Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence Chapter 738 - 411: Porridge Shelter and Judgment (Part 2)

He dared not gaze upon the figure on the dais, instead fixing his eyes on the wooden platform, dropping to his knees with considerable effort.

"I implore you..." His voice wavered, "I implore you to bring her justice."

Soft sobs rippled through the gathered women.

One by one, the condemned were brought forth for judgment, and one by one, the victims rose to identify them...

The voice of the Red Tide Knight boomed across the entire plaza: "Here in the Northern Territory, this is known as the crime of pillage and murder."

He paused, then declared, "By the laws of the Northern Territory—the death penalty."

The executioner advanced, drawing his formidable blade.

"Carry it out."

The weapon flashed, and blood spattered the wooden planks before the platform, gradually washed away by the persistent rain.

Once the executioner retreated, a knight bearing the Red Tide insignia, the designated speaker, stepped forward. He positioned himself at the platform's edge, where the blood had not yet fully dried.

"Heed this," he commanded, "this is the Northern Territory's law, and it is the Red Tide's decree. We do not steal, we do not burn, we do not kill for coin. Should anyone dare treat you as mere chattel, we shall show no mercy."

He gestured towards the kneeling, blood-soaked figure: "These individuals treated taxes as their personal coffers and wielded power like a bludgeon against the populace. Such actions may have found tolerance in Gray Rock, but they will not endure within the Red Tide, not for another day."

The crowd fell into a hush, their attention captivated by his resonant voice, the only sound being the drumming of rain against the cobblestones.

The speaker continued, "The Lord of the North, Louis, once proclaimed... ensuring the people are well-fed is the very purpose of the Lords and Knights. Anyone obstructing the people's sustenance obstructs the advancing blade of the Red Tide."

Several Red Tide Knights stood stoically below, their posture unwavering, a silent testament to the declaration.

The speaker finally concluded, "From this day forth, you are no longer subject to Raymond's tyranny. Remember this one truth: under Lord Louis's governance, the law-abiding prosper, and the wicked perish."

With his address complete, he stepped aside.

In that moment, the square was steeped in a silence so profound that the pitter-patter of raindrops upon armor became audible.

No cheers erupted, nor were there any cries of sorrow, only blank stares directed at the once-arrogant figures lying on the ground.

A subtle shift occurred as an individual unconsciously clutched their chest, as if a long-borne burden had suddenly been lifted.

Another slowly tilted their head upwards, as if glimpsing light for the very first time from the preceding darkness.

Families who had suffered loss, gazing upon the fallen, displayed no elation, only ragged breaths and a dawning, palpable sense of release.

It was unclear who first whispered the word, "Deserved."

Though the utterance was soft, it resonated like a needle piercing a festering wound that had long afflicted the city's spirit.

Almost instantaneously, another voice joined in, eyes glistening with unshed tears: "Not unjust."

Then a third, a fourth... voices swelled from the crowd, initially scattered, then gaining urgency, mirroring the way raindrops intensify upon a river's surface, becoming denser and more frequent.

"Not unjust!"

"Deserved!"

"Excellent!!"

The long-suffering populace of Gray Rock finally discovered an outlet for their accumulated grief.

"Excellent!!"

Further exclamations of approval surged from the heart of the throng, advancing in wave after wave.

Some brandished their empty bowls, others rapped their wooden staffs, and a few, overcome with emotion, even knelt upon the ground.

The specter of oppressors haunting their vision was dispelled in that instant, replaced by a long-forgotten exhilaration and a near-frenzied gratitude at witnessing their grievances redressed.

One person, gazing towards the figure overseeing the judgment platform, softly uttered a name: "Lord Louis..."

The name, though spoken gently, carried a tremor that transformed from apprehension into profound reverence.

......

Beyond the castle's ramparts, the night air retained its biting chill, yet below, the square pulsed with a fervent energy.

Flickering torchlight danced through the dense assembly, illuminating a multitude of faces etched with excitement, fervor, and even a touch of intoxication.

Louis stood elevated, surveying the scene unfolding beneath him.

Tendrils of steam rose from the hot tea cradled in his hand, painting a delicate white wisp against the contours of his face.

Grey stood at his back, his attention fixed on the enormous cauldrons of porridge being distributed below, the freshly opened granaries, and the civilians kneeling in the damp earth, offering obeisance to the Red Tide Army.

He couldn't help but murmur, "...Their gazes are fixed upon you with a devotion surpassing that offered to any deity. However, if we continue this extensive food distribution, our military provisions will be depleted alarmingly fast."

Louis, upon hearing this, took a measured sip of his tea, his movements unhurried, as if the potential scarcity of food posed no concern.

