Chapter 274: The Epic of Tunisia
Joseph waved the pamphlet at Joey. "You don't need to worry about this. I believe the rumors will die down quickly.
"By the way, your report also mentioned something about the Tunisian tribes?"
"Yes, Your Highness." Joey's face clouded with frustration at the mention of "tribes." "During the last great uprising, various Tunisian tribes sent warriors, and now they all claim credit for driving out the Janissaries, believing the government should grant them preferential treatment...
"In simple terms, the larger tribes aren't actively enforcing government decrees, and some even delay paying their taxes."
Joseph knew Joey was speaking tactfully; in essence, the indigenous tribes were disobedient and refused to pay taxes.
This was hardly surprising. Even in 21st-century Africa, let alone the 18th century, numerous tribes operated independently, completely beyond government control.
He asked Joey, "Approximately how many such tribes are there?"
"Well, at least a hundred tribes..." Joey hesitated before admitting the truth. "In fact, only the small tribes of a few hundred people are truly cooperative with the government."
Joseph frowned. It seemed this was a widespread issue. This trend had to be curbed as soon as possible, or the longer it dragged on, the more entrenched these tribes would become, making them impossible to control.
Joseph shook his head. There was currently a cognitive warfare campaign stirring anti-French sentiment. Sending troops to attack indigenous tribes now would only play into the enemy's hands.
Moreover, his main objective was to assimilate Tunisia, not merely treat it as a colony. Therefore, it was best to minimize conflicts as much as possible.
He pondered for a while but couldn't think of a good solution for the moment. He sighed, 'One step at a time.' He decided it was better to tackle the easier cognitive warfare first.
He immediately turned to Joey. "Please find me Tunisia's best writers. Yes, several of them."
"Certainly, Your Highness. In fact, Mr. Hilada is quite an excellent writer himself."
Joseph nodded. Hilada was an old acquaintance, having written the "Analysis of Tunisian Origins" last time.
He then instructed, "Additionally, please begin preparations for the Tunisian regional competition of the 'Star of France.' Oh, you've heard of the 'Star of France,' haven't you?"
"I have, Your Highness. I read the newspapers sent from Paris thoroughly every week. I'm actually very invested in this grand event; both of my sons entered the competition, and my eldest even advanced two rounds in the Berry region."
"That's wonderful. If you have any questions regarding the preparation details, feel free to ask me anytime."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The following day at noon, Hilada, who served as an internal affairs official in Tunis City, arrived at Joseph's villa along with two other writers.
Hilada had been to Versailles, and when he realized the man before him was none other than the Crown Prince, he eagerly stepped forward and bowed respectfully. In flawless French, he declared, "Your esteemed Highness, your presence truly fills all of Tunis City with glory, making the song of angels echo in the ears of every resident..."
'He's truly a writer,' Joseph thought to himself, 'such effusive flattery flows from him like water.' He smiled, cutting Hilada off, and gestured towards the rug. "Please, have a seat."
Once the men were seated properly on the wool rug, Joseph had coffee brought in before getting straight to business. "Actually, I've invited you here because I need your help to turn a great legendary story into a novel. Or, perhaps, a historical thesis could also work."
Hilada expertly produced paper and a pen, nodding earnestly. "Please, tell us the general outline of this legend."
Joseph had already organized his thoughts the previous night and now spoke fluently. "A long, long time ago, on the vast Eurasian continent, lived various peoples, including the French, Tunisian Arabs, Tunisian Berbers, and the wicked Ottomans and cunning British...
"At that time, the Ottoman Archmage Saurfang forged a magical armband, known as the 'Armlet of Power,' intended to conquer the prosperous Roman Empire. However, the Armlet's power was too immense, and Saurfang himself was consumed by it. The Armlet then vanished into a forgotten corner of the continent...
"Many years later, a Berber named Froi accidentally discovered the Armlet and learned that he had to travel to Constantinople to cast it into the volcano there to destroy it and save the Roman Empire...
"The Armlet possessed a seductive magic, and only Froi could resist its influence. With the help of countless brave Frenchmen and Tunisian Arabs skilled in archery, he repeatedly thwarted the sieges of the Ottomans and their British henchmen..."
This story was grand and magnificent, imbued with a heroic romanticism that captivated Hilada and the others so much they forgot to take notes.
As twilight descended, Joseph finally recounted Froi's successful destruction of the Armlet, and how his friends became the Roman Empire's greatest heroes. At this, several Tunisian writers were simultaneously moved to tears, exclaiming, "Praise be to our glorious Rome!"
"As long as Roman compatriots stand united, they can overcome all evil!"
"So our ancestors truly had such legendary experiences..."
Hilada solemnly placed a hand over his chest and declared to Joseph, "Your Highness, I will ensure this history shines with its rightful brilliance once more! I will make sure the world sings praises of this stirring epic!"
He had practically, without hesitation, defined Joseph's story as history, completely disregarding the rampant magic within it. Perhaps this was the legendary zeal of the convert.
The writers, foregoing dinner, immediately began writing feverishly on the villa's second floor. In just three days, they produced a monumental work of nearly twenty thousand words titled "The Lord of the Armlet: Roman Legion."
Joseph skimmed the manuscript, which covered roughly half of the first part. He then instructed Eman to have it delivered to Joey and begin printing immediately.
Joey's operations were equally swift. Just a day and a half later, the first batch of manuscripts was distributed throughout Tunisia. To facilitate the spread of the "epic" among illiterate Tunisians, he also instructed local officials to have people recite the manuscript aloud in the streets.
Public opinion unified almost instantly.
Across Tunisia, nearly everyone was discussing Froi's adventures with his companions, proudly recounting the glory of their ancestors, listing the thrilling exploits on the battlefield, and even beginning to dress like the characters from the book.
Anyone who dared to claim, "Tunisians have no connection to Rome," would immediately be set upon by passersby and beaten – 'How dare you deny that my ancestors were heroes who guarded the Armlet? How dare you deny I'm a descendant of glorious Rome? If not you, then who should I beat?!'
As subsequent volumes of "The Lord of the Armlet" were published, a wave of condemnation and curses against the villainous Ottomans and British swept through the Tunisian populace.
Subsequently, two British spies who had fabricated rumors about "Tunisians having no connection to Rome" were exposed. Their Tunisian informants, previously hired to spread these rumors, were so inspired by their ancestor Froi that they abandoned their pay, turned themselves in to the police, and reported the spies.
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