Lord of the Frozen Winter: Starting with Daily Intelligence Reports

Louis raised his cup and shouted, "Let the feast begin!"

The square instantly erupted.

Brazier fires blazed in the four corners, and colorful lanterns hung high.

Musicians played flutes and violins to a lively rhythm, and young waitresses danced to the drumbeats.

The frothy brewed ale, the fragrant Red Tide smoked fish, the juicy roasted lamb legs, and the wild mushroom deer bone soup bubbling in large pots filled the air.

Soldiers laughed with raised cups, children chased each other and played...

Standing at the edge of the high platform, Louis quietly watched it all.

His gaze softened a little.

This territory, which he had silently watched over, was slowly becoming prosperous.

Those trusting gazes, those smiling faces with tears in their eyes due to honor.

All brought a slight warmth to Louis’s heart.

He was certainly not without fatigue; after all, the greater the responsibility, the more one bore.

But on a night like this, he still felt a genuine sense of accomplishment.

It wasn’t the superficial vanity of a high-ranking noble, but a more tangible satisfaction.

Louis gripped the wine cup in his hand and softly murmured to himself, "Let's just relax a bit tonight."

.........

After the revelry, work still had to be done the next day.

Louis sat up from his bed, rubbing his forehead.

This was a familiar semi-underground dwelling; even though he was now a lord with a vast territory, he was still accustomed to living here.

His own territory, where he could sleep soundly.

He stretched, then casually opened the “Daily Intelligence System,” and a translucent light screen appeared before his eyes.

“Daily Intelligence Update Complete” 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

“1: Near Eagle Rock at the eastern mouth of Clear Wind Canyon, signs of Eagle Claw Vine growth have been discovered. This plant has miraculous effects on wound healing and can be developed as a battlefield herb.”

“2: Magic fluctuations have appeared at the southern end of Silver Shadow Forest. A small amount of magic marrow mine is buried nearby.”

“3: Small herds of snow mountain goats are appearing in the central part of Shepherd Snowfield, suitable for domestication and breeding, with higher milk production in winter.”

“4: The Calvin Family has selected a group of loyal and steady civil officials and stewards, totaling over forty people, to assist Louis in managing the land.”

“5: Duke Calvin has allocated a batch of supplies to support Red Tide Territory, prioritizing food, cotton clothes, and cold-weather medicine in preparation for winter.”

“6: Duke Calvin has allocated a batch of knights to serve under Louis, including ten Elite Knights, thirty Formal Knights, and one hundred Apprentice Knights.”

“7: Duke Calvin has upgraded Louis’s family resource authority to Level 2, granting him the rights of the family’s Northern Agent.”

“There’s a lot of intelligence today, and resource-related intelligence is here again.” He scanned the first three entries, roughly knowing what to expect.

Ever since he acquired that new territory of nearly a thousand kilometers, these tips about resource points across the land kept popping up every now and then.

Some medicinal herbs, some essence of magic ores, and potential pasture resources, and so on.

Although these new territories were not as rich as Red Tide Territory, the system could always dig up unexpected benefits.

These resources were important, but there were more urgent matters at hand now, such as preparing winter supplies, restoring post-war order, settling refugees, mobilizing garrisons, dealing with the movements of the remaining Snowsworn, and so on.

“These resources... let's talk about them after these immediate troubles are dealt with.”

However, the subsequent content of the intelligence made Louis pause.

“The old man’s golden coin drop, it really is... more than I expected.”

It wasn’t just a few bags of flour or a few horses, but a complete system of support.

The resources from the Calvin Family were not only material supplies, but more importantly, the accompanying civil officials and stewards.

Over forty people, all seasoned veterans selected from within the family, loyal, reliable, and experienced.

Louis could send them to Red Tide Territory and the four newly-granted lands to manage government affairs, taxes, household registration, grain collection, and so on, establishing a proper “administrative framework.”

This meant Red Tide Territory was no longer a makeshift operation.

“Finally... the days of Silco doing the work of ten people are gone forever.”

He said this, but in his heart, he somewhat missed that alchemy apprentice who was outwardly respectful but secretly grumbled.

And those meritorious knights who were enfeoffed yesterday, along with this group of civil officials, would serve as the civil and military pillars, formally taking over this land on the verge of recovery.

“It’s finally starting to look ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) like a proper territory.”

Louis alone couldn’t manage such a large territory.

He had also thought about guiding all the displaced people to Red Tide Territory for concentrated development, but resources were too tight. Without the logistics system of later generations, large-scale urbanization was simply impossible.

But now he also had the possibility of diversion and overall planning.

In addition, the accompanying military support included ten Elite Knights, thirty Formal Knights, and one hundred Apprentice Knights.

Adding his own existing knights, he already had the appearance of a mature noble lord’s military force.

It could even be said that, even when measured against some experienced viscounts, his foundation was in no way inferior.

And the 7th piece of intelligence made him silent for a long time, contemplating what it represented.

The “Calvin Family” Northern Agent, this was not just a title, but one with real power.

It meant he could act in the North in the name of the “Calvin Family,” like a leader exercising the family’s will remotely.

Of course, the Calvin Family’s influence in the North was somewhat small, so the actual power of this title wasn’t that high.

Ultimately, it meant not having much military power or territory.

Only a few peripheral relatives controlled a few small fiefdoms in remote areas.

Together, they were not even as large as Louis’s current territory.

The true value lay in the family’s businesses that had operated in the North for many years.

Several grain stores, ironware shops, transport convoys, and several safe trade routes could basically all be utilized.

This meant he could use the family’s name to incur debt and suppress prices;

He could also mobilize transport and distribute supplies, prioritizing his own territory;

He could even pull out the “I represent the Calvin Family” card during negotiations to gain more trust.

While it wasn’t some earth-shattering method, it was enough to give him a breather.

“This really is... a timely benefit.” Louis put away the light screen, letting out a soft laugh.

These resources and manpower were nothing short of a godsend for Louis in his current situation.

His territory was too new, too large, with too many people and too much chaos; every matter urgently needed to be handled, and every bit of material could save lives.

Even if it was just temporary support, it could sustain him.

Therefore, he was genuinely grateful to Duke Calvin.

Although his biological father had almost completely ignored him when he was young, even kicking him to the North, which was practically a death sentence.

But now that he had pulled through and achieved military merit—the support was generously poured down.

People, money, prestige, resources, all provided in full.

Perhaps this was the cruel rule of nobility.

They don't nurture waste, but as long as you prove yourself worthy, they will not hesitate to “invest” in you.