Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

Chapter 1134: Chapter 1040: Persian Lion

The tribal High Priests like Stone Eagle are the ones who truly hold the power of speech among the Indians.

They allow Western missionaries to preach because they know that the Catholic doctrine is too far removed from Indian life and could never gain widespread acceptance.

Just like the paradise every European longs for, Indians only find it bizarre—a place without dense forests, no herds of bison to hunt, not even tobacco to smoke! Who would want to go there after death?

So long as the missionaries don’t give money or guns, the Indians would immediately bid farewell to their so-called God.

However, the “Indian Gospel” Vigne just mentioned was completely different.

Stone Eagle could be certain that his people would definitely accept the contents within—

Even the Holy Communion during Mass turned into corn cakes, pine needle tea, and tobacco leaves!

Stone Eagle knew very well that the disjointed, uninteresting, and flawed myths of the Indians were no match for the logically coherent and intricately plotted religious system of Catholicism.

As soon as Vigne begins preaching, within half a year at most, the power of religious discourse would fall into the hands of these white people.

He had to stop them!

Yet, Vigne seemed unsurprised by his attitude because the Crown Prince had already told him that such a situation might arise.

“Don’t be in a hurry to refuse,” Vigne said with a smile, not taking the Gospel, “I can assure you that my people and I are only responsible for preaching. As for all the baptisms, confessions, funerals, masses within the tribe, those will be managed by you or other priests.

“Oh, for a large tribe like the Creek Alliance, a Red-clothed High Priest should oversee everything. And you are definitely the most suitable candidate.”

Stone Eagle immediately squinted his eyes.

The temptation was indeed great. He knew the indoctrination level of this “Indian Gospel” far surpassed the ancient myths by a hundredfold.

If he could become the Red-robed Priest, he could attract all the small Indian tribes from Florida and even Tennessee through mere religious influence, joining the alliance.

With tribes like the Kovita, Casita, and others, they could integrate more closely into the Creek Alliance—since everyone would worship the same totem in the future, that is, Jesus, ensuring unity.

Yes, as an old shaman, he keenly discovered the purpose behind Joseph sending Vigne and others to compile a “revised Bible.”

Indian myths were too chaotic, with gods differing even between adjacent tribes. Their totems varied with every family.

In the absence of cultural and faith compatibility, tribes could only form temporary alliances, which would dissolve immediately once the current crisis was over.

Meanwhile, Americans could exploit such differences between tribes to sow discord.

With the “Indian Gospel,” the myths of all tribes could achieve a “great unification,” and this slight barrier would disappear.

By establishing an Indian-run church system to manage each tribe hierarchically, Indian power could be consolidated in the shortest time.

Establishing an administrative system quickly might be difficult, but a religious system was much simpler.

Furthermore, in entirely illiterate Indian tribes, religious rule might even be more efficient.

Stone Eagle looked at Vigne, cautiously asking, “Then, who appoints the High Priest? Your Church?”

The latter immediately shook their head, “No, no, it’s elected internally by your tribe, including all Red-robed Priests, ordinary priests, and assistant priests.

“You only need to report the selection of the Red-clothed High Priest to the Vatican for confirmation. Rest assured, there won’t be any obstruction from the Vatican’s side.

“And respecting the Vatican will surely be advantageous for you, as it frequently provides support to various dioceses.”

Stone Eagle stared at Vigne for quite a while longer before finally nodding, “I will gather the High Priests of other tribes to discuss this matter.”

…

East coast of the Black Sea.

Transcaucasia region.

A Persian official dressed in a beige silk robe and wearing a white turban bowed devoutly to the magnificent figure under the sunlight, “Great Shah, the foolish and stubborn Elkher II has once again refused to acknowledge you as his sovereign. However, he is willing to offer…”

Seated on his warhorse, Aga Muhammad drew a dagger encrusted with various gemstones from his waist, interrupting him, “Then let them pay for their choices.”

He pointed the dagger toward the faintly visible Tbilisi City in the distance and said calmly, “Order Abu Jali Li to commence the attack.”

“Yes, Shah!”

With Aga Muhammad’s command issued, the surrounding Persian army moved like a giant beast.

Over two thousand Turkmen Heavy Cavalry, clad in armor, formed ten neat phalanxes and began to advance slowly toward the Kerchanski Hills south of Tbilisi City.

Flanking them were 3,000 Turkic Cavalry Scouts tasked with providing cover.

Following closely behind were over ten thousand Mazandaran Musketeers equipped with heavy matchlock guns.

This was merely Aga Muhammad’s vanguard.

He commanded nearly 40,000 strong Persian forces, who had already swept through Adaran, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, expanding the empire’s western territory to the southern side of the Caucasus Mountains.

Georgia was the last country south of the Caucasus and the final target of his campaign.

After occupying here, Persia could gain a Black Sea port and conduct maritime trade with Europe to the west.

It could also use Georgia as a base to continue nibbling away at Ottoman lands to the west.

Aga Muhammad raised a telescope to view his mighty army; the foremost heavy cavalry were already nearing the Georgian soldiers, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

He had given the Georgians a chance, allowing them to become his vassal state, but Elkher II decided to be a subject of the Tsar instead.

Then crush them.

Ahead came a thunderous “rumble,” as the heavy cavalry launched their charge.

Aga Muhammad turned his head to the Order Officer and said, “Tell Jali Li, after taking Tbilisi City, slaughter all the men there and stack their eyeballs outside the city gates. Sell all women and children into slavery.”

“Yes, great Shah.”

The Turkmen Heavy Cavalry depended on their armor, which could not effectively shield them from Georgian bullets, yet they maintained their charging rhythm as if completely ignoring their comrades who fell, hit from horseback.

For according to Aga Muhammad’s military orders, any soldier hesitating slightly during an attack would be put to death immediately, possibly even implicating their family.

It was through such strict military orders that the Persian army was almost invincible in Central Asia.

In just over ten minutes, the two foremost heavy cavalry phalanxes pierced through the Georgian defensive line like spears.

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