Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 338 Punishment
The Red Tide Law clearly states that under the military household system, if a rebellion occurs in a village, the entire village is responsible for its supervision.

Louis turned around and looked at the elderly village chief at the front of the crowd: "Do you not know? Or are you unwilling to say?"

The old man leaned on his cane, his face was ashen, and his lips trembled slightly in the wind.

His gaze drifted past Louis, as if searching for a way out.

“I…I’m just an old woman, and they never tell me anything…When I see them go out, they say they’re going hunting…How was I supposed to know they would…do something like this…”

The barbarian village chief hurriedly defended himself, his words broken and his eyes darting around.

"I really didn't know, sir. If I had known they had this plan, how could I not have stopped them? They... they were just saying it, they didn't take it seriously. I thought it would be fine..."

The more the barbarian village chief talked, the lower he stood.

When he said the last few words, his throat seemed to catch, and he couldn't squeeze out any more sound.

The village chief knew perfectly well that he was lying.

He knew everything, knew what they were doing, but he just pretended not to see it.

And he also knew very well that this wouldn't convince Louis.

Finally, he lowered his head, as if giving up.

“Understood,” Louis said calmly.

There was no reprimand, no superfluous words, only a nod to the executive officer beside him.

In just two minutes, the noose was pulled up again.

When that aged body was hoisted into the air, everyone could see it clearly, but no one spoke, and they fell into a suffocating silence.

Louis did not leave to end it all; he simply raised a finger and gestured to the knight beside him.

"Bring the rest of you up."

The men brought in were several young barbarian men: the warehouse manager, the porter responsible for delivering the kerosene, and a sentry who was on duty this week.

They did not participate in the attack, but coincidentally, they were absent from their posts, changed shifts, or allocated supplies at crucial times.

Louis did not speak himself, but instead had a professional interrogator conduct the interrogation.

When did you register the heating oil drum as damaged?

The person being questioned was the warehouse manager, a barbarian man in his early thirties. He stammered, "Well... that bucket was indeed a bit broken... I thought nobody used it, so I marked it up..."

“But you didn’t report the loss, nor did you go through the recycling process.”

The man's voice was filled with panic as he tried to explain, "I...I didn't mean to, I didn't know they would take it."

"So you knew they were going to make a move?"

"I...I heard a little about it...but I wasn't involved...I swear!"

The second person was a porter, who shook his head repeatedly: "I was just moving things! I didn't know it was kerosene!"

"Why did you do this without orders? Did you open the inspection box?"

"No……"

The third person was the sentry who had been reassigned.

He stared angrily at the interrogating knight, saying nothing, only clenching his teeth tightly.

"Nothing to say?" The knight gave him a cold look.

The sentry whirled around to the platform and roared, "This is a massacre! We were just..."

Before he could finish speaking, a Crimson Tide Knight stepped forward and struck him on the back of the head with a short-handled blunt weapon.

With a muffled thud, he fell to the ground and was dragged directly onto the rack without even a chance to react.

The rest of the process was quick; the ropes were already in place, and there were no unnecessary movements.

The people were put into nooses one by one, and the whole process was completed in silence.

Several of them tried to struggle, but the Crimson Tide Knights standing on either side of the gallows held their shoulders down like nails, making it impossible for them to move.

"Execute," the recorder shouted the final order.

The sound of the wooden mechanism falling was very soft, but it was exceptionally clear in the surrounding silence.

The three shadows flickered for a moment, then fell silent.

The wind had died down at the execution ground, but the ropes were still swaying gently.

No one spoke up for those people; instead, many people quietly glanced at the figure standing in the wind beside the execution platform.

Sif wore a cloak of crimson tide, her white hair billowing in the cold wind like a taut thread.

She watched them being dragged up one by one, nooses around their throats, and then the traps beneath their feet fell.

His face was expressionless, and he didn't blink from beginning to end.

Even as the corpse slowly came to a stop, she simply uttered, "It's too lenient to treat a traitor."

The voice wasn't loud, but it made Vesa, who was standing next to her, involuntarily clench her fists.

But she was in a state of confusion, and there were even faces she recognized among those people.

