Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 385 The Achievements of the Red Tide System

Red Tide City, Grand Council Hall.

The morning light streamed down through the gaps in the dome, illuminating the entire hall supported by cold iron beams and pillars.

On the wall, one after another, red flags of the Red Tide hung down, their corners swaying gently, as if rising and falling with each breath.

Unlike any other year, this place has become the heart of the entire North.

Louis sat quietly in the main seat. His daughter was only a few days old, but on the morning of the third day, he stood in front of the long table as usual, without any hesitation.

His gaze fell on the huge map of the northern frontier behind him, the latest version.

On the map, the red tide has spread from the southeast all the way, like ink spreading out, almost painting the entire northern border with the same color.

Those once scattered territories are now firmly bound together by this red land.

The tiered seating in the lobby was already full.

These people are not minor officials of the Red Tide, but the true core of the Northern Territory.

The heads, adjutants, and coordinators of each department are all pillars of their respective territories, capable of handling their duties independently.

A few years ago, some of them were serfs, workshop apprentices, or even slaves sold to the North.

But now they are wearing the deep red shawls of the Red Tide, with the emblems of the various Red Tide departments engraved on their epaulets.

They were all personally promoted by Louis and formed the new power structure in the North.

Today we are not here to discuss trivial matters, but to confirm whether the Red Tide regime has achieved its objectives for the first year.

Let the North truly become the heartland of the Red Tide, rather than a bunch of old territories that are barely tied together.

The hall was so quiet that even the sound of the secretary turning pages seemed abrupt. Once everyone had arrived, the meeting officially began.

Bradley rose first, his movements steady as he reported, "Red Tide System, First Year Integration Report, presented to the Lord today."

He opened the thick book and announced softly: "First item: The operation of centralized power."

"The Red Tide system is fully operational, and all seven agencies have completed the first phase of joint office operations. Local governments have no legislative power; all government orders are issued by the central government. Local officials report on their duties quarterly, and this year there have been three rounds, with no one absent."

All 327 decrees issued by the Red Tide Central Committee were implemented without delay or unauthorized alteration.

As soon as the words were spoken, the statues in the hall simultaneously changed their sitting postures.

The officials from the old aristocratic territories were particularly quiet; they had witnessed firsthand how those so-called traditional methods and old customs were eradicated one by one within a year.

Bradley closed the book: "In terms of administrative efficiency, Red Tide has become the only central authority in the North."

He didn't emphasize his words, but everyone in the hall understood that this was a fait accompli, not a future plan.

“There are approximately one hundred and sixty fiefdoms of varying sizes in the North.” Bradley tapped the corner of the book, and the corresponding scribe wrote down the number almost simultaneously.

"This year, 54 tribes have been fully incorporated into the Red Tide system, accounting for about one-third."

Several officials from the newly incorporated territories gasped slightly upon hearing the number fifty-four.

The very fact that they were sitting here meant that one of the fifty-four factions had completely sunk into the Red Tide system, and hearing about the scale of it firsthand still left them deeply shaken.

Bradley looked up at the person in the head of the table: "The new integration methods fall into three categories."

He read out the list one by one: "The eighteen groups that actively sought to join are mostly from the post-disaster forest areas. These places are almost unable to support themselves after the winter disaster, lacking both food and labor. If they do not rely on the red tide, it will be difficult for them to survive this winter."

And last year, through disaster relief, twenty-one leaders entered into a trusteeship-style consolidation.

The officials present, who had experience in disaster relief coordination, remained calm. They were well aware that the so-called trusteeship actually meant that the lifeline of that land had been firmly grasped by the red tide.

"Fifteen taels of silver that naturally accumulated within a year due to the trade route connection."

Deslan breathed a sigh of relief; this was the result of his six months of hard work.

Bradley turned to the next page and added, "In addition, most of the territories that announced their entry into the Red Tide Cooperation Circle at the Northern Reconstruction Conference last year have also transitioned from simple cooperation to complete integration in the past year."

Several clerks immediately wrote down the four words "Reconstruction Meeting".

That was the first consensus meeting after the chaos in the North, and also the moment when the Red Tide truly rose to prominence.

Bradley closed the book, his voice steady but deeper: "Based on current assessments, the North is indeed tough, but only the old noble families of about twenty are truly capable of rejecting the Red Tide regime."

