Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 410 - 268: Changes in Red Tide Territory (Part 2)

Chapter 410: Chapter 268: Changes in Red Tide Territory (Part 2)
Since public opinion is all pointing in one direction, as a lord who values his people, he can only...
"Then... when the planning for other areas is done, we’ll tear it down and rebuild." Louis finally spoke, his tone carrying a hint of reluctant compromise.
Upon hearing this, Bradley visibly breathed a sigh of relief, as if he had shed a heavy burden.
"Thank you, my lord, for your wisdom." He bowed respectfully, but there was a trace of smugness in his eyes—indeed, he knew how to persuade this rational yet stubborn young lord.
Bradley knew Louis wasn’t actually too attached to that Earth Tower.
It was merely a utilitarian fortress planned for efficiency and safety when Red Tide was first built, a tool not a symbol. He always followed the principle of "as long as it works," never wasting resources on vanity.
But times have changed.
Red Tide is no longer a remote outpost in the wilderness but one of the fastest-growing cities in the Northern Territory, with a booming population, stable order, and flourishing economy.
And Louis is no longer the teenager sketching blueprints in a tent on a construction site, but one of the most powerful and revered among the Northern Lords of the Empire.
He must have a castle that befits his status.
Towering and dignified, inspiring awe in visitors and fear in enemies.
"A castle is the face of the lord," Bradley thought to himself, "We cannot let this lord’s face be... as plain as a grain storage tower."
Now, Red Tide Territory not only has the capability to build a new castle but is also qualified to establish a symbol of this new era for the new city.
Looking at the ambitious Bradley, Louis internally joked, "Who would have thought this old fellow was a fan of wonders."
Then everyone arrived at the core residential area of Red Tide Territory, the first part of the entire territory to be revitalized.
This is where the initial batch of "people" of Red Tide lived, or more accurately, the group once called slaves, refugees, and natives—the nameless ones.
They once supported the embryonic form of this city with their backs during the most chaotic pioneering period of Red Tide.
Now they are the core citizens of this city, and Louis chose to transform their residential area first—it was their rightful due.
The neighborhood is now renewed, with rows of unified, smoothly lined new buildings replacing the mud-covered small houses buried in the ground.
Louis named it: Red Tide Style Round Dome House.
Bradley stood before a newly completed dome house, slightly lifted his head, and introduced proudly:
"Eighty percent of the reconstruction in this area is complete. Everything uses your envisioned semi-subterranean structure—winter geothermal circulation heating, automatic snow-shedding roof, double-layer insulated walls... it’s the ideal residence in cold regions."
Louis nodded, his gaze sweeping across every door and window around him, as the people who once huddled to survive in the wind and snow now breathed warm air as they opened their doors, gently easing a heavy emotion in his heart.
"Residential density has reduced by half, but each household’s space has increased nearly threefold," Bradley continued,
"We have achieved indoor climate control, water source purification, and a street numbering system. Hygiene issues have been resolved, and since last winter, not a single case of infectious disease has appeared in this area."
The streets are spacious and straight, the cobblestone paths crisscross into a network, the drainage systems extend seamlessly, pine and cypress cast shadows, warmth pervades.
Every house’s exterior walls adopt a unified palette of dark gray, dark red, and muted gold, with a warm dignity.
Bradley chuckled lightly, his tone carrying undisguised pride: "It’s been completely transformed."
Louis smiled faintly, his voice carrying a gentle approval: "Well done, Bradley."
This is what sets Louis apart from traditional nobility.
Other lords think about how to exploit, tax, and conscript.
But he thinks about supplying hot water, clearing snow, developing territory...
He took the knowledge from his previous life—city functional zoning, road grading, heating systems, architectural aesthetics—and wrote it all into blueprints, now finally transforming piece by piece into bricks and mortar, integrating into this territory.
And Bradley, always by his side, turned these absurd dreams into tangible walls and streets.
"Next, we’ll promote this standard throughout Red Tide City," Bradley said softly, "All new districts will use the round dome houses with unified three-color design, giving the city a consistent appearance."
