Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 403 Meetings of All Sizes
A chilly wind blew in from outside the council chamber, but what made the nobles shiver even more were the words Louis had just thrown on the table.

Every word was like ice water splashed into everyone's hearts.

"Civil war in the capital...supply lines cut off...no one to buy the ore...forced taxation..."

These terms, which used to be far removed from them and only appeared in the political gossip of the capital, have now suddenly become a noose around their necks.

The North, a bitterly cold land that has barely survived the freezing temperatures for centuries thanks to grain supplies from the South, what if it were forgotten by the Empire?

That would be no different from an elderly person being thrown into a snow pit.

The meeting hall instantly descended into chaos, the noise growing louder and more disorderly, as if the collapse of the empire had reached the very gates of Frostspear City.

Louis simply watched quietly, and only when the noise was about to drown out the roof did he slowly raise his hand and tap the table twice.

The crisp sound of the knocking instantly silenced the entire room.

Louis stood up and placed his hands on the long table, his posture as steady as a monument: "Lords who have joined the Red Tide system, there is no need to be afraid. The dividends will continue, and we will face the difficulties together."

As soon as the words were spoken, the nobles belonging to the Red Tide faction breathed a sigh of relief.

Some people even turned red in the face, as if they had been dragged ashore from drowning.

After all, the Red Tide's profit sharing is too outrageous. Even if it's only one-third of what it is now, it's still a godsend for them.

"It's okay if we get a smaller share. It's a special time and a special situation... We can understand."

"Being able to continue receiving dividends is an immense blessing."

"I will never forget Lord Louis's kindness."

Some people were so moved that their noses tingled.

As for those minor lords who hadn't joined the Red Tide system, their faces immediately turned a chaotic gray.

Some people were already struggling to make ends meet, and they wanted to take advantage of this Northern Reconstruction Conference to shamelessly beg Louis to let them join the Red Tide system and get a share of the profits.

Once the empire falls into chaos, they will be even more at a loss as to what to do.

And some nobles who survived by relying on southern caravan channels or purchasing orders from the capital.

If the empire falls into chaos, their territories will be immediately strangled, and even maintaining the most basic survival will be difficult.

Thus, the atmosphere of the meeting was torn in two. One side, though still harboring resentment, was reassured by Chichao and even harbored a hint of schadenfreude.

On the other side, they were completely thrown into chaos, panicking as if they were about to freeze to death in the snow. They practically crawled towards Louis on their knees, spewing incoherent pleas for mercy and self-preservation.

Louis did not respond immediately.

He simply glanced at them silently, his gaze devoid of anger, yet it sent a jolt through their hearts.

Then, he chuckled softly: "I'm not a great philanthropist."

This opening line sent a chill down the spines of many nobles.

But the next sentence is like the rising sun in winter: "But I'm willing to give you one last chance."

Everyone held their breath.

"After the meeting, you can go to Bradley to register the resources of your own territory. If they are valuable... you can join the Red Tide system."

But the conditions will be worse than before. After all, I said before that the earlier you join, the better the conditions will be.

Then he changed the subject, his tone as cold as a frost blade on a winter night: "As for those who don't have many resources... then you should think carefully about what value you have."

Time is running out for you. You can choose to die with the silent empire... or you can come with me and live like human beings in this chaotic world.

In an instant, the hall fell silent.

The nobles all lowered their heads.

But they were all thinking the exact same thing: "How can we curry favor with this new Lord of the North?"

After so much groundwork, smart people know that as long as they raise the Red Tide flag, even if half the empire collapses, they can at least still have enough to eat and survive.

And to follow the empire? That's just waiting to die.

In the vast conference hall, there was only one person who showed no fear or panic.

Louis leaned back in his seat, like a chess player who had just finished cleaning up a game, a slight smile playing on his lips.

The meeting, from its initial chaos to its current deathly silence... was exactly the rhythm he wanted.

Taking advantage of his firm control of the atmosphere, Louis stood up and straightened his sleeves.

