then highlighted a few key points.

It was then that Celar realized that Louis did indeed know something about port construction, after all, he was a young master from the Calvin family.

This was a nobleman of extraordinary bearing, but he looked far too young; judging by his appearance alone, he was not even twenty years old.

But hearing that Louis was coming, he still felt uneasy.

After all, he built ports for many nobles, and some projects were ruined by the self-righteous guidance of the upper class.

If this young man is just here to take a look, that's fine. But if he actually thinks he has some ability and comes to instruct these professionals, it could very well turn into a disaster.

Moreover, in Serar's view, this place was not suitable for building a port.

The worry in my heart lingered for a long time.

…………

Having resolved the crisis left behind by the Witch of Despair, Louis immediately went to Dawn Harbor.

He dismounted, his shoes sinking into the damp sand, and his gaze swept across the entire construction site.

The outer fence has been erected, and several rows of sheds are emitting smoke. They are separated from the houses of the laborers and craftsmen and are relatively tidy.

This kind of house wouldn't be considered shabby in the North, but in Red Tide Territory it would only be considered temporary accommodation.

Looking further into the distance, the port was just beginning to take shape. Piling machines roared, craftsmen drew lines in the mud, and laborers, drenched in sweat, carried wooden piles forward.

“Lord Louis.” Elliott and Russell approached him almost simultaneously, stopping two steps in front of him.

They then reported on their respective progress:
The work sheds and camp have been set up, and the craftsmen have settled in.

The survey line has been completed, and the harbor basin area has been marked.

The steam-powered pile driver is operating normally and its performance has exceeded expectations.

Some supplies are being consumed slightly faster than expected, and shipments from the south are still needed.

Although Louis had already learned most of these things from the daily intelligence system, he listened quietly to the whole thing.

After listening, Louis nodded and said, "I know there are many difficulties, your Tide-Tide-class, and some unknown enemies. These difficulties are inevitable."

He paused, then said firmly, "It's understandable that some difficulties exist, but the port must be built. This is the lifeline for the Red Tide to establish itself in the empire; only by completing this port can it have a chance to develop."

Elliott straightened his back, while Russell subconsciously swallowed.

Louis turned and said, “Call all the foremen and technicians here. Let’s have a meeting.”

…………

The meeting was held in a large wooden cabin, with various maps and survey maps laid out on the table.

Even with the door closed, the sea breeze can still seep in through the cracks, carrying a damp smell.

Louis stood in the main seat, with a wooden board behind him, his gaze sweeping over every craftsman and technician present.

He said, "Speak directly, don't beat around the bush. If you have any difficulties, just say so. Hiding things will only harm yourself and others."

If I don't say it now, I'll hold those responsible accountable if problems arise later. It's not about deliberately punishing them, but about ensuring that all responsibility is distributed to those who should bear it. Understand?

The cabin fell silent; no one spoke first.

In the end, it was Elliott, who was closest to Louis, who took the lead and said, "Lord Louis, there are strange fishmen nearby who often attack at night. Several laborers have already been attacked and are suffering terribly."

Louis replied: "Fire and light sentry posts are set up in various locations, with three layers of defense to prioritize personnel safety, and the sentry posts are interconnected."

If the merfolk dare to come, they will be exposed to the light. The archers are on standby, and we will find an opportunity to eliminate them all at once.

Seeing this, Russell mustered his courage and said, "The mud layers under the cofferdam are of varying depths, and driving piles at a uniform depth will risk collapse."

Louis pulled out a small black notebook from inside his cloak, clearly having come prepared: "We won't have a uniform depth; we'll explore first and then divide the area into zones."

In soft areas, mortar needs to be poured in deeper, even to harden it; in hard areas, no effort is wasted. Each section has its own method, and only when combined can they be stable.

The craftsmen nodded frequently, their brows gradually relaxing, and even Russell was taken aback. This young lord not only understood his technical terms but could also replace them with the simplest metaphors, making them understandable even to the rough-handed stonemasons.

Although they didn't know the specifics of the feasibility, everyone felt much more at ease seeing that the lord wasn't giving orders arbitrarily.

Seeing this, the others also raised their own questions, which Louis answered one by one.

"Sir, the ropes are being used up too quickly; the warehouse only has enough for five days. If they break, the pile drivers and cranes will have to be shut down."

"First, dismantle the old fishing nets and braid them into spare ropes. Drano, register the gap and send someone to Red Tide City immediately to get the second batch of supplies."

"There is a shortage of long timber. The keel of the slipway needs to be oak, but the existing timber is mostly hill fir, which cannot support the load."

"Use cedar to build a temporary frame first, and then replace it with oak when it arrives. Don't stop work, just get the frame up first."

……

The group raised a series of questions: supplies, working hours, technical parameters, night protection, medical logistics, disability compensation, dampness in workers' accommodations, shipyard load-bearing capacity, and backup steam engine coal-fired power...

Those who were truly capable spoke out, and even the timid were encouraged to voice their concerns.

Some problems can be solved, while others cannot be solved for the time being; I can only make a note of them.

After all the questions were raised, everyone felt much more relaxed.