These words elicited subtle laughter in the hall. Those present were all planners of the Northern Policy, so they knew what the consequences would be for nobles who had not yet joined the Red Tide system.

Bradley concluded, "Most of the territories... sir, have become far more dependent on the Red Tide in this year's integration than they have on the capital."

Louis spoke, his voice not loud, yet it commanded the entire room: "Gentlemen, well done."

His words, devoid of emotion, were like a stamp on this weighty integration report.

Before anyone could breathe a sigh of relief, Bradley had already unfolded the next page of the book next to the map, awaiting the lord's response.

Louis nodded slightly, not as a compliment, but as a confirmation.

That movement made the Seventh Bureau Chief straighten his shoulders and back even more.

He raised his hand to signal, "Continue."

Bradley approached the map to Louis's side, added another stroke outside the red area of ​​the Red Tide, and said in a steady and decisive tone: "Second, the planning direction for territories that are fully integrated into the Red Tide system."

The scribes immediately changed the paper, and the quill pen fell again.

"Part One, the Desolate Fog Plains, Fourteen Territories."

Bradley marked the light-colored area on the map that was first covered by the Red Tide granary system: "It used to be the poorest part of the North."

However, it was also the first region to complete the transformation into a grain storage system, and it can now be considered the second grain storage area in the North after the wheat fields.

Bradley tapped the booklet: "Three reasons for integration: First, spring planting relies entirely on red tide seeds, ice crystals, and geothermal greenhouses;

Second, the book-based system and grain allocation methods were implemented most thoroughly. Third, post-disaster relief efforts made the local population highly dependent on the red tide.

On the tiered seating, a young official who had just returned from a research trip to Suifeng Village bowed his head slightly.

He recalled that more than a year ago, the villagers were wary when they saw the unfamiliar red tide officials.

Some people even feared being heavily taxed after the granary was taken over, and preferred to hide in the woods.

But once the first batch of grain sacks and greenhouses were built, the resistance quickly softened in the face of the reality of having enough to eat.

He remembered the children lining up outside the geothermal shed for their first breakfast porridge; their hands were red from the cold, and their eyes were shining.

This is how the red tide gradually wins people's hearts.

Bradley continued reading, "Including fourteen places such as Gray Wheat Hill, Ear of Wind, White Mane, and Old Loin."

He paused here: "The early spring field trials in the desolate fog zone have proven that the wheat field system is correct, and the unified production is on average 50% higher than the old system."

At this point, Agriculture Department Director Mike stepped forward and added somewhat nervously, "The Agriculture Department has a supplementary report."

Louis raised his hand, signaling him to continue.

Because Mick couldn't read, he had to memorize all the numbers himself, but the numbers were truly astonishing: "The seventy-six large granaries newly built in the North this year are all under the unified management of the Red Tide. All procedures for entering and leaving the granaries are based on the Red Tide's ledgers, with the various lords of the North only playing a supporting role."

Spring planting and seed distribution... this year, it's entirely managed by Red Tide. Seeds, geothermal greenhouse materials, and irrigation meters are all distributed uniformly according to Red Tide's plan. The situation of individual territories distributing their own supplies has been greatly reduced.

Bradley nodded, instructing the clerk to highlight this item, and then added: "The current situation has achieved a three-tiered structure from red tide granaries to town granaries to village granaries."

Several officials from the grain supply line couldn't hide their pride; this was something they had accomplished after a year of traveling throughout the North.

After reporting on the grain-producing territories, Bradley turned to the next page: "Part Two, New Mineral Zone, consisting of thirteen territories."

“These are the first semi-industrial zones after the Red Tide Mining Bureau replicated the Forging Star model,” said the Mining Bureau Director, Valentine, in a rough but confident tone.

Bradley read aloud: "Thirteen places including Black Coal Canyon, Smoke Valley, Hammer Sound Town, Red Sand Slope, and North Mine Field."

There were three reasons for its integration: steam pumps saved the mine, sliding rails stabilized transportation, and the Mining Bureau's unified purchase of raw ore crushed the old mine owners' slush funds.

An official from the new mining area breathed a sigh of relief.

He remembered the despair on everyone's faces when the mine was flooded, and he also remembered the day the first steam pump was started, when the miners circled the machine again and again as if they were looking at a monster. Technology truly changes the world.

