Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 374 The Trade Routes of the North

The dawn in the North is still late.

The snow piled up silently outside the window, and the light filtered through the heavy curtains, turning a faint white.

Louis woke up and turned to look. To his left, Emily was curled up in the blankets, her blue hair spread out on the pillow, a faint smile on her lips.

Sif, on his right, was asleep with her arms around his. Her silver hair had been cut short again and was spread out on the side of her neck. Her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, as if she were dreaming.

Louis looked at them, his expression softening unconsciously.

The only sounds in the room were the two people's breathing and the soft crackling of the fireplace, so warm that one didn't want to disturb them.

Louis rose quietly, put on his robe, and avoided their movements.

Candles burned by the fireplace, and a faint scent of pine resin filled the air.

He raised his hand and summoned that familiar blue light, a faint energy fluctuation spreading through the air.

[Daily intelligence system update complete]

[1: The fourth prince, Rhine, bribed the chief inspector, Metz, who agreed to propose restoring the electorate system at next year's Dragon Throne Conference.]

[2: The Duke of Calvin decided to separate Louis from the Calvin Chamber of Commerce and renegotiate the contract within a partnership framework.]

[3: Sif is pregnant and will give birth to a daughter for Louis Calvin in ten months.]

Louis stared at the first line, raising an eyebrow slightly.

The electoral system originated from the old system established during the reign of the founding emperor.

The eight great families at that time were called the Electors of the Emperor. They were the earliest vassals to follow the founding emperor and were given the sacred power to elect the emperor at the beginning of the empire.

Each family possesses vast territories, independent legions, and seats in the council, making them the pillars of the empire's politics.

Whenever the throne was vacant, they would elect a new king based on the royal bloodline at the Dragon Throne Council by means of voting or by forming alliances.

Those meetings often lasted for days or even weeks, filled with deals, marriages, and vows.

The initial imperial power was not divinely ordained, but was jointly established by these eight families.

For this reason, the electoral system was once regarded as the highest symbol of the aristocratic order.

In later generations, emperors successively reduced the power of the princes, abolished the title of marquis, and rebuilt the direct military forces, uprooting the system of electing emperors and marquises. They left only the names of the eight great families, but no longer allowed them to vie for the throne.

Today, the eight families are in disarray; some have lost their bloodlines, some have declined in power, and some, though listed among them, are not as strong as the newly emerging powers.

In such an era, proposing the restoration of the electoral system might sound like a call to restore the dignity of the old aristocracy, but everyone knew in reality that a return to that was impossible.

The royal family wouldn't recognize it, nor would the equally powerful newly rich.

Even the few remaining companies may not actually have the courage to sit down at the same table again and divide the world.

So it's more like a flag that's been deliberately raised.

By delaying the inevitable, stirring up ambitions, and disrupting the situation, the military and the old aristocracy became suspicious of each other, and the real succession struggle was delayed indefinitely.

Louis quickly grasped the situation and murmured, "Rhine...it seems you're really in a hurry."

For him, this kind of infighting in the capital was far removed from the North.

As long as the situation continues to be muddied, the North will have more time to consolidate its position, which is actually a good thing for them.

"You can keep making trouble all you want. I, an earl, will continue building the empire."

Louis's gaze then fell on the second one.

[2: The Duke of Calvin decided to separate Louis from the Calvin Chamber of Commerce and renegotiate the contract within a partnership framework.]

"A partnership?" He chuckled softly, his tone tinged with coldness.

He had, of course, anticipated this moment.

The Duke's trust never truly existed; the so-called stripping away was merely a belated ritual.

The consequences of this approach are almost inevitable: the Calvin family will view the Red Tide as an independent economic entity outside the family, and the family's business network will be forced to shrink.

In the short term, red tide trade routes may be hampered, but Louis is not worried.

He had made ample preparations. The independent trade system in the North, the financial system controlled by the Red Tide Council, and the fact that most members of the Calvin Chamber of Commerce in the North still relied on the Red Tide would all allow him to continue operating even after losing the support of the Calvin Chamber of Commerce.

Louis knew this was just a test from the family: whether they wanted him to reintegrate into the family system or become completely independent.

For him, the choice was already clear.

Red Tide must become more independent and completely break free from the control of the Calvin family.

As for fully integrating into the Calvin family, it has never been an option for him since arriving in the North.