Louis said, “That’s right. Only by raising questions can we solve them. If we keep hiding them, they’ll never be solved and will just drag on forever.”

If you have any further questions, please report them to me or Elliott immediately. I can't guarantee that every problem can be solved, but I will do my best.

Upon hearing Louis's words, the craftsmen and technicians no longer looked worried.

In particular, the shipwrights and port artisans from the southeastern provinces assumed that the nobles of the north were as ignorant of maritime affairs as ever.

Now, however, he found that this lord was different, and his anxiety subsided considerably. He felt that building a port here might not be an impossible thing.

Louis closed the notebook in his hand and turned his gaze back to the crowd.

"Once a problem is raised, it should be addressed concretely. Without a plan, no amount of skilled craftsmen or equipment will be of any use."

"Phase one: stabilizing the foundation and harbor basin, constructing cofferdams, drainage, test piles, and the initial form of diversion dikes; eliminating potential threats, such as fishmen and pirates."

Phase Two: Wharf and breakwater, breakwater elevation, pile bridge wharf, warehouse foundation.

Phase Three: Shipbuilding and Navigation Safety, including slipways, keels, lighthouses, and port defense weapon positions.

The room was completely silent, except for the sound of pen nibs scratching on the wooden board.

After finishing writing, Louis paused, his gaze slowly sweeping over Elliott, Russell, and the other leaders: "This is the general direction, step by step, one link after another."

Furthermore, specific daily plans and goals must be established. Everything must have a schedule and designated responsible parties, making it clear who should do what and preventing any shirking of responsibility.

Of course, these are just examples; the actual details will need to be developed by you based on the specific site conditions. But as long as you follow the proper order and proceed step by step, even the most difficult construction projects can be completed.

After he finished speaking, there was a moment of silence in the shed.

With a clear direction, the managers no longer looked as dejected and lost as before.

As Elliott looked at the few lines of words on the wooden board, a long-lost sense of peace welled up in his heart.

He had charged into battle with his sword on countless battlefields, but after becoming the governor of Dawn Territory, he realized that leading people to build a city was more difficult than facing the enemy head-on.

Lord Louis spoke simply, yet it was something he was far from being able to do.

“So… I still have a long way to go.” Elliott felt an immense respect for Louis.

Looking at the clear writing on the wooden board, everyone felt a fire reignited in their hearts.

…………

The plan has been finalized, and thanks to the foremen's promotion, the atmosphere on the construction site has become somewhat positive. These laborers were mostly those who joined the Red Tide movement relatively late last year.

They rarely complained about Louis sending them here to work; they were mostly grateful that Lord Louis had provided them with food and shelter.

So they carried shovels and hoes on their shoulders and in their hands, working tirelessly to dig away the soft silt and gravel.

The mudflats gradually dip in the center, and a nascent waterway slowly emerges, which will be the outline of the future harbor basin.

Elliott directed his men to build a wooden dike along the outer edge to block the seawater.

Braving the sea breeze, the workers drove planks into the mud and then filled the gaps with sandbags.

Just then, a section of the excavation area suddenly collapsed.

The mud poured out instantly, trapping more than a dozen workers. Their screams pierced the noise of the construction site.

However, things turned out alright, as Louis had already sent additional support based on the daily intelligence alerts.

Elliott led his team into the mud and water, pulled up ropes, and managed to drag more than a dozen laborers out without any injuries.

Louis stood by the embankment and pointed to the landslide area: "The site must be safe. Lay wooden planks on the muddy ground and weigh them down with sandbags on the outside. Also, dig a drainage channel to disperse the water."

After Louis gave the order, planks were brought in and a makeshift path was built, allowing the workers to walk steadily on the muddy ground.

With the diversion channel excavated, the accumulated water gradually receded, the inner work area was no longer swallowed by mudslides, and the construction site became much safer, with accidents reduced by 90%.

As the days went by, a deep trench was gradually dug out in the open space in the middle of the mudflats, the accumulated water was dispersed by the diversion channel, and the cofferdam line stood firmly on the mud.

What was originally just a patch of mud has now revealed the outline of a circular waterway, with rows of wooden stakes along its edges, resembling a rough skeleton.

The initial shape of the harbor basin has finally emerged.

The craftsmen stood in the mud, gazing at the scene, their expressions somewhat dazed.

Someone wiped the mud off their face and couldn't help but laugh, "They actually managed to carve it out..."

His companion couldn't help but grin as well: "The port... it really can work out."

Those who had doubts before were now moving faster and with more energy than before.

Of course, things didn't go smoothly at the construction site, and external crises gradually emerged.

The sentries guarding the dike often heard the sound of water splashing in the middle of the night.

When the torch shone on the water, a series of bubbles rose to the surface before falling silent.

A wooden stake at the edge of the cofferdam was also found to have half a tooth mark, with wood chips floating on the water.

But by the time the knights chased after them with torches, the trail had already been washed away by the tide.

As the craftsmen worked in the mud, they could occasionally feel the mud trembling slightly beneath their feet, as if something was lurking in the shadows.

Elliott ordered increased vigilance, with the outposts to be lit every night; those merfolk would eventually bare their fangs.

(End of this chapter)