Bradley continued: "Currently, all mines use the Red Tide ledger, and the Craftsmen's Office has established three standard smelting sites..."

Louis nodded in satisfaction, signaling Bradley to continue.

Bradley turned the page: "Part Three, Red Tide Warehouse Area. Frosttooth Fortress, Cold Cry Town, Black Peak Outpost, Falling Pine Lake Villages... a total of nineteen districts."

This area was the hardest hit and most heavily reliant on the region after the winter disaster. Many lords fled there after the disaster, and the Red Tide took over, turning it into a warehouse district to store strategic materials such as grain and minerals.

Trade Commissioner Deslan added, "It will also be a town along the future railway line."

Bradley nodded: "The Craftsmen's Office will send technical officers to repair bridges and roads, the Defense Department will set up three border outposts, and the Inspection Department will pilot a comprehensive management system."

He then added, "The two former nobles who rebelled have been properly resettled. Their subordinates, including soldiers and officials, have all been transferred to the Red Tide organization."

The few members of the Inspection Department present grinned, after all, they knew what so-called reasonable resettlement meant.

“These areas are now effectively under the direct control of the Red Tide regime. The local station chiefs have more influence than the old lords.”

These words made several young officials straighten their backs slightly.

The villagers resisted when they were first taken over, but when the Red Tide faction's station chief arrived with the first batch of grain carts, their resistance broke naturally, like withered branches snapped under the weight of snow.

Bradley turned to the next volume: "Part Four, South Harbor Line, Eight Territories. Wavebreak Bay, Old Dockyard, Sea Breeze Fort, Stone Shore Village, and eight other territories."

Deslan stepped forward and added, "These are all preparation areas for the new port."

Bradley nodded: "The new port is under construction, the port authority has been established, and maritime taxation and fishing port operations are handled by Chichao. We are preparing for the transition to direct port administration."

He then added, "Because of the work-for-food exchange program, the people in the harbor area are extremely cooperative."

Bradley concluded: "The remaining areas, some serving as supply nodes, some as outposts, and some as processing zones, have not been fully incorporated, but have already partially settled within the red tide system."

Louis listened quietly, as if memorizing every word.

Finally, he nodded to signal to move on to the next item in the report.

Chief Inspector Eileen rose from her seat with swift and efficient movements. Carrying a black leather ledger, she walked to the front of the long table and bowed slightly: "My lord, the Inspectorate's disciplinary report for this year is as follows."

Her voice was never loud, but it carried a kind of coldness that made it impossible to be distracted.

"First item: Case filing status." She opened the ledger, and the clerks immediately picked up their pens. "The Supervision Department filed a total of seventy-one cases this year."

Someone on the tiered seating took a soft breath; this number meant that almost one case was uncovered every four days.

Eileen continued: "The following cases have been verified and disciplinary action has been taken..."

She read out the list one by one: "Thirty-one cases of embezzling disaster relief grain; twenty-two cases of intercepting spring planting seeds; twelve cases of setting up private taxes and secretly collecting reconstruction fees; six cases of protecting evil god worship, including five altars."

When the "evil god ritual" was mentioned, the entire hall visibly chilled for a moment, as if the cold seeped into the skin.

Most of the people here have experienced insect plagues, which is something that cannot be easily dismissed.

Eileen closed the first half of the ledger and continued, "Secondly, the methods of punishment. Sixty-three people were dismissed on the spot; twenty-seven people were publicly shackled; and nineteen people were executed according to law."

She paused, then unfolded the last page: "The worst case involved a Red Tide official in charge of aid supplies."

After accepting bribes from the local lord, he misappropriated two months' worth of grain rations, forcing disaster victims to sell their children in exchange for food. He was executed by the Inspectorate.

"Thirdly, the implementation of the ledgers. This year, for the first time, the Northern Territory has achieved a unified ledger format, making it open and transparent."

Eileen turned the pages and continued her report: "The fifty-four territories that have been fully integrated into the Red Tide system have been implemented effectively. The thirty and a half cooperative territories have only been half-implemented, and the data is highly inflated."

The number of territories refusing to cooperate decreased from sixteen to eight, but none of the eight had accounting records, or they were falsifying them outright.