This subtle movement alone made the hearts of the dozens of nobles below the stage tighten, and they unconsciously straightened their backs.

"There's one more thing," he said casually, but it was like a pebble thrown into the air of the conference room, creating ripples.

"As I just said, the Empire is falling into a civil war. The North cannot possibly remain unscathed."

Upon hearing this, the nobles, who had relaxed slightly, tensed up again.

Louis placed his hands on the table, his tone becoming even more forceful: "To prevent the flames of war from spreading to the South, and to prevent more Ackermans from appearing, I propose the formation of the Northern Joint Defense Regiment."

His gaze, sharp as a blade, swept over every nobleman: "I will guarantee the safety and interests of all your territories."

After those words were spoken, the conference room fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone understood that Louis wanted more than just cooperation; he wanted military control over the entire North.

Including the knightly orders of each family... all of them would be under his command.

For the North, this had never happened in a thousand years.

Knighthood represents the dignity of the nobility, a symbol of status, and the ultimate trump card.

If they hand it over, they will feel like a toothless tiger, an empty shell.

Many nobles turned pale, but dared not voice their opposition, and could only sit stiffly, their eyes darting away.

Louis understood, of course, and chuckled softly: "I know your concerns. But think about it carefully, given the current situation, who can survive on a few hundred knights?"

He raised his hand and pointed to the winter snow outside the window.

"Internal strife in the empire means skyrocketing food prices. Armor, warhorses, fodder, weapons... everything is ridiculously expensive. Add to that your knightly order, and if you were to face a fully-fledged legion alone, you would be crushed like Ackerman."

These words struck a nerve with the nobles, hitting them where it hurt the most.

Louis continued, "But if the Knights are handed over to the Joint Defense Corps, their salaries, equipment, food supplies... will all be borne by the Red Tide Territory."

The nobles' expressions began to change, and some even whispered among themselves.

"If I didn't have to support those ridiculously expensive knights anymore, my territory could last at least another three years."

"The money saved can be used to expand trade routes, improve the estate, and even buy more craftsmen..."

"...Louis is willing to support our army? We might as well hand it over."

These are all words of self-comfort spoken out of desperation.

Seeing the atmosphere soften, Louis smiled gently again: "Of course, I will not act unilaterally. All actions of the Joint Defense Corps, except in emergencies, must be approved by a vote of the fifteen members of parliament you have nominated."

This arrangement greatly comforted the nobles.

Louis's last sentence shattered all hesitation: "The Red Tide will pay a high amount of compensation for the losses of every knight."

The nobles broke their silence.

By saving face and protecting interests, the risks actually disappeared.

With such benefits, who could refuse?

What Louis didn't explicitly say was that these knights who were transferred would be immediately disbanded and mixed with the Red Tide Knights once they entered the Joint Defense Corps, and would be commanded by officers trained by the Red Tide.

They will be sent to the Red Tide Military Academy to relearn tactics, laws, and discipline, and to receive training and live within the Red Tide system.

Their treatment will be several times better, with food, lodging and equipment far exceeding what their original territory could provide.

Under such a system, the old nobles could no longer regain loyalty from these knights.

A few months later, these people were no longer knights belonging to a certain family, but soldiers of the Red Tide.

At this point, most of them hadn't thought of this; they just felt that Louis's proposal was indeed the best solution, but out of pride, no one was willing to be the first to speak up.

Until Louis's most loyal follower, Jon, stepped forward.

Unlike the impetuous boy he was a few years ago, Jon now exudes the demeanor of a leader.

The young viscount thumped his chest, his voice booming and deafening: "I am willing to hand over all military power to Lord Louis! From this day forward, my knights will obey only his orders!"

Several old nobles almost choked on their own saliva.

Your people are all living off the government's paychecks within the Red Tide system, so why are you handing over military power?!

But precisely because of this, his words are risk-free and he is best suited to be an icebreaker.

As expected, the voices of the composite student gradually rose in the conference hall: "Me too, for the greater good of the North!"

"We are willing to relinquish control of our territory!"

