Free Web NovelThe evening sky was dyed crimson by the banners, and the snow had just stopped, with ice shards still swirling in the air.
From the end of the mountain path came the heavy sound of iron hooves, regular and rhythmic, like distant thunder.
Lord Louis's convoy slowly ascended the slope. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
The vanguard Red Tide Knights were arrayed, cloaked in scarlet, forming a steel torrent with the supply carts and heavily armored guards behind them, filling the mountain pass.
The city gate was adorned with the dual banners of Red Tide and the Harvey family, symbolizing the fusion of nobility and a new order.
The bell tower had already rung, and the entire Silver Ridge Hill was buzzing with excitement.
Yoen had originally ordered a ceremony to be arranged, but it proved unnecessary, as the populace had already gathered spontaneously.
Miners dropped their hammers, children sang, holding up hand-drawn Red Tide banners, women swept the streets and scattered ash to prevent slipping, and elders brought out their homemade wine.
The entire city had been buzzing since morning, and no one was forced.
Why were they so excited?
Because for two years, they had heard bards sing “The Song of Red Tide” daily.
At night, they listened to theater troupes perform “Dawn Harbor” and “Light of the Snowfield” by the bonfire, watching actors in masks portray how the young Red Tide Lord saved the Northern Territory.
Children found it amusing, but adults listened with tears, for they knew that without Lord Louis, there would be no Silver Ridge Hill as it was today, no stable life for themselves.
Torches lit up on both sides of the streets, illuminating the iron-clad carriage, with the Red Tide emblem, like a burning sun, carved onto its door.
Elders leaned on their staffs, bowing their heads; artisans raised their hammers and shouted; miners lit torches; students sang loudly; women tucked freshly baked bread into the Red Tide Knights' arms; children jumped, waving flags.
Young mothers held their infants, telling them, “Look, that is Lord Louis.”
“Long live Lord Louis! Long live Red Tide!” The shouts merged into a tide.
The Red Tide Knights' formation advanced with the cheers, their steps like a torrent flowing into the city gate, shaking down accumulated snow.
Yoen rode at the very front, wearing the most magnificent ceremonial attire he had specially prepared.
A gold-trimmed Red Tide Knights' armor was covered by an embroidered cloak, and on his chest was pinned a medal bestowed by Duke Edmund.
To show his respect for Lord Louis, he had even polished his helmet to a shine, and the scabbard of his sword at his waist had new straps.
He looked imposing, yet due to the thick armor, he appeared somewhat round, making him look a bit comical on horseback.
Seeing the carriage slowly approach, Yoen’s heart also pounded violently with the drumbeats.
Two years of construction could finally be showcased to his boss.
Yoen had initially worried that his preparations weren't thorough enough, but now, seeing the jubilation of the people in the streets, which was even grander than he had planned, the smile on his face could no longer be hidden.
He smiled so wide his eyes became slits, both delighted that Lord Louis had finally arrived and proud of his successful preparations.
The surrounding Red Tide Knights cheered, and miners shouted; the fervent atmosphere made his chest burn.
As the convoy slowly decelerated, Lord Louis sat in the carriage, his fingers gently tapping the armrest, a hint of helplessness in his expression.
He had originally intended to discreetly assess the governance of Silver Ridge Hill, to check if the mines, warehouses, and schools were operating adequately; now it seemed everything would have to be postponed.
Through the window, he saw torches, banners, and countless excited faces on both sides of the street; the shouts had merged into a single roar, carrying a fervent warmth that assailed him.
He sighed, but the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.
This feeling of being eagerly watched, even though he was accustomed to it, he couldn't entirely resist.
Lord Louis leaned out slightly, snowflakes falling on his shoulders, and he extended his gloved hand, waving to the crowd.
It was just a simple gesture, but it instantly ignited the entire street.
Cheers surged like a tsunami; banners were raised in unison, drums began again, children shrieked, women waved, and men removed their hats in salute.
Even the distant bell tower vibrated, and the air was heated by the fervor.
Kosa and Gray, in the middle of the procession, were also stirred by the uproar; they rode on horseback, witnessing for the first time the scene wherever their Red Tide Lord arrived.
The countless banners and cheers dazzled them; a mere wave of Lord Louis’s hand could make the entire territory erupt.
Gray murmured softly, “This is Red Tide—this is the master of the Northern Territory.”
Kosa gripped the reins, his chest burning; he suddenly understood the words of the instructor in the training camp: “Red Tide is a belief.”
Looking at the eyes of the people on the street, that fanaticism and reverence were almost indistinguishable from their piety in prayer.
The difference was that this belief had flesh and blood, and warmth.
The convoy stopped, guards pulled open the carriage door, Lord Louis extended his hand again, then stepped onto the ground.
The crowd's cheers instantly turned into a frenzy, even the echo of the bell tower's bronze bell was muffled.