A slight commotion arose in the tiered seating area. Clearly, these eight families were the toughest thorns in the Red Tide regime.

Eileen raised her eyes and looked at Louis: "The Inspectorate recommends that, starting in the spring, the entire domain's accounts be taken over by the eight territories that refuse to cooperate, and their leaders and town officials be replaced."

As for the eight lords who refused to cooperate, their personal lord dividends were frozen, their warehouse and mining rights granted by Red Tide were revoked, and they were prohibited from leaving the country until the accounts were reconciled.

It was also recommended to stop all disaster relief and spring planting assistance, add it to the red tide blacklist, and no longer enjoy priority in grain seeds, trade routes and mining within the red tide system.

Secondly, there were penalties for the thirty and a half cooperative territories. The Inspectorate recommended halving their profit sharing and suspending their priority trade routes and priority storage rights until the accounts met the required standards.

She paused for a moment, then added, "These penalties are all within the scope permitted by the contract."

As soon as he said that, the temperature in the hall seemed to drop an inch.

The officials present all understood that this was a ruthless attack on the lord himself.

After listening, Louis didn't hesitate: "Granted."

Everyone present understood that with this order, the eight territories had no way out, and the thirty semi-cooperative territories had no room for ambiguity.

While the atmosphere was still reeling from the disciplinary decision, Education Director Lana rose from the tiered seating area.

Holding the educational booklet engraved with a feather pen pattern, she walked to the long table, bowed, and then raised her head.

"My lord, the Education Department's achievements in cultural integration and infrastructure development this year are reported as follows."

Her voice wasn't as cold as Eileen's, nor as steady as Bradley's; instead, it possessed a clarity and gentleness unique to a teacher.

But at that moment, no one regarded her as a kind teacher.

After all, as Louis said, the roots of red tides must be planted in children, and this is no less important than granaries or mines.

"The first item is the construction of the town school." She turned to the first page, and her pen fell almost simultaneously on the clerk's side.

"A total of seventeen town schools were built this year. They are distributed across the desolate plains, the new mining area, the northern snowfield, and the southern harbor."

She paused for a moment: "The school curriculum is unified into four categories: reading and writing classes, using simplified characters from the Red Tide, arithmetic classes, teaching according to local conditions for various trades, and early simplified versions of 'The Red Tide Story'."

Upon hearing the "Red Tide Story," someone raised an eyebrow slightly.

Lana explained, "There is also the official version of 'Lord Louis the Great,' which currently only tells the early story of the Red Tide in the form of an allegory, so that children can understand order and mutual assistance."

She added, "Based on feedback from schools in various locations, the children are accepting the material much faster than expected."

In the past, most children in the North couldn't even speak fluently, but now the first batch of students can write the entire village's grain register using the Red Tide simplified script.

A very soft whisper came from the tiered seating area, filled with barely suppressed surprise and relief.

Lana turned to the next page: "Second item, standardization of relief rituals."

On porridge distribution days, the Red Tide Sun pattern has been completely replaced with a new design. At each distribution point, a phrase must be read aloud: "Red Tide shares the winter's chill with you all."

She looked up at the crowd: "The people have begun to associate the Red Tide flag with survival. This is the most important first step in cultural infiltration."

Lana turned the page again: "The third item is the plan for next year. The Education Department plans to add a new generation of territory to the Red Tide System territory in the next year, and to establish a system of itinerant lecturers to teach literacy and basic arithmetic to the non-integrated territories."

If the results are satisfactory, it can be achieved within two years: 30% of children aged nine and above in the Northern Territory will be literate, and over 60% in areas within the red tide ecosystem.

She finally put away the booklet and bowed slightly: "The Education Department has finished its report."

Mike, the head of the Craftsmen's Bureau, stood up from his seat, his voice carrying the roughness characteristic of craftsmen: "My lord, the Craftsmen's Bureau's main achievements this year have exceeded the original plan."

First, forty-two new bridges were built in the northern region, and old roads were repaired; 230 li were covered.

Second, the number of tracks has increased from seven to twenty-one, with most of them located within the red tide area.

Third, the number of standard smelting sites has been expanded to six, and the output of the ore belt has increased by nearly one and a half times compared to last year…

After Mac stepped down, Trade Commissioner Deslan immediately stepped forward.