He slightly raised his hand, brought up the Red Tide's financial charts, and looked at the series of steadily growing data, the corners of his mouth slowly turning up.

However, he also understood that this freedom from his family did not come without a price.

Red Tide still relies on the Calvin Chamber of Commerce's channels in the capital, especially for imports of southern food and luxury goods.

"It seems we're still relying on them too much."

He had already started making a list in his mind.

Rather than passively waiting for the family to withdraw, it's better to take this opportunity to completely break away.

However, he also knew that, for at least the next year, Red Tide would still need to rely on some of the Calvin Chamber of Commerce's channels.

Imperial currency circulation, port cargo transshipment, and import of luxury goods from the southeastern border.

These are all still in the hands of the family. If they turn against each other now, Red Tide will fall into a double predicament of funding and circulation.

"We can't tear it right away." He pondered, tapping his fingertips on the table.

"Let's stabilize for a year first, expand the shipping line of Shuguang Port, and find a few more export outlets."

Several names flashed through his mind: the Federal Chamber of Commerce, the North Sea Free Port, and even the Vatican's fringe smuggling networks.

"Let's hold a meeting later," he said in a low voice.

It's time to plan the next step, allowing Red Tide to gradually break free from the shadow of the family and move towards true independence while maintaining its dignity.

Upon seeing the third piece of information, he froze for a moment.

[3: Sif is pregnant and will give birth to a daughter for Louis Calvin in ten months.]

He paused for a few seconds, then a smile slowly appeared on his face, spreading little by little until his eyes softened.

"...Really?" he murmured, his heart suddenly racing.

He turned around and looked at the bed.

Sif's silver hair was disheveled, and she was still fast asleep, clutching her pillow, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

At that moment, Louis felt a surge of heat in his heart. He couldn't help but walk back, bend down, put one arm around Emily and the other around Sif, and embrace them both.

Emily stirred slightly in her sleep, half-opened her eyes to look at him, and teased him softly with a hint of amusement, "Lord Louis, trying to catch me off guard again so early?"

Sif nuzzled against his chest and opened her eyes groggily.

“Louis?” Her voice was soft and sleepy.

“It’s nothing,” Louis said with a soft smile, his tone so gentle it was almost a laugh. “I’m just… happy.”

He lifted Sif's chin with one hand and gently kissed her lips, then turned and placed a deeper kiss on Emily's forehead.

The two of them were stunned for a moment almost simultaneously, and their faces turned red.

“Louis, why are you acting so…unusually today?” Emily said, half-jokingly and half-complainingly, but she moved even closer.

Sif looked up as if to ask a question, but he gently pulled her into his arms, her forehead pressed against his neck.

“It’s nothing,” Louis said softly. “I just feel… unusually good today.”

He lowered his head and kissed her again, this time deeper and longer.

The three of them cuddled together intimately for a while, and after a while, Louis got up and put on his outer robe.

After practicing for more than an hour as usual, he washed up and changed his clothes, adjusting his cloak and collar with the help of the two men.

When he stepped out of the bedroom, the hallway was already filled with the aroma of bread and broth.

At the breakfast table, Emily smiled as she served him soup, while Sif occasionally glanced up at him, but also quietly cut bread for him.

After breakfast, the guards were already lined up at the door.

Louis put on his cloak, turned around and ordered, "Will, summon Bradley and the Trade Commissioner Deslan for a meeting."

…………

Inside his office, Louis stood by the window, his back to the firelight, watching the bustling crowd outside as he pondered something.

Shortly afterward, Bradley and Deslan were led into the study by guards.

The two men looked reserved, knowing that something that could get Louis to hold a meeting on short notice must be quite significant.

“We’ve received a message from the family,” Louis said, his voice tinged with a chill. “Duke Calvin is preparing to renegotiate the trade agreement and rewrite the Red Tide trade terms, using a partnership framework and excluding it from direct family control.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping between the two men as if trying to observe their expressions.

"This means that Red Tide will either return to the family system and be under their control, or be completely excluded and never be able to use the family's resources again."

Bradley lowered his head. As the old butler of the Calvin family, he naturally knew what this meant; he had now sided with the Red Tide.

He said in a low voice, "So, what does the master mean?"

“What I mean,” Louis said slowly, “is that the Red Tide will not return.”

Deslan's palms were sweaty, and his breathing was slightly erratic.