Along the way, they passed a square construction site still unfinished.
The wind stirred the thin snow, grey-white stone bricks already laid halfway, the foundation in the center being compacted, silhouettes of tall column pedestals starting to take shape.
Though incomplete, one can already imagine the grand scenes of future crowds gathering here.
Bradley paused, raised his hand and pointed ahead: "This is ’Fierce Tide Square’, adjacent to the Town Hall, designed according to your blueprints for the future announcement of decrees, public gatherings, and military parades. Floor installation is expected to complete next month, ready for winter opening."
Louis nodded.
"The other two squares," Bradley continued, "one planned in the west of the city near the newly constructed school and theater for an amusement square; the other in the south market connecting to the market, depot, and commercial street to become the market square of Red Tide."
"Amusement, gathering, trade—three squares, three functions," he summarized with a nod.
Throughout the journey, Louis frequently nodded, his gaze occasionally drifting to the new buildings by the street, the road signs at intersections, and the busy craftsmen and surveyors in the squares.
The lines on those sheets of paper were transforming into real scenes, and the blueprint for the future was being realized brick by brick.
Finally, the two of them reached the destination of their trip—the Red Tide Territory Industrial Zone.
This area is located on the south slope plateau with gentle terrain, close to the main river water source of Red Tide, and connected to multiple raw material transport routes—the result of Louis’s personal survey and site selection.
"Here, it’s protected from the wind in winter and ventilated in summer," Bradley walking at the forefront, smiled and introduced, "near the storage area and material transport passages, raw materials can be immediately processed, and finished products can also be directly transported outside the city."
Looking around, workshops stood in order, chimneys emitting bursts of white smoke, yet not chaotic or noisy.
The buildings of differing heights were precisely divided by craft category: metallurgy area, woodworking area, alchemy and magitech experimentation area, weaving and leather area... neatly distributed, clearly layered.
"This is the final version of the third reconstruction," Bradley said softly, his tone carrying a faint hint of respect.
Yes, this is no longer a temporary production site of some territory but the future "industrial heart."
A multifunctional base integrating production, training, and technology research.
Fire lanes strictly divided, safe distances kept between workshops; main roads wide and straight, facilitating passage of large transport wagons and official inspections.
There is also centralized management of public tool storage and resource allocation stations, with unified efficient distribution preventing waste.
Craftsmen’s rest houses, canteens, shift systems... these are "details" that traditional nobility never considered, yet they are the parts Louis values most.
The apprentice training camp in the industrial zone has also started operation, with a new batch of young people being taught by experienced craftsmen. In the future, they will become the first generation of craftsmen souls supporting the backbone of industry on this land.
"In other territories, workshops are the noisiest, most chaotic places; but here, it symbolizes the parallel of discipline, production, and technology." Bradley looked into the distance and sighed.
Louis stood at a vantage point, watching the entire industrial zone operate methodically under the winter sun, revealing a slight smile.
He had no doubt in his heart that this industrial zone might still be seen by some old nobility as merely a "gathering place for crude craftsmen."
But in his eyes, this is the starting point toward the future."
Just as Louis stepped down the stone steps, his stride not entirely steady, a rough, hearty voice rang out from ahead: "Yo! Our lord has arrived!"
The person had a face full of stubble, wore a heavy leather apron, and had an oil cloth not yet fully wiped clean draped over his shoulder.
He was naturally Mike, now the chief craftsman responsible for the entire Red Tide Industrial Zone.
"Mike." Louis looked at him, smiled, and nodded.
Mike strode towards them, moving boldly, yet subconsciously restrained a bit of his roughness when approaching, wiping his burn-marked hands a few times on his clothing before solemnly saluting: "My lord, the craftsmen management team is all here, waiting in the meeting room."
Though his tone was hearty, the seriousness and anticipation in it was evident to anyone.
Today they would discuss the development plan for a new weapon system concerning the entire future of Red Tide.