Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 354 Winter and Spring Celebration

Elena was wrapped in a dark gray cloak, and the corner of the carriage curtain was slightly lifted by the wind and snow.

She sat by the window, her fingertips lightly tracing the frosted glass, her gaze fixed on the straight streets outside.

It's already the dead of winter, and the snow is falling heavily outside, leaving the world almost entirely white and cold.

But the scenery of Red Tide City is quite different from other parts of the North.

The cold-climate pines and cypresses along the street stand in rows, their branches and leaves covered with snow and frost, yet they remain neat and orderly, both sheltering from the wind and adorning the city.

The houses along the way were semi-circular, with snow-covered domes that shimmered with a soft blush and dark gold light in the white mist.

Each dome is half-embedded in the ground, with its eaves curving down the slope, like a warm sanctuary that grows naturally from the snowfield.

A faint, low sound of flowing water could be heard from beneath the road. That was the heating trough designed by Louis, which was filled with warm water in winter to prevent freezing. So even when it was snowing heavily, the wheels did not slip.

Elena watched all this silently, her breath blurring the glass. After a moment, she whispered, "Incredible..."

She has been in Red Tide Territory for nearly two years, and even so, she is still amazed by this city.

The snow in the North, which originally symbolized harshness and death, has become an orderly landscape here.

Pedestrians passing by the street corner, craftsmen pushing wooden buckets, children leading snow dogs, and women carrying food walk through the fog.

Everyone is busy, but not flustered.

She recalled the surprise she felt when she first arrived, but now a long-lost sense of peace welled up in her heart.

The sound of the Frostspear City bells from over a year ago still echoes in her dreams.

At that time, Elena was holding young Isaac, still grieving for the Duke's passing.

The Duke's dying wish was etched in her heart: the territory and the Knights would be entrusted to Louis Calvin until Isaac came of age.

This arrangement made her very worried.

Elena couldn't understand why her husband would hand over the reins of the Edmund family to a young nobleman who wasn't related by blood, even though he was Emily's husband and didn't bear the Edmund surname.

Even though she didn't express any doubts, she was still somewhat worried. After all, the young man's wealth and power were too great, and it was easy for him to change his mind.

On the first day of arriving at the Red Tide, it was snowing lightly.

She and Isaac were settled in a newly built noble mansion in the center of Red Tide City.

That was a mansion built with Louis's money, even brighter and warmer than the old Frosthalberd castle, with a ventilation system of copper pipes by the windows, a fireplace that could operate at a constant temperature, and even the snow on the roof could be melted by hidden pipes.

The artisans of the Red Tide have accomplished something that the Northern nobles had never even dreamed of for centuries.

Her title remained "Duchess of Edmund," and although she held no real power, she was still treated with courtesy.

Louis and Emily often visited her to ask for her opinion on certain etiquette or ordinances, their tone conveying more respect than formality.

Whenever Louis recounted amusing anecdotes about the new policies in the living room, or when Emily held and teased little Isaac, he would still recall the heartwarming scenes from when the Duke of Edmund was still alive.

However, behind her gentleness and politeness, she remained cautious.

Elena could see Louis's restraint and sense of propriety, and she could also see the power hidden beneath that restraint—an ambition that could not be ignored.

He couldn't help but worry about his own son: in the long game of power, no one can remain without desires forever.

But life in the Red Tide gradually made her lower her guard, though not entirely.

She began to observe the city's order firsthand, from food rationing to town management, from military discipline to the workshop system.

Louis, however, did not seem to covet Isaac's title, nor did he touch Edmund's property.

Instead, he opened Red Tide's education, finances, and military supplies to all social classes, allowing even refugees to work in workshops or pursue further education.

During the banquet, Elena spoke with Red Tide officials and was surprised to find that they were not talking about conquest, but about port expansion, mechanical technology, and winter relief.

Tax laws were transparent, grain coupons were fair, orphans could attend school, and even servants learned to read and write at night school.

Gradually, she finally understood that Louis's ambition was not merely to rule the North, but to establish a new order, an order that would allow everyone to survive.

Elena's wariness hadn't disappeared, but that fear had been replaced by a strange respect.

As he was lost in thought, the carriage slowly came to a stop in the thick snow, and a maidservant softly reminded him, "Madam, we have arrived."

Elena lifted the carriage curtain, and a cold wind rushed in, instantly soaking her cloak with snowflakes.

Before me stood a simple yet tidy courtyard, with the Red Tide emblem hanging at the entrance, its sun pattern shimmering in the wind and snow.

That was the Red Tide Orphanage.

This is Elena's mission for the day: to inspect the preparations at the Red Tide Orphanage.

Since she took over the management of several orphanages in the city, she personally inspects them every few days.

The children in the courtyard all loved her dearly and would always wave as her carriage approached from the window.

