Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 631 - 369: Harvest and Voyage (Part 3)

Many of them had polished the Dawn’s keel, forged the deck’s rivets, and carried those barrels of heavy fuel.

Now they were going to watch the ship they built sail out of the Northern Territory’s waters for the first time.

Sunlight spilled over the sea, illuminating the excited and proud faces.

"Quiet! Quiet, everyone! Lord Louis is going to speak!" Eliot shouted loudly.

The harbor quickly quieted down, and everyone turned their eyes to the top of the embankment.

Louis stood on the wooden podium at the highest point, the sea breeze rustling his cape, as he gazed over the entire bay.

Behind him, the Red Tide flag of the Dawn flapped loudly in the wind.

He paused for a moment, then his voice, amplified by magic, echoed clearly through the harbor:

"People of Dawn Port!"

The crowd fell silent, even the sound of the waves seemed to fade.

"From the first wooden hut of Dawn to this port today, it took us more than two years. This is a miracle created by your hands.

This voyage will take Dawn’s ship towards the Empire’s Southeast Province, bringing goods from Beijing to each port.

We no longer rely on charity, nor do we wait for relief. With our goods, our craftsmanship, our blood and sweat, we will carve our own route on the sea and bring hope to the Northern Territory.

At this point, he smiled slightly, with a hint of warmth in his voice: "This is the first sea route of the Northern Territory, and a journey of the Red Tide. May all the crew return safely."

The crowd erupted.

Applause and cheers burst forth like a tide.

"Long live Dawn!"

"Long live the Red Tide!"

"For the Northern Territory!"

Some waved their hats, others raised flags high, and young boys climbed onto crates and derricks, waving vigorously.

Tears glistened in the eyes of many craftsmen, who cheered not just for the lord but also took pride in their creations.

Eliot stood on the bridge of the Dawn, took a deep breath, and raised his right hand, "All hands, weigh anchor, prepare to set sail!"

The anchor chain tightened, gears roared beneath the deck.

As the heavy anchor lifted from the sea floor, the port’s bell tolled at the same time,

Nine resonant chimes vibrated through the bay, long and solemn.

Then, military music began to play.

The bright tones of brass instruments pierced the air, and the melody of "Song of the Northern Territory" echoed in the sea breeze.

"For frost and fire, for the people of the North..."

It was the song of the Northern People, most of them could hum a few lines.

The sailors on the deck and the workers on the dock sang in unison, voices rough but synchronized, accompanied by drums and horns.

The Dawn slowly weighed anchor, its masts towering, and the sails billowing in the wind like unfolded white wings.

Behind, the Dawn and the Tide... followed closely, the fleet slowly sailed out of the harbor.

"Attention! Maintain formation!"

"Good wind on the port side, raise the sail another foot!"

Commands, orders, and the roar of the sea waves mixed together.

For many sailors, it was their first voyage afar, their faces full of excitement and nervousness, hands gripping the ropes, sweat sliding down their foreheads.

Someone chuckled softly, "The weather’s really nice today."

Another young sailor grinned, "Don’t get too excited, just don’t call for your mother when the waves hit."

A burst of boisterous laughter erupted on the deck, laughter that masked a little bit of fear in their hearts.

The captain walked among them, patting the shoulder of a young sailor, "Relax, kid. You are the first batch of sailors trained by the Red Tide, every step you take today will be written into the history of the Northern Territory."

The young man was stunned, then straightened up and nodded vigorously.

As the fleet slowly sailed away, a dazzling light suddenly erupted above the harbor.

Alchemy fireworks shot into the sky, bursting high into giant crimson rings, and then turning into countless golden specks, sprinkling onto the sea surface, illuminating all the sails of the fleet.

"Look, it’s fireworks!" a sailor exclaimed.

The sun-shaped flames reflected a golden path on the sea, leading straight to the south.