Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 378 Becoming the Sun of the North

As night fell completely, a giant bonfire was lit in the center of the Liechao Square.

Flames shot skyward, illuminating the red tide flag and turning the snow crimson.

The square was densely packed with people forming several concentric circles: craftsmen, knights, soldiers, merchants, commoners, apprentices...

Mary and her family stood in the crowd, with Inee riding on her father's shoulders, holding a small Red Tide flag.

The flames shone on every face, as if the whole city were ablaze.

Louis, wearing a crimson cloak, walked up the steps, followed by Bradley, Lambert, and several knights.

He wore no medals or ceremonial guards, only an ordinary sword beside him.

The moment he appeared, the cheers in the square almost shook the snowy night.

Long live the Red Tide!

"Long live Lord Louis!"

"The red tide will never be extinguished!"

The shouts rose and fell, overlapping into a deafening wave.

The young knight raised his sword in salute, the child waved a small flag, and the old man wiped away his tears.

The whole city was in an uproar; the shouts, like a tidal wave, swept out from the center of the crowd and lingered for a long time.

They were so excited because this lord not only saved their lives, but also allowed them to live with dignity for the first time.

A few years ago, many of them were starving in the snow, working as servants in the estates of the old aristocracy, or living in exile during wartime.

Today they have warm homes, plenty of food, paid jobs, and schools where their children can learn to read.

For them, all of this should have belonged only to the nobility, but Louis made it available to ordinary people as well.

That's why, in their hearts, he was not just a lord, but more like a sun illuminating the long night.

Moreover, Louis had been out of the public eye for so long; for a whole year, many of them had only seen the lord's name in rumors and notices. Now, seeing him standing in the firelight was like seeing a savior.

Louis raised his hand, and the noise gradually subsided.

Despite having experienced such scenes countless times, his heart still tightened slightly when he saw the crowd cheering so enthusiastically and the countless eyes shining with respect.

He took a deep breath to calm himself, stepped forward, and used magic to make his voice spread through the night:
"It's spring again. In the past year, we have had no war, no famine, and no exile. This is a great thing in the North."

Laughter erupted from the crowd, while some people's eyes welled up with tears.

Louis paused for a moment, then said firmly, "Your hard work has brought you peace. This is the glory of the Red Tide, belonging to me, and to each and every one of you."

Those who sweat in the workshop, those who unload cargo at the port, those who never stop working in front of the furnace…

Applause and cheers erupted again, surging across the square like waves.

Soldiers raised their swords in salute, craftsmen waved their hats, and children's laughter mingled with shouts, creating a vibrant and joyous atmosphere.

Louis watched all this, a soft light flashing in his eyes. He nodded slightly, raised his hand in acknowledgment, and the applause and shouts were gradually suppressed by his calm aura.

At that moment, the clamor in the square seemed to be soothed by some invisible force, and people's attention once again focused on the lord.

His voice gradually lowered, but became clearer: "I know that many of you have had a good year, with bread and warm homes."

But elsewhere in the North, our brothers and sisters still search for firewood in the cold wind and still boil weeds in ice water.

They didn't know that in the North there was a city called Red Tide, where children could eat hot porridge every day.

The crowd quieted down, faces bowed slightly in the firelight, and elderly women held their children tightly, afraid that they would suffer the same hardships as before.

A heavy mood permeated the air, as if everyone's past had been reopened.

Pete felt a tightness in his chest as he thought of the winter when his mother froze to death in the cold night, and the helpless memory still stung.

Louis surveyed the crowd, his tone hardening once more: "The significance of the Red Tide is not for us to enjoy it alone, but for the entire North to regain its happiness. That's why I need your strength."

Tomorrow, a new spring recruitment notice will be posted at the Executive Square. We will be sending new construction teams, new doctors, craftsmen, apprentices, and guards to rebuild snow-covered villages and towns throughout the North. Anyone who wishes to go, please sign up.”

He raised his hand, pointing to the dark horizon in the distance: "There are still people over there waiting for us to bring them sunshine. If the Red Tide has a savior, then the savior is everyone who is willing to take action."

Go forth! Become the sun of the North, and illuminate those still in darkness!

He gently lowered his hand, his tone returning to calm: "The sunlight of the Red Tide shouldn't only warm itself."

The crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers once again, many of them deeply moved by his words.

Mary looked down at Inie, thinking that the child was still too young, and that she should do something herself.

Pitt stood not far away, his fists clenched, his eyes flashing with determination.

The applause and cheers lingered for a long time, and people's faces were filled with tears, yet also full of smiles.

The firelight flickered, illuminating their faces and the entire square.

The flame, a symbol of hope, flickered in the wind, reflecting the silhouettes of everyone.

The night of the Lunar New Year reaches its most enthusiastic peak at this moment.

…………

On the first morning after the Spring Festival, Chichao City was gently enveloped by the lingering warmth of spring snow and fireplaces.

The colorful ribbons and lanterns from last night still lingered on the streets. Young people swept up the remaining wood chips in the square, and vendors had set up their stoves, filling the air with the aroma of bread and hot soup.

The clock tower struck seven, and the whole city awoke.

White smoke rose from the chimneys of the workshops, and the sounds of hammers, whistles, and hawkers' cries mingled as merchants pushed their carts through the streets and alleys, the clinking of copper coins ringing out crisply.

Outside the South Gate, agricultural officials patrolled the geothermal canal, where melting snow flowed.

New spring plowing mobilization orders were posted all over the streets, and farmers lined up to receive seeds and tools, with children helping to carry them, their laughter ringing out.

This signifies that the red tide has ushered in spring again, all things are reviving, and the city is starting to function again.

Louis stood at the window on the top floor of the government building, overlooking the awakening city.

Although the snow had not completely melted, the red tide had already begun to operate again, and the furnaces, irrigation canals, ports, and trading posts were all flowing before his eyes.

Bradley pushed open the door and entered, carrying a thick stack of documents and letters, his face bearing the calm expression of someone accustomed to being busy.

"Report on the progress of spring planting preparations, sir." He placed the document on the table. "The irrigation canals in the southern district and western suburbs are 80% complete, and two-thirds of the seeds have been distributed. The Agricultural Department has also sent over the supply list, and other territories without geothermal energy are beginning preparations as well."

Louis nodded, opened the document, and casually wrote a few notes: "After all these years, just follow the steps."

Bradley then pulled a letter bearing the seal of the Azure Tide Guild from the pile of documents and handed it over: "This is a reply from the Azure Tide Guild."

He knew that Louis was concerned not only with the letter itself, but with the attitude behind it.

The reactions of these guilds will determine the future direction of Red Tide's foothold in international trade routes and alchemy trade.

Louis took the envelope and gently stroked the wavy wax seal with his fingertips.

The letter, unfolded, contained only a few simple points:

They confirmed receipt of the mineral samples sent by the Red Tide, expressed their approval of the quality of the Northern Resources, and offered to reciprocate with food, gold-refining raw materials, gold-refining products, and small machinery.

All transactions were required to be conducted privately, solely in the name of the Cold Salt Caravan, and credit settlements were to be temporarily suspended, with only direct exchanges of goods for goods.

If the cooperation is stable, technical advisors will be dispatched, and a small gold refining processing plant may be established.

Layton Fromm will remain as the liaison, and if all goes well in three months, the guild will set up a meeting point in Red Tide City to prepare a deeper cooperation proposal.

The letter ended politely as always: "The Azure Tide Company will not interfere in the politics of the Empire and the North, nor will it intervene in the war. We only pursue order and profit."

Louis closed the letter, his eyes flickering slightly. He roughly guessed the meaning behind the letter: it wasn't a rejection, but rather a cautious desire to cooperate.

The Azure Tide Guild is testing the stability of the Red Tide. They want profits but are unwilling to take risks. They recognize the potential of the Red Tide but still keep their distance, like reaching out to warm your hands by a fire in cold weather, wanting to get closer for warmth but also afraid of being burned by sparks.

Louis chuckled softly: "A cautious businessman."

Bradley asked, "Sir, shall we reply?"

“Of course,” Louis folded the letter, nodded, and then turned to ask, “How many guilds are ready to cooperate with us now?”

Bradley replied, "The Crimson Glow Guild and the Azure Tide Guild have confirmed their cooperation, the Starfall Guild has expressed strong interest, and the other guilds have not yet responded. In addition, Earl Harvey has accepted the pilot trade, with a single route being tested."