Snowflakes filled the air, and the aroma of firewood and hot soup wafted through the air.

Elena pulled her cloak tighter and stepped onto the stone steps. Several maids and administrators followed behind her, and along the way, staff members from the courtyard bowed and greeted her.

She surveyed the corridors of the compound, her steps slow but steady.

The children's laughter came from behind the door, mixed with the sound of reading aloud.

A little boy is squatting in the corner, holding a wooden toy in his hand.

Elena approached and bent down to tie his scarf.

The boy looked up in a daze, and she gently stroked his hair.

The maidservant quickly stepped forward and handed the child a bowl of hot soup.

The nuns inside the monastery distributed food in an orderly fashion, while a fire burned in the center of the monastery.

Several elderly orphans were teaching a child to read from a literacy textbook compiled by the Red Tide Academy.

A wooden plaque hangs on the wall, engraved with the slogan: "Everyone is a child of the Red Tide."

Elena stood there for a long time. This was Louis's instruction: all orphans could receive basic education, and if they wished, they could enter various fields of the Red Tide in the future.

Just then, a little girl ran up, holding a wreath of flowers in her hands, her eyes sparkling: "Madam! These are the flowers we got with the money we earned from today's snacks!"

Elena paused for a moment, then took the wreath, smiling as she touched her hair: "Thank you, it's so beautiful."

At that moment, she remembered Emily's childhood coquettish smile.

She then went into the storage room to check the distribution of charcoal and blankets.

Upon discovering the shortage, she immediately turned to the steward in charge of supply and said, "Add another thirty furnaces of charcoal for heating, and set up two more heaters in the children's ward. Make sure the medicine and alcohol are replenished by tomorrow morning."

The steward nodded hurriedly: "Yes, Madam! Chichao won't let the child get cold. I'll go and get the supplies right away."

Elena's expression was gentle, but her eyes held an unyielding resolve: "No matter how tight the budget is, we cannot let the children go hungry."

Outside, the wind and snow intensified, but inside the courtyard, the atmosphere grew even more lively. The laughter of children, the crackling of the fireplace, and the rustling of pages turning mingled together to create a warm symphony.

As night fell, Elena returned to her mansion in Red Tide City.

The fireplace glowed with a gentle light as Isaac leaned against the window, watching the snow fall, his face warmed by the orange glow.

She sat at her desk, unfolded a sheet of paper, and began to write to an old friend of Frosthalberd's, a noblewoman from the North:
"You ask me if I regret leaving Frostspear? No. Louis did not betray the Duke's trust..."

His ambitions may extend beyond the North... but in his order, winter is also warm.

The ink was slightly dry, and the firelight flickered.

She sealed the envelope, looked up at the snowy night outside the window, and hoped that everyone would have a better winter.

…………

The harsh winter has finally passed, and the snow on the streets is shimmering in the sunlight.

The market in Red Tide City is already decorated with ribbons and flags, and the air is filled with the aroma of hot soup and bread. Since Louis arrived, the people of Red Tide have held a Spring Festival celebration every year at this time to celebrate the end of winter and to give thanks for the hard work and harvest of the past year.

This is the fourth time the Red Tide Territory has celebrated the Lunar New Year, but for Khosa, it is his first.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the whole city was draped in festive colors.

On the main street, flags and floral fabrics fluttered in the breeze, craftsmen were paving the road, and children were building snowmen by the roadside, their laughter echoing in the cold air.

Today he has a mission: to represent the Knights in the parade.

Although last night I was muttering to myself, "Why do such a meaningless thing?"

But the thought of riding through the city on horseback and letting people see their procession still filled him with a secret anticipation.

He got up early, washed up, put on his clean knight's uniform, and adjusted the badge on his chest.

His somewhat nervous expression was reflected in the mirror. He took a deep breath, checked his sword and belt, and then turned to straighten the edges of his knight's cloak.

A knock sounded at the door. "Khosa, hurry up!"

The one who pushed open the door was Gray, a gray-haired boy.

He is a year older than Kosa, and is of Northern origin. He has been with his parents in the Red Tide for three years. He is also extremely talented and now possesses the strength of a formal knight.

They trained together, got scolded together, and even sneaked bites of stewed meat from the kitchen together; they were best friends.

"If you don't come out soon, your breakfast will get cold," Gray said with a smile, tossing him a piece of bread.

"I haven't tied my cloak yet," Kosa replied in a muffled voice as he took the bread, but a slight smile played on his lips.

They ate their bread as they walked toward the training camp's dining hall.

A special holiday breakfast was laid out on the table: rye porridge, stewed meat, and warm milk.

As Gray ate, he said, "I heard that today's floats can move on their own; the craftsmen used a steam engine. I bet one of them will break down."

"Stop jinxing it." Kosa glared at him, but couldn't help laughing.