"Lord Louis's command is decisive; we are willing to follow him!"

Especially those minor nobles who hadn't joined the Red Tide system before were shouting louder than anyone else, afraid that they would be eliminated if they were a step behind.

Thus, the dust settled, and at that moment, without a drop of blood, Louis easily seized military power.

The subsequent meetings proceeded smoothly, and all issues, including the repair of trade routes, the distribution of supplies, winter supplies, and the reconstruction of territories, were quickly finalized under the leadership of the Red Tide system.

The reconstruction meeting ultimately concluded perfectly. Despite the harrowing events, the smooth ending was almost unbelievable.

The nobles dispersed with their own thoughts on the matter. Some were eager to register resources with Bradley in order to squeeze into the Red Tide system, while others were pondering what gifts to give Louis.

Others remained silent with their heads down, their minds filled with only one thought: "Times have changed. We must hold on tight to Louis, the biggest ship of all."

…………

After the reconstruction meeting ended, Louis went into the secret strategy room on the top floor of the lord's mansion.

The silence here was starkly different from the hustle and bustle that had just ended below; it was as if the air itself had frozen.

There were only a dozen or so people inside, but they represented the most formidable force in the entire Northern Territory:

Vast lords with expansive territories, powerful nobles who control organized knightly orders, and wealthy families who have owned mines and workshops for generations...

Each and every one of them was a figure who could determine the course of events in the North.

The deep red flames leaped in the furnace, casting long shadows of them.

On the surface, they all appeared calm and composed, but in reality, they carried a sense of suppressed caution.

They all understood that Louis hadn't kept them behind to give them the same harsh treatment he'd shown to the minor nobles earlier.

The people in this room are the true "pillars and beams" of the North.

In order to successfully consolidate military power and legitimize the Joint Defense Corps, Louis first had to appease them and make them understand that they were not being stripped of their power.

Viscount Jon and Viscount Veris were also among them.

One was Louis's most loyal follower, and the other was Louis's half-brother.

A few years ago, they were just minor nobles on the edge of the North.

But with Louis's rise to power, through opportunity, hard work, and Louis's support, they have now joined the ranks of the top twenty elites in the North.

Without any greetings or preamble, Louis went straight to the point: "I know what you're all worried about. You think I want to turn you into toothless tigers."

He raised his hand and pointed out the window, where three heads, frozen stiff by the cold wind, hung silently in the setting sun.

"But think about it, in the face of absolute power, do your so-called teeth really still have any meaning?"

Louis's voice wasn't loud, but it sent chills down everyone's spines: "The knightly orders of those three legion commanders are stronger than any of yours. Now their heads are hanging at the gates of Frostspear City."

No one dared to refute the fact that Louis possessed absolute military strength, but that did not mean they completely agreed with Louis's words.

They remained silent in protest, the air so quiet you could almost hear the crackling of the firewood in the fireplace.

Just as the oppressive atmosphere grew so heavy it seemed about to drip water, Viscount Jon reappeared.

He surveyed all the nobles present: "In the past years in the North, which of these territories has not received Lord Louis's support? Grain, artisans, weapons, armaments, trade routes... he has been the one to sustain each of them."

Many of the old nobles twitched their eyelids, but remained silent.

He remained calm and composed, yet every word he uttered struck at the heart of the matter: "Think about it, all these years, what have you gained by following the Empire? What have you received in return?"

He stretched out his hand and pointed to Louis, who was seated at the head of the table: "But by following Lord Louis, every one of you can eat more meat than you have in the past ten years."

Everyone was speechless.

Jon's voice grew increasingly firm: "Lord Louis's every decision is made with a clearer understanding than any of ours."

The reconstruction of Frostspear, the reopening of the southern trade routes, the development of winter granaries, the unification of the northern border, the annihilation of the Ackerman Legion… which of these wasn't the right decision?

As soon as Yorn finished speaking, almost simultaneously all the eyes of the old nobles of the North focused on Count Abbott.

This silent old man is the balance of the entire North, the right-hand man of Duke Edmund, and the symbol of the Old North.