The thin, middle-aged man spoke slowly but sharply: "The Trade Commissioner's achievements this year include the unification of trade routes and the establishment of a post station system."

He cited data: "Originally there were seven main trade routes, but now there are twenty-one, all under the control of the Red Tide. Tax revenue has decreased by 30%, and the speed of goods circulation has nearly doubled compared to last year..."

Then a woman wearing a white-gray shawl stood up.

She is Seril, the Director of Health, a medical apprentice brought by Louis from the Calvin family, who now oversees all medical lines in the North.

"This year, the Department of Health has established a total of 19 fixed medical sites and 13 mobile medical vehicle fleets throughout the northern region. Thirty-seven cases of infectious diseases were handled, with no further spread..."

After listening to the entire report, everyone could tell that this year was not a year of barely maintaining the status quo, but rather a year of comprehensive growth.

The framework of the Red Tide regime has not only been established, but it has also begun to spread outwards with new branches and tentacles.

Overall, the first year was not just a success, but an overachievement.

As soon as those words were spoken, the hall fell silent, as if even the air itself had stopped for a moment.

Everyone instinctively looked towards the head of the table.

Louis slowly stood up, his movements unhurried, yet naturally drawing all attention to the other side.

He didn't put on an air of authority, but simply smiled and said, "Gentlemen, you have done a very good job."

This single sentence caused many officials to relax slightly, but before they could even catch their breath, Louis continued:

"This year's red tide system plan has far exceeded expectations. The market system is running smoothly, accounting books are unified, grain warehouses are stable, and trade routes are fully operational..."

Some people in the main hall couldn't help but straighten their chests.

Louis swept his gaze across the room: "This year, we caught the sky falling in the North. We provided food, work, and roads for countless people. We showed them that even when the red tide comes, winter won't leave them starving."

Many officials from the disaster-stricken areas on the tiered seating lowered their eyes slightly; they knew those scenes all too well:
The child, so thin he was practically skin and bones, trembled as he held the hot porridge; the miner was silent when he first tasted hot soup; the woman in the snowfield wept uncontrollably at her first bite of dry rations.

Louis's voice was not loud, but it carried a powerful force: "Countless people in the North have survived because of your work. This is not just a pretty phrase, it is a fact."

Someone's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

“This is not my achievement alone.” He paused for a moment. “It is each and every one of you who made the North rise from the ruins.”

These few dozen words, however, caused more than one person in the hall to feel a surge of emotion.

No one dared to utter a sound, but that sense of pride surged up from the earth's veins.

Then Louis changed his tone to a gentler one: "But our mission is not over. The second year of the Red Tide will be more difficult and larger."

Everyone sat up straight, indicating that they were taking it seriously.

Louis pointed to the huge map of the North: "We must turn these red lines into real lifelines. We must connect every road, every mining line, every school, and every warehouse into a single system."

Then he changed his tone: "As for profit sharing..."

The air in the main hall visibly shifted.

Louis's smile deepened: "Every official has their share. This year's profit distribution will be done according to the rules. You will receive whatever you are entitled to; it is what you deserve."

Some people could hardly contain themselves and looked up at him.

"As for the dividends from each territory, it's the same," Louis's voice was calm, yet as steady as an iron nail. "Give them whatever they deserve, don't be stingy."

"The Red Tide regime doesn't rely on coercion, but on making people understand that following us won't lead to losses. That way, they won't complain."

Next year, we will continue to strengthen the red tide, making the North a truly unified whole.

"Gentlemen," Louis said, looking around, "keep going."

No one shouted or banged on the table in the main hall.

But everyone stood up at the same time and bowed, their movements so synchronized that they resembled a giant flag being unfurled by the wind.

Their bow to Louis was not out of courtesy or fear.

Most of the officials were civilians, refugees, miners, apprentices, or even slaves who had been sold into slavery three years ago.

It was Louis who lifted them up from the feet of the old aristocracy, allowing them, for the first time, to have enough to eat, to be warmly clothed, and to sit here and conduct business.

Following in Louis's footsteps, they rescued starving people, opened schools, built hospitals, and lit soup kitchens...

Of course, this is all because Louis gave them positions and opportunities.

So they bowed to Lord Louis, for it was Louis who had enabled them to stand here.

(End of this chapter)