Louis smiled slightly: "Without any prior planning, just a last-minute invitation, this is already quite a good result. It seems that I, the Lord of the New North, still have some influence."

Bradley smiled and took out his notebook: "So, what are the next steps regarding these matters?"

Louis leaned back in his chair, his tone calm: "First, establish a covert department to handle guild affairs. Find some reliable people, the kind who understand accounts and know their limits."

The principles must be clear: fair division of profits, each party retaining a copy of the ledger, no human trafficking involved, all contracts adhering to Red Tide law, and arbitration rights belonging to Red Tide.

He tapped the table lightly: "One more thing, during the negotiations, we need to pay attention to what we lack most: food, medicine, alchemical raw materials, and especially those small alchemical machines that can allow the workshop to continue to expand. Even one advanced piece of equipment can be equivalent to half a workshop."

Bradley nodded, his brow furrowing slightly. "We need to be discreet. After all, the Federation is an enemy country. If word gets out, it won't be easy to explain not only to the Calvin family but also to the capital. Although everyone is doing it, we can't do it openly."

“I know.” Louis’s gaze fell out the window, his tone low. “And Red Tide will have to rely on Calvin’s channels for the time being. During the transition period, we can’t cut off the connection, but we also have to gradually decouple.”

Bradley flipped through his notebook: "What about the port? Dawn Harbor is already quite full."

Louis replied, “Dawn Port will continue to expand, and the main port will need to reinforce its loading and unloading lines.”

Build two or three more small ports near the resource areas to alleviate the pressure on loading, unloading, and storage. They can also serve as transit points for federal caravans.

Bradley pondered and added, "Perhaps the Trade Department and the Port Authority could jointly manage it, with each level responsible for a different aspect, and from the outside it could be said that it's an expansion of the storage and transportation line."

“Very good.” Louis nodded, a faint smile on his lips. “You can plan the other specific arrangements. Be careful not to attract attention.”

He then opened another document and casually asked, "How's the registration for the Red Tide support team going?"

Bradley thought for a moment and replied, "The announcement was posted this morning, sir. However... it's still hard to say how many people will sign up."

…………

Pete woke up just as dawn broke.

He carefully looked in the bronze mirror, smoothed his hair, and changed into the new autumn uniform.

That was a set of standard uniforms that Chichao would distribute to grassroots officials every winter, but he only wore it today.

Frugality had long been a habit, and he always had a sense of caution in his heart.

After all, everything the Red Tide gave them was too good, so good that they were afraid of losing it.

The small badge of the Municipal Affairs Department pinned to his chest was dazzlingly bright.

Pete looked at himself in the mirror, smiled, and felt that he looked like a real official today.

He left home two hours early today, hoping to get to the square early to register and perhaps avoid the crowds.

Lord Louis's speech from last night was still echoing in his ears; the exhilarating feeling kept him awake all night.

The thought that “the sunlight of the red tide should not only warm itself” burned like fire in his heart.

But when he stepped onto the street, he froze in place. The street was already packed with people, their footsteps forming a path in the snow.

People poured in from all directions, their voices rising and falling: "I heard this is to aid other territories in the North, and Lord Louis himself gave the order."

"We need to rebuild those villages that were buried in snow."

"I'll go too! If I can be of any help, then my life won't have been in vain!"

Pete was deeply moved. He also ran into several acquaintances in the line, all of whom were clerks working at the Civil Affairs Department. They joked with each other:

"This time, I can finally do something real for the lord."

"That's right. Don't just keep the ledgers; let others know that we in the Home Affairs Department also have passion."

They walked forward, laughing.

Before we knew it, the Red Tide Administrative Square had come into view.

The square was cleaned and leveled, and the snow shone brightly in the morning light.

The soldiers stood in neat rows on both sides, wearing Red Tide badges on their chests, their eyes fixed straight ahead.

Red flags fluttered in the wind, bearing the familiar sun emblem.

Every few dozen steps there is a notice board with white paper fluttering in the wind, covered with densely written registration rules.

Pete looked up at the words and suddenly felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

Today he can finally do something he truly wants to do.

(End of this chapter)