Chapter 621: Chapter 621 - 365: Frost Halberd City Under Reconstruction (Part 2)

Fortunately, he has the Daily Intelligence System, an almost bug-like weapon.Only then could he piece together scattered clues into a complete picture; otherwise, he would never know until his death how ambitious his neighbor truly was.He really doesn't have a better method; he certainly can't just launch an attack.Given Red Tide's current military strength and resources, he can't afford such an action; a direct confrontation would be extremely costly and uncertain in outcome.So he can only pin his hopes on two things: first, the daily intelligence, as far as possible, identifying the gaps in Raymond's defenses.Second, let the development speed of Red Tide's military catch up with his ambition, quickly deploying tanks and cannons, after all, knights cannot be mass-produced, but tanks can.The current situation of the Empire gives Louis a sense of urgency, as if watching a timed device, knowing the fuse has been lit but cannot extinguish it immediately.Louis sat in the carriage, gazing at the gray-white sky outside the window.He had left Frost Dragon Ridge for several days, and his destination now is Frost Halberd City, passing by, he decided to take a look.In the distance, smoke still rose from the ruins of the old Frost Halberd, the furnace ignited by dismantling the old stones.The air mixed with the scent of charcoal and moldy wood, the clash of iron echoed in the valleys from time to time.The outer wall of the new district was still unfinished, the wooden door frames creaking in the wind.The temporary soldier watchtower constructed from iron plates and permafrost, the snow and wind beat against the flags of the Empire and Frost Halberd.This city was once the heart of the Northern Territory, it was the nerve center of the North, the military-political hub of the Empire.And as the capital of the Northern Territory, its location was naturally superb, situated at the fortress area where the frozen rivers and ridges intersect, controlling the trade routes to the south and the western commerce paths, it was the node for all supplies and defenses.Louis quietly watched the smoking ruins, his expression calm.He knew why he had to rebuild this city that had been razed.Firstly to fulfill a vow, Frost Halberd is the symbol of the Edmund Clan, the old duke entrusted the Northern Territory's name and legion to him on his deathbed.Rebuilding Frost Halberd is not just a continuation of trust but also a political promise.If he abandons it, it would not only breach trust but also label him as a usurper in the eyes of the Northern Lords, rather than an heir.Furthermore, Louis remembers that day, the old duke's weak voice: "It cannot end with me."At that time, he swore an oath to Duke Edmund: "One day, I will rebuild Frost Halberd City. Not as an appendage of Red Tide, but as the true heart of the Northern Territory."He must fulfill this promise.Although Red Tide Territory is strong, it is ultimately not the capital, while Frost Halberd City bears the legitimate banner of the Empire.If he wishes to unify the Northern Lords, this city is indispensable.After rebuilding, under his protection, with Isaac's governance, he can rightfully become the Lord of the North.Isaac, as the sole heir of Duke Edmund, is destined to be the future Lord of the North, this is part of his pledge to Duke Edmund, though perhaps not many can believe it, he truly thinks this way.Louis knows that his future inevitably involves expansion and expedition; he may not necessarily take root in the Northern Territory; his ambition is the entire Empire.Moreover, Frost Halberd's terrain is the hub of the entire Northern Territory; it can defend, gather, and is indispensable for future wars.The rebuilt Frost Halberd will become the front-line supply depot, military center, and transportation fortress.And Red Tide will continue to serve as the brain of the Northern Territory, orchestrating commands and operations.Rebuilding it means embedding the Red Tide system into a larger region; newly joined nobles in the Red Tide system see hope, see the future.The Northern Lords and populace revere Frost Halberd, viewing it as the soul of their homeland.If the ruins are never rebuilt, the morale of the Northern Territory will also collapse.The process of rebuilding Frost Halberd itself is a political and faith revival, making the Northern Territory great again.The carriage passed through the rebuilding city gate, the knights saluted upright.Louis lifted the curtain, looking at the construction site where the new and old intersected, feeling calm in his heart.Two figures stood in front of the city gate.Viscount Orion Arden and Harold Greer, along with guards and craftsmen, lined up in the snow to welcome him.Viscount Orion Arden is the overseer of New Frost Halberd, brother of Lady Irina, from the old nobility.After the war, he was appointed as the acting manager of Frost Halberd, responsible for the entire city's reconstruction affairs.Harold Greer, on the other hand, is the deputy director of the Red Tide Craftsmen Bureau and was one of the craftsmen Louis exchanged for with Duke Edmund, considered a veteran craftsman of Red Tide, though it's not been long, Red Tide has developed too quickly, and even the old craftsmen from a few years ago have risen to prominence.Orion gave a half bow, his voice carrying some enthusiasm: "Lord Louis, you've finally come again."With gloves full of coal ash in hand, Harold spoke a bit nervously: "Your timing is perfect, my lord; we have just begun laying the foundation."Louis nodded lightly, his gaze passing over the construction site behind them, where bricks, wooden beams, and furnace flames interwove into the outline of a new order.He stepped into the city that had just begun to be built. The roads were still muddy, mixed with cold wind between the collapsed walls and charred beams.