"Grey, you have miscalculated," he stated with detached calm. "This grain is not mine to begin with."{p}He extended his hand, gesturing towards the granary, now under the control of the Red Tide Soldiers, its doors still bearing the Doron family crest.{/p}{p}"This belongs to Count Doron, to Raymond."{/p}{p}He turned, his expression calm, as if he had already foreseen the outcome.{/p}{p}"I will use Raymond's grain to win over Raymond's people."{/p}{p}Grey's eyes widened in astonishment.{/p}{p}Louis continued, his voice steady, "What is taken from the enemy, used against the enemy, is the most effective method of warfare."{/p}{p}A surge of cheers erupted from the crowd below, echoing like waves upon the shore.{/p}{p}Grey hesitated, a flicker of unease crossing his features. "But might this not make the people here overly reliant on us? Or perhaps... pull them away from Raymond's dominion too abruptly?"{/p}{p}Louis gave a slight shake of his head. "This is neither charity nor mercy."{/p}{p}His gaze swept over the faces of the oppressed and hungry below. "For every bowl of porridge, every sack of grain we provide, they must clearly understand who it comes from.{/p}{p}The very act of consuming this sustenance will forge a connection between us.{/p}{p}Relying solely on brute force will only breed further animosity. They will hide in the shadows, launching ambushes and setting fires, becoming a persistent nuisance like vermin."{/p}{p}"However, if we extend benefits to them..."{/p} he looked up again.{p}"They will willingly serve me, divulge the enemy's positions, and fervently wish for Raymond's permanent absence, lest the food they receive be construed as treason."{/p}{p}Grey fell silent.{/p}{p}Louis's voice dropped, yet it carried a chillingly irrefutable logic. "They will eat my food, witness me subjugating the nobility, and in doing so, become my accomplices. From this very moment, their destinies become intertwined with mine."{/p}{p}A gust of wind swept across the terrace, rustling the edge of Louis's cloak.{/p}{p}Grey took a deep breath. "Sir, this strategy feels more akin to psychological warfare than a direct assault."{/p}{p}Louis offered a faint smile. "Indeed, war is ultimately a contest for the hearts and minds of the people."{/p}{p}He suddenly turned his gaze towards the Gray Rock Province, a glint of anger flashing in his eyes, coupled with a profound disgust for the long-standing complacency of the nobility under Raymond's rule.{/p}{p}"The nobility here have long decayed," he stated softly. "Their decaying remains are more fitting as the foundational stones for this revolution than their tarnished names."{/p}{p}Grey inquired, his voice barely audible, "But why not directly leverage Count Doron to establish your authority?"{/p}{p}A subtle luminescence flickered in Louis's eyes, visible on the system panel. "Doron's status is too elevated, too removed from the common folk. They harbor no particular animosity towards him. Such predictable executions would be insufficient to forge a new order."{/p}{p}Down below, the tide of emotion continued to swell, no longer the stunned confusion of a shocked populace, but akin to a growing conflagration, slowly spreading through the streets.{/p}{p}A multitude had gathered at the city gates, not in distress or disarray, but actively approaching the registration points, inquiring about opportunities to join transport teams or assist in road maintenance.{/p}{p}Artisans arrived with their tools, each seeking a role in the burgeoning efforts.{/p}{p}Even some disheveled wanderers formed a line at the rear, hesitantly hoping for even the most minor logistical task.{/p}{p}The disciplined organization and resource distribution of the Red Tide Army presented them with a vision of order that truly encompassed them for the first time.{/p}{p}Their approach was motivated not solely by the promise of sustenance, but by a newfound sense of belonging within a nascent structure.{/p}{p}Grey could not help but murmur, "They... have completely sided with us now."{/p}{p}Louis's gaze deepened, and he spoke with measured deliberation. "This is merely the genesis."{/p}{p}The Red Tide Army replicated this approach in virtually every settlement they encountered.{/p}{p}Granaries were confiscated, tax records meticulously gathered, and villagers harboring deep-seated resentments readily identified their oppressors by name.{/p}{p}Louis's intelligence network streamlined these operations with remarkable ease.{/p}{p}He could consistently identify ahead of time which noble was hoarding supplies, which officer was embezzling funds, and which bully had driven an innocent to their death.{/p}{p}There were no miscarriages of justice, no unintended collateral damage.{/p}{p}Each punitive action was executed with the precision of a judicial decree, irrevocably turning the populace's hearts towards the Red Tide.{/p}{p}Reg approached on horseback, his voice carrying a note of surprise. "Sir, the impact of this tactic exceeds even our most optimistic projections. The last two villages actually initiated contact with us before any military engagement even commenced."{/p}{p}Louis remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the direction of the gathering storm clouds.{/p}{p}Gray Rock Castle lay shrouded within that oppressive shadow, resembling a colossal beast in its desolate lair.{/p}{p}"Raymond believed dominion was maintained through fear, but he neglected to realize that a starving populace would not be intimidated by terror. For them, a simple bowl of hot porridge holds more sway than any deity, earning their unwavering allegiance."{/p}{p}Louis raised his hand and gave a gentle signal. "Order the entire army to advance at maximum speed."{/p}{p}The wind billowed the flag of the Red Tide Legion, unfurling the emblem of the Northern Territory's sun against the skies of the Gray Rock Province.{/p}{p}"Before Raymond can even comprehend what has transpired, let this entire territory become our own domain."{/p}