Yoen almost ran forward, dropping to one knee, his armor clanking loudly on the snow: “All the people of Silver Ridge Hill respectfully welcome the Red Tide Lord!”
Lord Louis bent down to help him up, smiling as he patted his shoulder: “Yoen, let me see the city you’ve guarded.”
Yoen grinned, nodding repeatedly, his words a little fast and stammering: “Everything is according to your regulations; mine output has doubled, three schools have been built, and no one is hungry—you will be satisfied!”
Lord Louis nodded slightly: “I can see you’ve done very well.”
“Boss, you’ve worked hard on this journey,” Yoen walked slightly ahead of him, his smile crinkling the corners of his eyes, “I’ve already had people prepare a banquet. There’s good wine from the south; tonight, you must drink your fill.”
Lord Louis chuckled, glancing at him: “You’ve always been generous with wine.”
Yoen laughed heartily, taking the opportunity to step closer and whisper: “That’s not just drinking, it’s respect, and I wanted to have a good chat with you. If you hadn’t come, I would have been sick from holding it all in.”
Lord Louis shook his head gently, his smile still present: “You’re still the same.”
“That’s because my boss taught me well,” Yoen puffed out his chest, his tone as serious as an oath.
The two walked side by side, chatting and laughing, their steps as natural as they had been years ago in the Imperial Capital training ground.
The Red Tide Knights escorted them on both sides, and the residents of Silver Ridge Hill spontaneously cleared a path.
Some offered bread, some handed warm wine, and many more simply watched the Red Tide Lord's back in silence.
The air in the hall was warm and bright, the walls soared high, red and blue drapes hung down, and flames danced gently in metal lamp holders.
The main banquet hall of Silver Ridge Hill was not noisy at this moment; there was only one long table, with two people sitting opposite each other.
The table was laden with rare delicacies seldom seen in the Northern Territory: roasted Frost Mane Bear, Snowfield Lizard Soup, rock salt venison steaks, and fine wine sent from the south.
A faint aroma of stewed meat wafted through the air, and the hearth fire melted the shadows at the table corners into a soft red glow.
Outside, Red Tide Knights and officials feasted around bonfires in the snow, while inside the hall, there were only Lord Louis and Yoen, along with a few servants. “I originally wanted to invite everyone in the city for a grand banquet, but you insisted on being low-key.” Yoen smiled and shook his head, raising his wine glass, “Well, it’s good, I can have a good drink with you, boss.”
As he raised his glass, his tone carried a hint of pride and gratitude: “Boss, this glass is for that rescue two years ago. If it weren’t for you, I’d have gone to meet the Dragon Ancestor long ago.”
Lord Louis smiled as they clinked glasses, the wine rippling slightly: “You were crying your eyes out back then.”
“That was emotional release,” Yoen glared at him, then couldn’t help but laugh aloud, “When you saved me, even my pants were frozen solid.”
The two exchanged smiles, their laughter echoing in the spacious hall.
After one round of drinks, Yoen waved for the servants to clear the cold dishes, personally introducing the food on the table: “This Frost Mane Bear was hunted last month, and that pot of Snowfield Lizard Soup—”
Lord Louis scooped a spoonful of soup, nodding: “I really didn’t expect the food here to be even more abundant than in Red Tide Territory.”
Yoen proudly tapped the table: “This is all thanks to your supply system; I merely benefited from it.”
The firelight reflected on his round body, his gold-trimmed formal attire a bit tight, making him look like a cheerful wine barrel when he laughed.
Lord Louis watched him, shaking his head with a chuckle: “Dressed like that, I doubt even a bear would dare approach you.”
“This is formality!” Yoen thumped his chest, “I need to let my boss know that I truly waited for him.”
The conversation gradually turned to old memories.
Yoen spoke of their time in the Imperial Capital, recounting their embarrassment when bullied by noble children at the academy, and the disastrous consequences when they secretly snuck out to the river to drink at night and were caught by their instructor.
Those past events sounded like amusing anecdotes in his telling, his voice loud enough to drown out the crackling of the fireplace.
After a long while, the laughter gradually subsided, leaving only the sound of the flickering fire.
Yoen adopted a lower tone: “Messengers from the Imperial Capital recently brought news that things are getting more chaotic there. Have you heard?”
Lord Louis nodded, not concealing anything: “The Emperor is missing, the princes are fighting amongst themselves, and the Dragon Throne Council has usurped imperial authority. The Empire’s backbone is broken.”
“Those new nobles still pretend everything is calm,” Yoen sighed, “My father received letters from them a few days ago, talking about maintaining loyalty and stable trade routes.”
Lord Louis’s fingertips gently tapped the table, his tone steady: “They want stability, but this world is already unstable. For the Northern Territory to survive, it must learn to breathe on its own before the Imperial Capital collapses.”
Yoen was silent for a moment, looking at him with a mix of understanding and confusion, then raised his cup: “Boss, whatever you do, I will follow you.”