The sentry who was knocked unconscious had once eaten dried meat with her around a campfire in the snow; he was also a warrior of the Cold Moon tribe.

Now the corpse hangs on the wooden frame, with only the trampled execution platform beneath its feet.

Not far ahead of them were dozens of representatives from other border villages, all of whom were also barbarian surrenderers.

They all stood neatly in line, heads bowed and silent.

They wore fur coats issued by the Red Tide, new winter boots, and name tags on their chests with their numbers and names, signifying that they were no longer barbarians but Red Tide people.

Occasionally, someone would look up and glance at the swaying corpse, then immediately look down again, their face pale.

They knew that those being hung up today weren't just a few criminals.

It was that line that could not be crossed, that line that many of them had secretly approached but never dared to cross.

Now that line has finally been dyed red, no one dares to test it anymore.

The process did not end there.

The laws of the Red Tide have always been clear, and those who remain silent will also pay the price.

Those who were not directly involved but knowingly failed to report were singled out and interrogated.

Some just wandered around the granary too much, some were on night watch but turned a blind eye, and some had shared a drink with Sarik but said nothing.

Their fates varied; depending on their positions and connections, some were flogged and expelled from the Red Tide, never to set foot on the border again.

Some were able to stay, but the price they paid was a wound on their back.

Some people even knelt down and confessed before being sentenced, only to be barely forgiven.

Only one person had reported Sarik's unusual contact with the caravan at the last moment. He was publicly commended, but he kept his head down and dared not make eye contact with anyone.

As for the entire village... they were no longer allowed to stay.

Red Tide's order was simple: Border Guard Village No. 12 was officially disbanded.

The remaining sixty-odd people were organized into groups and taken away in the cold wind to other villages to re-register their household registrations.

There were no cries, no resistance.

Those leaving all kept their heads down, dragging their meager belongings, and followed the transport teams away one by one. The last corpse at the execution ground had not yet been dragged away; the smell of tar and blood still lingered in the air.

Louis then stepped onto the high platform and stood in the cold wind.

There was no lengthy opening, nor any need for emotional manipulation; he simply looked down and scanned the audience.

The village chiefs and representatives of the six border villages gathered here, almost all of them bowing their heads, not daring to look Louis in the eye.

"This rebellion was instigated in secret by the remnants of the Silver Plate Guild. The disloyalty of a few led to this."

Louis spoke calmly, as if reading from meeting minutes, without even stirring up emotions or feigning anger.

“They are not your representatives, nor are they the representatives of the Red Tide people. The fact that most of you are obeying the rules and fulfilling your duties is the reason we are able to stand here this winter.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the downcast faces: "I will not give the loyal the same reward as the foolish."

He then gently waved his hand, and three knights stepped forward, unfurled the parchment scroll, and loudly proclaimed the command:
"The following supplies will be provided to the six villages: five blankets and seventy sets of winter clothing for each village, and additional dry rations will be distributed immediately in January."

Thirty young people are permitted to participate in the construction of Shuguang Port, with priority given to those with Chichao household registration, and will receive food and accommodation subsidies and additional rewards.

Previously unapproved marriage applications will be reviewed based on merit.

Upon hearing this, some people quietly raised their heads, disbelief appearing on their faces.

They had expected to be reprimanded or even punished today.

Unexpectedly, the Crimson Tide Lord not only didn't harm them, but also sent them a reward.

But the more this was the case, the more anxious they became.

Louis saw it clearly, but he didn't intend to explain anything. He simply continued, "From now on, the Red Tide will no longer distinguish between barbarians, imperial people, and outsiders."

There are only two kinds of people: those who keep their promises, and those who are foolish enough to think they can rebel.

There was no sound below, except for the slight creaking of the wind as it blew through the still-wet noose on the execution ground.

Louis then announced the new policy: "The military household system will not be abolished. However, some provisions will be revised by me personally and will be officially promulgated later."

The preliminary changes are as follows: The number of patrol knights will be doubled, and they will patrol once a month; they cannot refuse. Unauthorized transfers of personnel or supplies between border villages are prohibited.

The village registers were re-examined, and new military household registers were compiled and printed. Those who were missing, had gone out, or were employed were required to declare their identities; those who failed to return by the deadline would be considered deserters and deserters.

