Vaerik stood on a slightly elevated hillside, overlooking this desolate land.
This location was his chosen initial settlement for the Crimson Tide Domain, the future central town.
This spot was close to geothermal vents, meaning higher temperatures, preventing people from freezing to death at night.
The hillside blocked the biting cold wind, providing a bit of shelter for the residents who had just settled.
"Lord, shall we begin building the castle?" asked Mike, standing beside him.
Mike was the most experienced craftsman among those Vaerik had acquired from Duke Edmund.
Vaerik appointed him as the architectural officer of the Crimson Tide Domain.
"The castle isn't urgent," Vaerik shook his head. "Let's build the residential area first."
"Where will you live then?"
"I'll live with everyone else for now."
"You want to live with us?" The old craftsman was stunned.
"What, afraid I won't sleep well?" Vaerik shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. "We're in the Northern Province now, what's there to be particular about?"
The old craftsman immediately gained new respect for this young lord.
So after discussion between Vaerik and the old craftsman, they decided on a semi-subterranean communal dwelling as the initial housing for the Crimson Tide Domain.
It was a combination of the common Northern Province dwelling of this world and the Viking longhouse Vaerik had read about in books from his previous life.
These houses were excavated to a depth of one-third below ground level, lower than the surface, effectively retaining heat.
The walls were supported by wooden frames, with woven willow branches on the exterior, finally reinforced with grass and mud coating, which could block wind and prevent moisture.
Most importantly, they could be built very quickly!
The brief exchange with Vaerik left Mike full of admiration.
This young lord had, in such a short time, designed a building so suitable for the Northern Province - he was truly an architectural genius.
Once the design was complete, construction began immediately.
Groups of twenty people, with two soldiers leading eighteen slaves or refugees, worked efficiently with clear division of labor.
...
The cold wind howled as slaves hunched their necks, gripping crude shovels and smashing them down on the frozen earth.
"Bang!" The shovel sent vibrations up their wrists, but the soil finally loosened a bit.
"Don't just stand there, keep going!" a soldier urged.
As they were sweating profusely, a figure walked into the pit.
It was Vaerik. He rolled up his sleeves, personally picked up a shovel, and bent down to dig a few times.
"The lord is also working himself?" everyone was surprised.
"Hmm... this work is indeed not easy. Everyone has worked hard. Dinner time is coming soon, you can take a break," Vaerik remarked thoughtfully after digging for about fifteen minutes.
Then he turned and went to the next construction site, continuing his journey of working alongside the people.
Originally, some soldiers were dissatisfied, feeling they were combat units being assigned to build houses, doing hard labor.
But now that even the lord was personally working, what did they have to complain about?
The slaves felt the same way. Many couldn't even meet their basic needs, but now they not only had food but would also have a fixed place to live. This was already an enormous blessing.
During breaks in construction, Vaerik would occasionally "pass by" a worksite, casually do a bit of work, leave a few words of encouragement, then dust off his hands and move on.
"This frame is well-built; you'll sleep well tonight."
"Apply the mud thicker, don't be lazy, or you'll freeze."
"This side is almost finished? I'll send some hot soup over later. You can rest after completing this batch."
Wherever Vaerik went, the motivation increased.
With adequate food supplies, the soldiers no longer complained.
The slaves also worked desperately, their morale buff maxed out, and the construction speed across the territory was astonishingly fast.
In just a few days, the first batch of semi-subterranean communal dwellings rose from the ground.
Like mounds rising from the earth, thick grass and mud covered the roofs, blending with the snow plain.
The houses were mostly buried underground, with circular wood frames providing solid support. The outer walls were woven with willow branches and packed with earth, both saving timber and insulating against the cold.
Moreover, the entire residential area was built around geothermal vents, which could dissipate most of the cold.
Though they looked simple, they were among the best living environments in the Northern Province.
With the completion of the first batch of semi-subterranean dwellings, the Crimson Tide Domain finally established its true foundation in this cold Northern Province.
Of course, having houses alone wasn't enough; people's hearts were most important.
To motivate the residents and further establish his image as a "benevolent and wise" lord, Vaerik decided to hold a grand celebration.
He wanted everyone to understand that following him, Vaerik, would not be a losing proposition!
As night fell, a huge bonfire was lit in the open space in front of the Crimson Tide Domain, dispelling the Northern chill.
This open space, once barren frozen earth, became lively for the first time due to the celebration.
Nearly a thousand residents gathered around the fire.
They came from different backgrounds – slaves bought from slave traders, Northern Province natives, refugees taken in along the way, and soldiers and knights who had followed Vaerik.
But at this moment, they had one thing in common: they were all subjects of the Crimson Tide Domain.
The crowd's gaze unanimously turned to the high rock in front of the bonfire.
There stood their lord - Vaerik Tudor.
The young pioneering baron wore a black cloak, his face alternately bright and dim in the firelight. No one knew what he was about to do.
When everyone had gathered, Vaerik finally spoke: "Today is the Crimson Tide Domain's first celebration! To celebrate the completion of our first batch of houses.
With houses, this land will become your home, and you will become the true masters of the Crimson Tide Domain!"
However, there was no reaction from the crowd below.
They just looked at each other, even somewhat bewildered.
What did it mean to become masters?
These slaves, refugees, and laborers had never imagined they would become "masters" of any land.
They only knew work, only knew obedience.
Even the courage to resist had been worn away during long suffering.
They initially thought this celebration was some kind of declaration or intimidation by the new lord.
Vaerik had anticipated this reaction, but it didn't matter. He would show them what hope meant through his actions.
"Next," Vaerik scanned the crowd, "I will reward those who have been most diligent and loyal."
With a wave of his hand, his steward Hilco immediately opened a parchment scroll and began reading a series of names.
"Haak, Morgan, Sharna..."
The slaves whose names were called all shrank back, their faces showing terror.
In their past understanding, being named by the lord usually meant punishment, even death.
Some had already begun to tremble, some lowered their heads, and some even wanted to kneel and beg for mercy.
They did not know that their fate was about to change dramatically.