Mai Lang Valley, where the snow has just thawed, mud and water still linger, but there's a hint of life's warmth on the earth.

As the last remains of the Frost Giant were cleared from the valley, Louis stood atop a small hill, gazing at the gradually reclaimed basin plain, and slowly exhaled.

The giant is dead, the threat removed, but the real battle is just beginning.

A large number of refugees are being orderly guided by the Red Tide Lord's Hall, entering the valley once occupied by ice and monsters.

Ox carts loaded with all their belongings and groups of refugees drove in, smoke rose at the valley's entrance, the cries of children, the rhythmic clanging of the blacksmith, and the crisp sound of hoes breaking the earth, together created a new rhythm of life.

This will no longer be a dead land.

Louis named it "Mai Lang Territory."

It's not just a name, but a hope.

He hopes that one day, this basin will grow enough grain to feed all his territories, becoming the largest granary under the Red Tide banner.

Those entering Mai Lang Territory this time are mostly refugees accepted by Red Tide after the locust plague during the harsh winter; they had no choice.

Back then, it was Louis who opened granaries, built huts, and organized relief through labor, ensuring they neither froze nor starved to death.

Some still carry a "Red Tide Admission Tag" made from a piece of rag, hidden in their bosom like a life-saving talisman.

So when the spring farming summons came, they followed the officials with little hesitation.

The valley is far, conditions are harsh, but as long as it's "land designated by Lord Louis," they dare to plant, are willing to plant, and can plant.

They trust him, not only for the food but not just because of the residence or land, but because he never treated them as disaster victims, but as people who could take root in this land and uphold a territory.

Of course, they have nowhere else to go apart from leaving Louis.

Besides those who lost their homes due to the locust plague and now rely on Red Tide, there are also a small number who once helped Louis build Red Tide Territory but now voluntarily leave the stability.

They didn't have to come, as Red Tide Territory was gradually recovering, with food, roads, and houses, staying there could at least ensure a stable spring.

Yet they packed their bags, following the territorial decree, voluntarily stepping into the still undeveloped valley where even smoke hasn't risen.

The reasons are only two.

One is Louis Calvin, the young lord they have personally witnessed and supported by their own hands.

He is not a noble who merely talks in the Council Hall.

He personally donned armor during nocturnal monster battles, carried medicine pots during winter inspections of huts, and fought for food, people, and resources in the Council Hall for them.

They came to this barren land mainly to support him.

Of course, there is another more practical reason.

Lord Louis said that in Mai Lang Territory, he would provide some of his own land as private plots to these Red Tide pioneers willing to open up territory.

It's not barren land, nor temporary fields, but formal private fields.

"You are opening this land with me, so you should have your place." Louis's words at the mobilization meeting were simple and plain, without slogans, but they made people want to nod.

Because they recognized this person and believed this promise.

Louis never gave false promises to these commoners.

Three years ago, he ventured into the barren land bare-handed, without walls, granaries, or a garrison, only an imperial order and a mere few hundred refugees and slaves.

But there, he turned a blank slate into the current Red Tide Territory.

They watched the houses line up, the grain sprout green shoots from the permafrost...

Seeing him wage war while building roads, gathering food while recruiting people, he never shirked, never backed off.

Every promise he made turned into visible smoke, edible food, and windproof roofs.

So this time, when he stood at the valley and said he wanted to build another "Red Tide Territory," they believed him.

Even if there's nothing here now, the tree shadows sparse, and the wind cold with frost.

But they know that as long as they follow this young lord, even on permafrost, one day they will create a second Red Tide, land where wheat waves can roll.

And the land distribution is clear and fair, with most being public land, owned by the lord, managed by the Council Hall.

Louis didn't choose to privatize the land but set up a "hired labor land" system.

The Council Hall is responsible for distributing seeds, tools, and forage, hiring the refugees to farm for a share of the yield based on labor time or output.

The output of these fields will all go to Louis for food distribution and storage, not entering the market, not circulating, solely to support the entire Red Tide system's grain supply.

In addition to the public fields, Louis also allocated some extra "private fields."

These plots are small, just enough for a family to plant some vegetables, sow some beans, and bury a few fruit tree saplings.

Of course, these cannot be rented or sold. This directly curtails consolidation.

This small field is Louis's promise to the original Red Tide residents willing to migrate.

And he also promised that after five years, any refugees still working in Mai Lang Territory will own their land.

If they contribute to road building and disaster relief, they can get it sooner, even trading for broader, more fertile acreage.

The news caused a moment of silence, then an undeniable excitement spread like ripples on water.

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