The delegates below the stage looked solemn, and some even swallowed hard.

Louis glanced around and finally said, "You are not livestock, I will not drive you with a whip."

But you are not children anymore, and I will not tolerate any more mistakes. The Red Tide gave you a way to survive; don't waste it.

As Louis turned and left the stage, some people breathed a sigh of relief, while others became even more nervous.

The lord did not get angry, but decided to carry out a more calm and comprehensive overhaul.

Starting today, all villages will be subject to stricter management.

Some representatives tried to step forward to express their loyalty, but found that no one was willing to be the first to stand up.

Before they could react, Louis walked toward the waiting knights in the distance.

The execution ground had long been cleared, and the blood had frozen into mottled dark marks on the frozen soil.

Louis put away the notebook containing the key points of the verdict and handed it to the attendant beside him.

He glanced at the barbarian representatives who were still standing silently not far away, then looked at Sif beside him.

“Let’s go,” he said. “It’s time to leave.”

"Yeah." She nodded.

…………

Late at night.

The fireplace was still warm, and the candlelight flickered.

The reflection showed the crumpled bedding and the two figures standing very close together inside the room.

Sif had her back to Louis, her hair draped over her shoulders, half her face hidden in shadow.

Louis leaned against the bedside and finally spoke: "You haven't been talking much today."

Sif did not respond immediately, but turned around after a moment, her eyes no longer showing the almost ruthless hardness she had displayed on the execution ground during the day: "It wasn't as pleasant as I imagined."

“I thought it would be satisfying to see them all hanging up like that.” Sif curled the corner of her mouth, as if she was about to laugh, but it also looked like a muscle twitch.

"I clearly don't care anymore, but why... do I still feel heartache?"

They were shouting about barbarian dignity, and they were shouting it quite loudly… I can understand it, though. I shouted it when I was a kid.”

Sif lowered her head: "You gave them houses, clothes, and food. They won't freeze to death or starve to death."

She paused, her voice as soft as falling snow: "You've given them enough, yet they still betray you."

If it weren't for you, they would have all died in that snowstorm last year.

How dare they…

But Sif also understood that no matter how harsh her words were, she still left some room for those people in her heart.

It wasn't that she didn't hate those people, but she also didn't want to see them hanged one by one on the wooden platform.

He wanted to fight for them, but he didn't know what else he could say to Louis. He had done his best; his name was too kind.

She is no longer the princess of the Cold Moon tribe; she is simply Louis's wife.

Louis sat beside her without interrupting, simply holding her hand gently.

"You feel heartache because you are more clear-headed than they are."

Louis said this in a calm tone, without any boasting or preaching, simply stating a fact.

“The system in Bianwei Village is indeed problematic.” He lowered his head, pausing slightly. “I originally thought that by keeping people confined and supporting them for a few years, I could cultivate a generation of obedient citizens… Perhaps I was too hasty.”

He turned to Sif, looking into her eyes: "Next, I'll make some adjustments."

Show them a path to advancement. Loyal people will have opportunities for promotion, and talented young people can be sent to Red Tide City for training.

Families who wish to obey will not only be kept under guard, but will also participate in governance. This is not for favors, but to let them know that disobedience will result in death, while obedience... at least offers a way out.

Sif turned her head to look at him, her eyes much calmer.

“From now on, these border villages,” he said slowly, “will be under your jurisdiction. Not as the daughter of barbarians, but as the master of the Red Tide.”

This snowfield will eventually become our land.

There was a few seconds of silence in the room.

Sif nodded and whispered, "I'll try my best to help you."

Louis smiled, didn't say anything profound, but simply placed a light kiss on her forehead: "Then thank you in advance."

Sif's ear tips were still a little red. She wanted to turn over and turn her back to him, but she was pulled back as soon as she moved.

“You…” She bit her lower lip, without looking up.

"Should we try again?" he whispered. "I remember you said that for the Red Tide... we could try a little harder."

Sif gritted her teeth and reached out to push him, but without using force.

Then the firelight grew warmer, and the bed became a little more disheveled.

(End of this chapter)