Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 640: Chapter 374: Discussion

After twilight, the Red Tide City was lightly brushed by snow, and the halls on the upper floor of the Earth Tower castle were glowing with golden firelight.

The fireplace was burning, with tongues of fire reflected on the stone walls. Silver platters held stewed mushrooms and roasted cod, filling the air with a warm fragrance.

The attendant quietly set the dishes aside, with cups and goblets clinking lightly.

Louis sat at the main seat, his cloak draped on the back of the chair, looking up at the ceiling, pondering something unknown.

He seldom held banquets; governance, meetings, and paperwork nearly occupied all his daily time.

Tonight was an exception, for one person.

The door was pushed open, bringing in a gust of cold air.

“I heard there might be fish tonight? Boss, you’ve finally remembered your brother!” Yorn Harvey’s voice was louder than the wind.

Snowflakes clung to his coat, his hair was tousled by the cold wind, and his face was flushed, yet his smile was unrestrained.

Louis looked up, unable to help but smile: “You’re always thinking of food.”

“Not just any fish, I wouldn’t eat that. Since it’s your treat, it must be no ordinary fish.” Yorn strode in, pulling off his gloves.

In fact, it wasn’t Louis inviting him to Red Tide City, but that he had already stayed in Red Tide City for a while.

His reason for being in Red Tide City was quite simple: Affairs at Silver Ridge Hill had long been integrated into the Red Tide council system, with documents requiring only signature confirmation, and the mining areas were inactive in winter, leaving him with quite some free time.

Moreover, compared to the cold Silver Ridge Hill, Red Tide City is the true entertainment city of the Northern Territory. While he claimed to be here for work reports, he was mostly here to avoid the cold and enjoy the winter.

In fact, many nobles like Yorn handed over their territorial affairs to Red Tide officials and ventured into the city to spend the winter and stay warm.

Nowadays, Red Tide City has almost become the real center of the Northern Territory.

Singing halls, taverns, schools, theaters, hot springs… everything makes them willing to stay.

“Please sit.” Louis gestured, signaling the attendant to pour wine.

Yorn pulled up a chair and sat, wiping the water drops from his hands, with a bright smile on his face.

The firelight flickered on their wine glasses, with fragrance wafting through the air.

“Boss, this place is truly paradise.” Yorn raised his glass, downing it in one go, exaggeratedly sighing, “At the mines, it’s hard to even get a sip of warm wine. In Red Tide City, even the air is sweeter than elsewhere.”

Louis chuckled: “Then you should thank the council.”

“Thanking the boss is even quicker.” Yorn grinned, “Even my servants say that the fires in Red Tide are hotter than the Sun.”

The two of them first talked about recent happenings in the Northern Territory.

Louis mentioned: “The mineral production at Silver Ridge Hill is good this year; you’ve done well.”

Yorn immediately became animated, as if finally getting the chance to boast.

He began to eagerly share his governance experiences, with a laugh saying, “The shifts at the mines were too chaotic, so I let the council schedule them; the workers’ meals were too poor, so I had the chefs from Red Tide write the menus…”

“Later I realized, boss,” Yorn said, gesturing as he spoke, “professional matters should be handled by professionals. Nothing more needed than handing decision-making to the Red Tide officials, then awaiting invoices, gathering taxes, signing a few papers, done!”

Louis chuckled: “So this is your governance insight?”

“That’s efficiency!” Yorn said earnestly, “I practically learned it from you. Now even the miners call themselves Red Tide People.”

Louis raised his glass with a smile: “This is the Northern Territory we want.”

Flames flickered inside their glasses, casting warm hues on their brows and eyes.

A moment later, Louis shifted his tone slightly and asked casually: “Is Count Harvey’s health okay?”

Yorn put down his glass, shrugging: “Doing okay, just indulges in wine a bit. Without it, he’d probably be bedridden.”

Louis chuckled lightly: “I heard your father’s expanding warehouses at the port in the Southwest province?”

“Yes indeed.” Yorn’s tone suddenly became serious, “I thought about having him build a port in the Northern Territory, but he’s stubborn, always claiming it’s too cold to conduct business here. I wish I could drag him to Red Tide to soak in a hot spring.”

Louis listened with a laugh, then his tone deepened: “In fact, I was thinking of discussing this with you. Red Tide plans to open a trade route to the South. A stable port and transfer site are needed.”

Yorn put down his glass: “Your Calvin Commerce Association controls the largest port city; no need to look for my dad, right?”

Louis smiled slightly, raising his glass, tone calm: “More paths, never a bad thing.”

Yorn was momentarily stunned, then burst out laughing: “Boss is right; more paths just make the way smoother.”

Louis continued: “I plan to collaborate with the Harvey Family. Red Tide Commerce Association will supply goods, the Harvey Family will provide port clearance and storage.

The Northern Territory will export leather, cold iron, and precious minerals, while the South will offer spices, silk, wine, and food. We’ll jointly establish a commerce association, splitting the profits. Also, at the Dragon Throne meeting, Red Tide will support the Harvey Family’s new noble alliance proposal.”

Yorn was stunned for a few seconds, then his smile was as bright as sunshine.

“Boss, you should have told me sooner!” He patted his chest, “Leave it to me! I’ll write a letter back home tomorrow; if my dad doesn’t agree… he won’t have a chance not to agree.

Actually, he praises you in his letters, even tells me to get closer to you, saying the future of the Northern Territory lies with that young Louis. I was quite surprised hearing that.”

Yorn then scratched his head, unable to resist mumbling: “However… my dad does have some odd questions, always asking about how big your port is over there. I really have no answer for him.”

Louis smiled lightly, then took out a letter and handed it to Yorn: “Deliver this letter to Count Harvey for me; everything he wants to know is inside.”

Yorn took the letter, then patted his chest: “Don’t worry, leave it to me. After all, we’re brothers; my dad is your dad too.”