This alliance can never truly be formed unless he gives his approval.

Abette slowly put down her wine glass, her cane lightly touching the ground with a dull thud.

He raised his weathered eyes, sharp as if they could see right through people: "Lord Louis, we respect your military might and are grateful for your elimination of Ackerman."

He paused, his tone carrying the stubbornness characteristic of the North: "But the tradition in the North is that everyone minds their own business. You've tied us together... I'm afraid it's not just for defense, is it?"

If anyone else had said those words, it would have been a provocation. But coming from Abbott, it sounded more like a necessary confirmation.

The other nobles held their breath, awaiting Louis's reply.

Louis smiled.

He walked slowly to the side of the wall and gently tapped the table with the back of his hand.

Bradley immediately understood and pulled down the heavy velvet curtain.

The moment the curtain fell, the nobles all gasped in unison.

What comes into view is a map of the entire empire's strategic territory that covers the entire wall.

Louis picked up his baton and pointed it with a "snap" at a large area south of Graystone Fortress.

“A good question, Earl.” Louis turned around, his eyes burning with an uncontrollable flame for a moment.

“If it were just about protecting this small piece of land, I really wouldn’t need to do this.”

He raised his hand and slowly scanned the map, his voice low and forceful: "But the Regent is dead, and the Empire is in chaos. The gate that had locked the Northern Territory for hundreds of years, Graystone Fortress, has been blasted open by me."

He suddenly leaned over, close to the table, and his tone became as fiery as flames: "Gentlemen, do you really want to spend your whole lives huddled in this godforsaken place in the freezing cold?"
Don't you want to go to the warm south and seize a few vineyards? Don't you want to occupy a few ice-free ports? Don't you want your children to grow up in the sunshine instead of freezing to death in blizzards?

These words were extremely treasonous and could not possibly be spoken to all the nobles of the North, but Louis was quite certain that no one in this secret room would spread what was said here.

These words struck like lightning into the hearts of everyone present.

Count Abbott's cloudy old eyes suddenly shone brightly as he murmured, "When Duke Edmund was alive... we also considered going south."

But Duke Edmund was too…noble. He upheld his oath as a guardian and refused to be drawn into the Empire's internal strife. Besides, at that time, Graystone Fortress was still there, a natural barrier.”

Abette slowly stood up, her whole being like a torch that had been rekindled.

He abruptly raised his glass: "The Abbott family's trade routes in the South have been blocked for twenty years! I've had enough of having to put up with Southerners!"

He raised his glass even higher, his voice resonating throughout the strategy room: "If your target is the South, then the knights of the Abette family are ready to lead the way!!"

At that moment, the air in the room seemed to tremble.

As the leader, Abete, sided with Louis, the remaining nobles' displeasure at being deprived of power vanished instantly.

Instead, there was an endless longing for the fertile land of the South, for the warm breeze, and for wealth and glory.

Excited discussions immediately erupted in the room:

How much wine can be sold in the south in a year?

"An ice-free port...that's the dream destination!"

"If we can head south, it would be worth it even if we die on the way!"

Louis raised his hand to signal, and the noise from the crowd gradually subsided.

His voice was clear and calm, yet filled with a reassuring strength: "War is not child's play, and the southward advance requires the right opportunity. If you trust me, then I will lead the North and strike at the most opportune moment."

These words acted like a stabilizing force, instantly calming all the restless hearts.

Because they all knew that since Louis's rise to power, not a single battle or decision had been a failure, whether against the Brood, the Barbarians, or the Legions.

He excels at waiting for the perfect moment, and at striking decisively when the moment arrives.

With the details finalized, everyone raised their crystal glasses:

"For the North!"

"For a new future!"

"For the wineries of the South!"

The clinking of glasses echoed throughout the enclosed room, crisp and melodious, as if celebrating an impending victory in advance.

At that very moment, the war machine in the North began to operate under Louis's command, while at the same time, the South was experiencing immense chaos.

(End of this chapter)