Lord Louis clinked his cup with Yoen’s: “I hope you truly understand the weight of that statement.”
Both emptied their cups simultaneously.
The firelight reflected on their faces; Lord Louis’s gaze was as calm as ice, while Yoen’s expression was fervent and sincere.
Then Yoen suddenly laughed, cursing: “Actually, at that Chongqing meeting, I should have cursed them back for you long ago. What Sixth Prince? He’s nothing! The meeting should be held in Red Tide City, why in Frost Dragon Territory?”
Lord Louis chuckled: “It’s all the same whether you curse or not; the outcome is already decided. I’ll just see what tricks they’re up to.”
“Then I still need to vent,” Yoen waved his hand grandly, “His little show of authority isn’t even enough to fill our teeth.”
Lord Louis didn’t respond, merely watching the flames in the fireplace, his mind on the broader situation.
The Empire’s map, the Northern Territory’s situation, Red Tide’s territory.
The firelight danced in his pupils, as if reflecting an ineffable ambition.
He put down his wine glass and spoke a truth: “As long as the Northern Territory can stand firm, the more chaotic the Imperial Capital becomes, the less it is a bad thing.”
Yoen didn’t fully understand, he just grinned and refilled his cup: “Then let’s drink to that!”
“To that.”
Their cups clinked together, making a crisp sound.
One carried calculation and clarity, the other carried trust and passion.
Yoen silently vowed in his heart: no matter how the Empire collapsed, he would follow this friend.
The next morning, as the snow began to melt, the Red Tide banner still fluttered above the main fortress of Silver Ridge Hill.
After a night of rest, Lord Louis, accompanied by his officials, Yoen, and his personal guards, went to inspect various locations.
The workshops along the streets had already opened.
Flames raged in the blacksmith shops, and artisans hammered Red Tide standard farm tools, their sounds uniform and resonant.
Miners were changing shifts, carrying standardized, numbered iron buckets.
Accountants' clerks registered the quantities of ore entering and leaving in front of the snow houses, their ledgers filled with uniform forms printed by the Red Tide Directorate.
The roads were clean, the queues orderly, and even upon seeing the Red Tide Lord arrive, no one stopped working; they simply bowed in greeting and continued their tasks, as they had been informed in advance.
Yoen, with a beaming smile, constantly pointed around: “Boss, look, all of this was built according to your design! These past two years haven’t been wasted.”
Lord Louis looked around while reviewing the data brief handed to him by Bradley.
The accounts were clear, material allocation was almost synchronized with Red Tide Territory, tax records, distribution ratios, storage plans—everything was like a replication of Red Tide.
“Good efficiency,” Lord Louis praised.
Yoen’s smile grew even brighter as he patted his saddle: “It’s good that you’re satisfied. These officials genuinely respect you. They used to dread the Red Tide Directorate, but now they’re eager to implement the regulations.”
Kosa and Gray rode slightly behind, somewhat familiar with this sight, as Red Tide City was a hundred times more magnificent than here.
When the miners and artisans saw Lord Louis, their eyes showed genuine gratitude and reverence.
Gray whispered: “They truly treat Lord Louis like a god.”
Kosa nodded: “We’re used to seeing it in Red Tide City—they believe from the bottom of their hearts.”
Lord Louis looked towards the semi-subterranean communal house ahead.
Warm air emerged from underground pipes, children wrote at the windows, and women hung laundry.
On the walls were posted the “Simplified Civil Regulations” issued by Red Tide, as well as slogans like “Everyone has an education, all are children of Red Tide.”
Lord Louis nodded slightly: “It seems the system replication is indeed effective. The population is stable, production is normal, and displaced people are beginning to settle.”
The accompanying scribe added: “Mine output has increased by 30%, mainly due to Red Tide-style material coordination and centralized storage. Winter provisions still rely on Red Tide, but distribution is orderly.”
Lord Louis said softly: “Reliance is also a form of stability.”
Yoen, full of spirit, introduced: “Boss, look, these main roads, these geothermal channels, I built them all according to Red Tide’s example!
It used to be all muddy pits here, but now the snow melts faster than anywhere else, and the people all say it’s good.”
Lord Louis smiled and glanced at him: “Very good, it seems you’ve grasped the core of Red Tide.”
Yoen grinned, his tone full of pride: “Yes, with Red Tide’s system supporting me, I sleep soundly.”
Kosa and Gray exchanged glances, feeling a warmth in their hearts.
Having traveled from Red Tide City, they truly experienced for the first time the significance of Red Tide to the Northern Territory.
It was not just order, but also ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) the hope that allowed people to survive.
Lord Louis withdrew his gaze, silently evaluating: The governance effectiveness of these subordinate territories has proven that the Red Tide model is entirely feasible, providing confidence for wider promotion in the future.
Whether they realized it or not, this model would eventually unite the entire Northern Territory.