He also came from a background as a manager in the Calvin Chamber of Commerce and is now the Director of Trade at Red Tide. He is very grateful to Louis for his promotion and would never side with the Calvin family.

Louis noticed the tension between the two and softened his tone.

“There’s no need to be nervous,” he said calmly. “I foresaw this kind of conflict long ago.”

From the day the Red Tide Trade Council was established a year ago, I said one thing: the Red Tide must be able to survive without families.

Bradley looked up, as if recalling that such a thing had indeed happened: "The master did indeed have arrangements made in advance."

At the time, everyone thought he was pushing for fiscal reform, but no one expected that it was actually the first step towards de-familialization.

“I knew that as long as the Red Tide continued to grow stronger, the family would eventually make its move,” Louis continued. “They arrived a little earlier than I expected.”

Therefore, I took the initiative to win over members of the Chamber of Commerce, and 80% of the core members of the Chamber of Commerce's Northern Branch have secretly merged into the Red Tide system.

I arranged for their families to live in Red Tide City. Their children's education, workshop employment, and profit-sharing subsidies are all paid through the council. They now naturally understand who to listen to.

Deslan took a breath and said in a low voice, "Moreover, almost all the goods from the North have switched to the Red Tide ledger. Grain, charcoal, magic marrow, furs, and ores all circulate within the Council system."

“That’s right.” Louis nodded. “The taxes and settlements of most of the Northern Territories are in our accounts. Even outside nobles bypass the family guilds and trade directly with the Red Tide.”

He turned to look at the two men: "I have been gradually dismantling the Calvin Chamber of Commerce system, expecting to complete it within two years, but I didn't expect them to take the initiative to cut ties now. They may have realized something."

Ultimately, it's my responsibility. I was too cautious and didn't lay out alternative routes sooner.

So we need to discuss how to deal with this.

Bradley pondered for a moment before speaking first: "I suggest that we privately and completely sever ties between the Red Tide Chamber of Commerce and the Calvin Chamber of Commerce."

We need to first identify who is truly working for the Red Tide and who still belongs to the Calvin family faction.

He paused, then continued, "We can also contact the nobles in the northern border regions who have close ties with us; they all rely on our mineral resources."

"If we can sign a direct agreement with them, we can maintain the trade route even by bypassing the Calvin family."

Deslan shook his head and cautiously added, "But in the short term, we still can't do without the Calvin Chamber of Commerce's shipping routes, especially the sea freight to Dawn Harbor. We still need to use their port to transship goods."

But the adults are right; we can no longer rely entirely on them and must quickly find alternative main trade routes to ensure future autonomy.

Louis nodded. "Yes."

Bradley suddenly thought of something and said with a hint of excitement, "I do have someone in mind, and that is Earl Harvey. He is one of the representatives of the new imperial nobles alliance and is a competitor of the Calvin family in the trade routes."

If we can secretly cooperate with him, we can not only share the risks but also open up new sea routes. Not to mention, you have an excellent relationship with his second son, Young Master Jon.”

Louis paused for a moment, then, thinking of the chubby boy, he burst out laughing: "I actually overlooked him."

Bradley laughed and said, "That's because you're too focused on the Red Tide's affairs and haven't thought of this aspect."

At this moment, Deslan said softly, "Perhaps... we could also contact foreign chambers of commerce. Although the risks are high, it's also a way if we can establish a secret trade route."

The three of them fell silent for a moment, with only the occasional soft popping sound from the fireplace.

Louis smiled slowly: "This road is illegal. Imperial law classifies this behavior as a serious crime, but just like the prohibition on the slave trade, everyone knows that it's just a rule written for commoners. In reality, no one really follows it."

He picked up his glass and took a sip of cold water: "Especially the great nobles, they have countless chambers of commerce and estates overseas. Even the Calvin family has long had several branches established abroad."

He looked up at the two of them, his tone becoming more relaxed: "In other words, this danger... is just a scary-looking facade."

Bradley nodded, and Deslan chuckled softly.

Finally, Louis put down his cup and glanced between the two men: "As for the rest of the arrangements, you two just follow the plan. I'll handle the external liaison."

I'll speak with Jon, and perhaps, through Count Harvey's connections, I can further investigate the affairs of those foreign chambers of commerce.

Bradley and Deslan exchanged a glance and replied simultaneously, "Yes, sir."

(End of this chapter)