Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 489: Chapter 304: Red Tide’s Future Plans (2)

“All these people are appointed centrally, and there must be no private local appointments.”

Bradley nodded slightly, his pen rustling on the parchment.

“The policy directives must be smooth,” Louis’s voice was low, “they must be delivered on time, and every directive must be transmitted by a knight to the locality at the first moment.

The supervisors must also submit a monthly brief, clearly detailing matters such as food, taxation, and security.

Furthermore, every quarter, they must come to Red Tide in person to report on their governance, face to face, and there must be no vagueness.”

The morning light outside the window cast on Louis’s side face, revealing a sharp arc.

“The central departments must send personnel for patrols, and the Inspection Department must also conduct independent inspections, ensuring dual oversight; no one should expect to pass unnoticed.”

Bradley responded softly, “Sir, you truly intend to have Red Tide’s reach cover every inch of land.”

Louis’s tone was icy, “Only in this way can the order I set be stable, not easily shaken.”

“But how to supervise all these?”

Louis slowly curled his lips and uttered three words: “Inspection Department.”

Bradley slightly opened his mouth, as if he understood something.

“The Inspection Department is directly under me, led by the person I’ve entrusted the most. Moreover, all inspectors do not serve locally, and they rotate periodically.

They are my eyes and ears, capable of reporting on any official at any time. Anyone, regardless of rank, who dares to be corrupt or negligent will be immediately dismissed, or even executed.”

Bradley, upon hearing this, felt a slight sweat in his palms.

He certainly knew that the Empire also had a similar inspection system, but in the past century, it has become largely ceremonial, mostly superficial, with local nobility arranging things through connections, eventually turning into a tool for corruption.

Louis’s approach was different.

The Inspection Department he envisaged was not a mere facade, but a razor-sharp system: directly reporting to the Lord, not serving locally, rotating regularly, and having no entanglement with local interests.

Most crucially, they can report at any time and dismiss immediately.

This means that once someone embezzles, there’s no need for layered reporting, no need to wait for lengthy approvals; the dismissal can happen on the spot.

A complex emotion surged in Bradley’s heart.

This young Lord’s approach was much stricter than the old systems of the Empire and more executable.

It’s not just a paper tiger; it’s akin to a sword hanging perpetually above officials’ heads.

Compared to the Empire’s loose and crude inspections, this was a truly effective way to reign in all officials.

“The Lord is truly a talent for governing…”

He silently marveled in his heart, gazing at the youth behind the desk, feeling immensely fortunate to be able to serve such a leader in his lifetime.

Just as Bradley was still immersed in awe, Louis’s tone changed: “There’s another thing for you to note.”

The elder immediately raised his pen, leaning slightly forward, afraid to miss a single word.

“Once all departments are well arranged and the framework is established, I want them to submit a five-year plan.”

Bradley paused, his pen hovering over the parchment, seemingly not understanding.

Louis ignored his expression and continued, “Relying solely on short-term measures can, at most, alleviate immediate difficulties but cannot establish a long-term foundation.

If Red Tide wants to go further, there must be a blueprint, letting the settlers know what needs to be done and where to go over the next five years.”

Louis paused, then continued to think aloud, “For example, how many acres of farmland should be expanded, how much storage capacity should the granary have, how many workshops should be constructed, how much will the population increase, how many clerks can the schools produce, and how much can the army be expanded.

And the necessity of doing this, you should understand, if we only focus on the seasonal harvests, Red Tide will forever merely be a surviving stronghold in the Northern Territory’s wilderness.

With a long-term plan, no matter how great the wind and snow, we can still see the direction of the future.”

At this moment, Bradley understood in his heart that Louis’s thoughts and strategies were written in the posture of a king, not only for Red Tide but even for the entire Northern Territory.

Louis leaned back in his chair, his voice unhurried, “I simply provide some directions; specific goals still need to be proposed by the departments themselves.

But they must be set after investigation, and cannot be arbitrarily compiled to exaggerate achievements. Of course, the final step will be reviewed by me.”

His tone carried no exaggeration, only a pragmatic approach that was convincing.

Bradley bowed his head slightly, “I understand.”

A complex feeling surged within the elder’s heart. The young Lord not only possessed exceptional foresight but also understood not to rush, ensuring policies did not become mere empty talk.

After pondering for a moment, Bradley remained silent, seemingly weighing his words.

“Sir…” He slightly leaned forward, his tone probing, “Apart from consolidating governance and the five-year plan, there’s another matter worth considering: annexing the territories of surrounding small nobility.”

Upon hearing this, Louis sneered, “Indeed, although we already control much of the southeastern territories, they are still scattered, unable to piece together our own lands.

Many small noble forces are already empty, with plagues and wars consuming almost half of their labor and land.

Their granaries are empty, mines collapsed, and seven out of ten Knight Orders have been destroyed.

Currently maintaining themselves barely is not due to their own strength but because of Red Tide’s support.

In other words, while they appear independent, they are essentially pockets hanging at our waist, and we only need to reach out to take whatever we wish.

Once these strategic areas are brought into our fold, Red Tide can form a whole.

Then, this chaotic southeastern area can be thoroughly transformed into a core of order, allowing us to eventually consume the entire Northern Territory, becoming the true Lord of the North.”

His tone was calm, yet carried a chilling decisiveness: “Red Tide should take proactive actions, using exchanges, cooperation, and even force, to gradually annex them.”

He then began to elaborate on methods, as if sketching a certain victory strategy:

“We can use some peripheral territories along with materials to exchange for their strategic areas.”

Louis’s fingers lightly traced over several pieces of land on the map, “Or propose joint development, co-building territories, letting them perceive benefits, thus voluntarily handing over their authority.”

Louis thought for a moment and continued, “First supply, then restrict. Once they lack food for knights and servants, raw materials for workshops, iron materials for military supplies, all relying on Red Tide… they will no longer be able to struggle.”

“Of course, there will be stubborn ones holding onto ancestral domains, refusing cooperation.” Louis slightly squinted his eyes.

“Against these stubborn factions, we must strike hard, possibly initiating border friction or deploying troops under the guise of ’bandit suppression.’ Just striking down one will be enough to intimidate the rest.”

His words fell, and the Red Tide marks on the map flickered gently in the firelight.

Bradley silently paused, then slowly exhaled and relaxed his brows.

“Sir… I understand now.” He bowed in salute, “First divide, then integrate, employing both soft and hard tactics, leaving them no retreat.”

Louis nodded slightly, his expression unwavering, as though all this was expected.

“Red Tide’s territory and influence must expand in the shortest time,” his voice was calm and steady, “we need to actively shape the situation, not passively respond.”

Bradley replied, his tone now devoid of earlier hesitation and instead carrying some eagerness: “It is the most direct and effective method.

I will proceed at once, ensuring intelligence is gathered first everywhere, evaluating which small nobility is suitable for cooperation, and which should be struck.”

Louis did not look up, merely uttering two words: “Very good.”

Two succinct words, yet they fell like a hammer.

Those small noble territories still marked on the map were, at this moment, akin to chess pieces at one’s disposal.

Simply because of the young Lord’s few brief words, their futures are now clearly arranged.