Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 664: Chapter 384: Achievements of the Red Tide System (Part 2)

The scribes immediately changed paper, and the quill pens fell once more.

"Part one, Desolate Mist Plain Zone, fourteen territories."

Bradley marked the light-colored area on the map that was first covered by the Red Tide Grain Store system: "Originally, it was the poorest part of the Northern Territory.

But it was also the first area to complete the transformation of the grain store system, and it can now be considered the second grain store in the Northern Territory after Mai Lang."

Bradley lightly tapped the page: "Three reasons for integration: one, spring plowing is entirely dependent on Red Tide seeds, Ice Claw, and geothermal greenhouses;

two, the account book method and grain store allocation are implemented most thoroughly. Three, post-disaster relief made the local populace highly reliant on Red Tide."

In the tiered seats, a young official who recently returned from a survey in Spike Wind Village slightly lowered his head.

He remembered how, more than a year ago, the villagers looked at unfamiliar Red Tide officials with wary faces.

Some even feared that after the grain store was taken over, they would be heavily taxed and preferred to hide in the woods.

But when the first batch of grain bags and greenhouses were set up, the resistance quickly loosened in the face of the reality of food and warmth.

He remembered how those children looked the first time they lined up outside the geothermal greenhouse to receive their morning porridge, their hands frozen red, eyes bright.

This is how Red Tide gradually won people over, step by step.

Bradley continued: "Including Gray Wheat Hill, Spike Wind Territory, White Mane Territory, Old Loine Territory, and fourteen others."

He paused here: "The early spring test fields in the Desolate Mist Zone have already proven that Mai Lang’s system is correct, that unified production management yields fifty percent more on average than the old system."

At this point, Director Mike from the Agricultural Department stepped forward half a step, a bit nervous, to add: "The Agricultural Department has an additional report."

Louis raised his hand to signal him to continue.

Mike, not knowing how to read, memorized the numbers himself, but their weight was truly astonishing: "In the Northern Territory, seventy-six large grain stores newly built this year are all managed uniformly by Red Tide. All warehouse entry and exit procedures follow the Red Tide Account Book, with Northern Territory lords only playing a supporting role.

Spring sowing breed distribution... This year is also fully orchestrated by Red Tide. Seeds, geothermal greenhouse materials, and irrigation tables are distributed uniformly according to Red Tide’s plan. The instances of territories distributing on their own have greatly decreased."

Bradley nodded, instructing the scribes to mark this item as important, then added: "The current situation has achieved a three-tier structure from Red Tide grain stores to town grain stores to village stores."

Several officials from the Grain Department couldn’t hide a bit of pride on their faces; this is what they achieved after a year of travel throughout the Northern Territory.

Having completed the report on the grain-producing territories, Bradley turned to the next page: "Second part, New Mining Belt Zone, composed of thirteen territories."

The Director of the Mining Department, Valentine, spoke in a rough yet confident tone: "These are the first batch of semi-industrial zones following the replication of the Forge Star model by the Red Tide Mining Department."

Bradley read out: "Black Coal Canyon, Furnace Smoke Valley, Hammer Sound Town, Red Sand Slope, North Mine Field, among others.

Three reasons for integration: steam pumps saved the mines from flooding, rail tracks stabilized transportation, and the Mining Department’s unified purchase of raw ores crushed the old mine owners’ coffers."

An official from the New Mining Belt Zone let out a sigh of relief.

He remembered the look of despair when the mines were flooded, and also the day the first steam pump was activated; miners circled it again and again as if they were watching a monster. Indeed, technology changes the world.

Bradley continued: "Currently all mines are using the Red Tide Account Book, the Craftsman Department has set up three standard smelting points..."

Louis nodded with satisfaction, gesturing for Bradley to continue.

Bradley turned the page: "Third part, Red Tide Warehouse Management Area. Frost Tooth Castle, Cold Cry Town, Black Peak Outpost, Falling Pine Lake Village Group... a total of nineteen territories.

This area suffered the most from the winter disaster and has the highest dependency; many lords fled after the winter disaster. After Red Tide took over, they turned it into a warehouse management area, storing strategic materials like food and minerals."

Trade Bureau Director Desland added: "These are also future towns along the railway line."

Bradley nodded: "The Craftsman Department has dispatched technical officers to repair bridges and roads; the Defense Department established three border garrisons; the Inspection Department is piloting full-coverage management."

He then added: "Two rebelling old nobility have been reasonably settled. All their subordinate soldiers and officials have been transferred into the Red Tide hierarchy."

Several members of the Inspectorate present grinned, as they knew very well what "reasonable settlement" implied.

"These areas are already in fact directly governed by Red Tide. The words of the local station master carry more weight than those of the old lords."

These words made several young officials stand a little straighter.

The villagers also resisted when they were first taken over, but when the Red Tide dispatched the station master with the first batch of grain vehicles, the resistance collapsed as naturally as dead branches breaking under the weight of snow.

Bradley turned to the next volume: "Fourth part, Southern Line of the Harbor Bay, eight territories. Breaking Wave Bay, Old Shipyard Zone, Sea Breeze Castle, Stone Coast Village, among others."

Desland stepped forward to add: "These are all preparatory zones for the new port."

Bradley nodded: "The new port is under construction, the Port Affairs Office has marked its flag, and maritime taxes and fishing port scheduling are managed by Red Tide, preparing to transition to direct jurisdiction by the Port Affairs."

Then he added: "Due to the work-for-food policy, the people in the Harbor Bay region have shown high cooperation."

Bradley concluded the report: "Other areas are used as supply nodes, border posts, or processing zones. Though not fully annexed, they have become semi-integrated within the Red Tide system.

Louis listened quietly, as if committing every word to memory.

Finally, he nodded to indicate the continuation of the next report.

Inspectorate Director Erin rose from her seat, her movements neat and nimble.

Holding a roll of black-leather account books, she walked to the front of the long table and slightly bowed: "Lord, the Inspection Department’s disciplinary report for this year is presented as follows."