Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 10 Building a House

Louis stood on a slightly higher hillside, looking down at the desolate land.

The location he was looking at was the initial residence he had chosen for the Red Tide Territory, which would later become the central town of the Red Tide Territory.

The location is close to a geothermal vent, meaning the temperature is relatively high, but not enough to freeze someone to death in the middle of the night.

The hillside blocked the biting wind, providing just enough shelter for the newly arrived residents.

"My lord, shall we begin construction of the castle?" Mike, who was standing beside him, asked.

Mack was the most experienced craftsman Louis had acquired from the Duke of Edmund.

Louis appointed him as the construction officer of the Red Tide Territory.

“Don’t rush into building the castle,” Louis shook his head. “Let’s build the residential area first.”

"Where do you live?"

"Just live with other people for now."

"You want to live with us?" The old craftsman was taken aback.

"What, you're worried I won't be able to sleep here?" Louis shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. "We're already in the North, what's the point of being picky?"

The old craftsman immediately looked at the young lord with new respect.

So, after discussions between Louis and the old craftsman, a semi-subterranean communal dwelling was chosen as the initial housing for the Red Tide Territory.

It is a combination of the common dwellings in the northern part of this world and the Viking longhouses that Louis saw in his previous life book.

These houses are dug one-third of the way below ground level, which effectively keeps them warm.

The walls are supported by a wooden frame, woven from willow branches on the outside, and finally reinforced with mud and straw plaster, which can block the wind and prevent moisture.

Most importantly, the construction speed is extremely fast!

Mike was impressed by Louis's brief conversation.

This young lord is an architectural genius for designing such a suitable building for the North in such a short time.

Once the design was completed, construction began immediately.

They were divided into groups of twenty, with two soldiers leading eighteen slaves or refugees, and they advanced efficiently with a clear division of labor.

…………

The cold wind howled, and the slaves hunched their shoulders, gripped their crude shovels, and pounded them hard into the frozen ground.

"Bang!" The shovel made my wrist go numb, but the soil finally loosened a little.

"Don't just stand there, keep going!" the soldier urged.

Just as they were sweating profusely, a figure walked into the pit.

It was Louis. He rolled up his sleeves, picked up a shovel himself, and bent down to dig a few times.

"Does the lord also have to do the work himself?" Everyone was surprised.

"Hmm... this job is indeed not easy. Everyone has worked hard. Dinner time is coming soon, so you can take a break." Louis said thoughtfully after digging for more than ten minutes.

Then he turned around and went to the next construction site to continue his journey of working alongside the people.

Some soldiers were initially dissatisfied, feeling that they were supposed to be in combat units, but were instead assigned to build houses and do manual labor.

But now that even the lord is taking action himself, what else can they complain about?

The same is true for the slaves. Many of them struggle to even have enough to eat. Now, they not only have food but also a stable place to live, which is an immense blessing.

In between building construction, Louis would occasionally "pass by" a construction site, do a little work, leave a few words of encouragement, clap his hands, and leave.

"This framework is well set up; I can finally get a good night's sleep tonight."

"Apply a thick layer of mud, don't be lazy, or you'll freeze."

"Is this almost finished? Bring some hot soup over later, and we can take a break once this batch is done." Wherever Louis went, the work became even more energetic.

With ample food supplies, the soldiers no longer complained.

The slaves worked like crazy, their morale boost was maxed out, and the construction speed of the entire territory was astonishing.

In just a few days, the first batch of semi-subterranean collective dwellings rose from the ground.

Like a mound rising from the earth, the roof is covered with thick grass and mud, blending into the snowfield.

Most of the house is buried underground. The frame supported by round logs is sturdy and heavy. The outer walls are covered with woven willow branches and tamped earth, which saves wood and insulates against the cold.

Moreover, the entire residential area was built around a geothermal vent, which helps to dissipate most of the cold air.

Despite its humble appearance, it is arguably one of the best living conditions in the North.

With the completion of the first batch of semi-subterranean dwellings, Red Tide Territory finally established a true foothold in this cold northern land.

Of course, having a house is not enough; people's hearts are the most important thing.

To inspire his people and further establish his image as a "benevolent and wise" lord, Louis decided to hold a grand celebration.

Everyone needs to understand that following Louis will not be a bad thing!

As night fell, a huge bonfire was lit in the open space in front of Red Tide Territory, dispelling the chill of the North.

This open space, once barren frozen ground, has become bustling and lively for the first time because of the upcoming celebration.

Nearly a thousand people gathered around the fire.

Their backgrounds varied: some were slaves bought from slave traders, natives of the North, refugees taken in along the way, and soldiers and knights who had come with Louis.

But at this moment they have one thing in common: they are all citizens of the Red Tide Territory.

The crowd's eyes all turned to the high rock in front of the campfire.

There stood their lord—Louis Calvin.

The young pioneering baron, draped in a long black cloak, had his face flickering in and out of the firelight, and no one knew what he was about to do.

Once everyone was present, Louis spoke up: "Today is the first celebration in Red Tide Territory! To celebrate the completion of the first batch of houses in Red Tide Territory."

With houses, this land will become your home, and you will become the true masters of the Red Tide Territory!

However, the crowd below the stage did not react at all.

They just looked at each other, seemingly at a loss.

What does it mean to become the master?
These slaves, refugees, and laborers never imagined they would become the "masters" of a piece of land.

All they know is to work and obey.

Even the courage to resist was worn away by the long suffering.

They initially thought the celebration was some kind of oath to the new lord, or some kind of intimidation.

Louis had anticipated this reaction, but that didn't matter; he would show them what hope was through his actions.

“Next,” Louis said, scanning the crowd, “I will reward those who have been the most diligent and loyal.”

As soon as he raised his hand, the steward behind him, Hilco, immediately opened the parchment in his hand and began to read out a series of names.

“Hark, Morgan, Sharna…”

The slaves whose names were called shrank back, their faces showing fear.

In their past understanding, being called upon by the lord usually meant punishment, or even death.

Some people started to tremble, some lowered their heads, and some even wanted to kneel down and beg for mercy.

They had no idea how their fate was about to change.

(End of this chapter)