After finishing their meal, they put on their cloaks and headed to the meeting point.

On the training field, a dozen or so knights were ready to go, with instructor Bruch standing in front of them.

His voice was deep and powerful: “Remember, the Knights are the symbol of the Red Tide. Today is not a war, but we must show the people our spirit and make them feel safe.”

"Yes!" Everyone responded in unison.

The horses' hooves pounded on the stone bricks, creating a steady rhythm.

The main streets of the city were already packed with people, with children holding small flags and elderly people carrying red ribbons.

The flower wreaths hanging on the street corner swayed gently in the wind and snow, and there was a faint smell of charcoal in the air.

The knights were at the very front of the procession, riding horses, orderly yet not rigid.

Today is not a military parade, but a celebration, so they are allowed to relax a bit and smile as they respond to the crowds on both sides.

The child ran to the roadside and reached out to touch the horse's mane. Gray bent down, smiled, and handed him a small badge.

Kosa gripped the reins tightly, his heart pounding faster than a drumbeat.

At first he was a little reserved, but as the cheers from the crowd grew louder and louder, the light in their eyes made him slowly straighten his back.

He looked at Gray, who grinned.

"Long live the Red Tide!" Gray shouted.

Khosa couldn't help but shout, "Long live the Red Tide!"

At this moment, flags fluttered in the wind and snow, and noise and laughter blended together.

Winter had passed, and for the first time, he truly felt that he belonged here.

The end of the parade was just the beginning; the square was bustling with noise, and the air was filled with the aroma of grilled fish, stewed meat, and wine.

The street stalls were lined up, and the artisans were busy demonstrating their skills. Children weaved through the crowd, holding up their activity passports covered in stamps, their faces beaming with smiles.

Gray pulled him into the crowd: "Come on! The Builders Challenge, let's team up!"

They worked side by side to balance the wooden bridge, carry the relay, and assemble the model, finally receiving a Red Tide badge at the finish line.

Gray laughed like a child, waving the medal at him.

Then he worked as a blacksmith at a craftsman's workshop stall.

Kosa's first attempt at hammering out a steel sheet was crooked, but his master patted him on the shoulder and said, "Not bad, that's powerful."

He scratched his head a little embarrassedly, but couldn't help but smile.

In the afternoon, they sat on roadside benches eating their holiday meal: roast meat, hot soup, and sweet bread, all free of charge, of course.

Children in the distance sang around a bonfire, and lights were on in every window of every house.

A huge bonfire was lit in the center of Liechao Square at night, its flames illuminating the entire night sky.

Snowflakes melted into mist in the heatwave, landing on my face with a touch of warmth.

Thousands of people formed concentric circles, layer upon layer, with children riding on their fathers' shoulders, craftsmen and soldiers standing side by side, and even old vendors on the street stopping their work to look up at the high platform.

Louis and Emily climbed the platform side by side.

The firelight reflected off their cloaks, making the gold threads shimmer like shooting stars.

Louis raised his hand, and the noise in the room instantly subsided, with only the crackling of the campfire remaining.

"The Red Tide belongs to everyone who has given." His voice was steady and powerful, echoing through the wind and snow.

After a moment of silence, the entire square erupted in thunderous cheers.

The crowd shouted in unison, "Red Tide! Red Tide!"

Flags fluttered, and the sound of the wind and shouts intertwined to create a deafening hymn.

Kosa stood at the end of the knightly phalanx, his gaze fixed on the main banner. The firelight reflected on his face, and his young eyes were filled with fervor.

At that moment, he almost forgot where he came from; he was just a member of the Red Tide.

Gray patted him on the shoulder: "Hey, don't just stand there. We have to shout too."

Kosa took a deep breath, raised the flagpole in his hand, and shouted with everyone, "Long live the Red Tide!"

Shouts echoed through the night sky, and the distant snow-capped mountains echoed back in waves.

At that moment, the cold night was no longer cold, and the firelight illuminated every young face.

A few months ago, Kosa felt like an outsider, but now he can smile and celebrate the holiday with everyone.

Back home, he took out some stationery and wrote a few lines:
Father, the winter in Chichao is warmer than I expected.

The people here are equal and warm-hearted; everyone can change their destiny through hard work.

The instructor said I have a chance to be promoted to knight next year. I'm fine, please don't worry.

A few days later, the letter received a reply.

My father's handwriting is as it always has been, bold yet gentle:
Good boy, live well in the red tide. It's a blessing to be able to come to such a place.

Don't cause trouble, just study hard. Maybe I can come and visit when the snow melts in spring.

After reading the letter, Kosa remained silent for a long time.

In the darkness of night, with streetlights and bonfires intertwining, he suddenly realized that this sense of belonging was no longer given by others, but something he had personally entered into; now he was a true member of the Red Tide.

(End of this chapter)