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The Crown Prince of France - Chapter 274
🕑 Added 2025-06-20 19:04:01 +0000 UTCChapter 274: The Tunisian Epic
Joseph raised the small booklet toward Joey with a confident gesture. "You needn't worry about this. I believe the rumors will soon die down."
"By the way, your report also mentioned something about the tribes in Tunis?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Joey replied, his face clouding at the mention of "tribes." "During the last great uprising, the various tribes of Tunis sent warriors to participate. As a result, they all claim a share of the credit for driving out the Imperial Guard and believe the government owes them preferential treatment.
"In short, the larger tribes are not enthusiastic about implementing government directives and even delay their tax payments."
Joseph understood that Joey was phrasing it tactfully. In reality, the indigenous tribes were disobedient and refusing to pay taxes.
This was unsurprising. Not just in the 18th century, but even in 21st-century Africa, there were still numerous tribes operating autonomously, entirely beyond government control.
He asked Joey, "How many such tribes are there?"
"At least a hundred tribes," Joey admitted hesitantly. "To be honest, only the smaller tribes with just a few hundred members fully cooperate with the government."
Joseph frowned. It seemed to be a widespread issue. This tendency must be curbed swiftly. The longer it was allowed to persist, the more entrenched these tribes would become in their defiance, making it harder to address in the future.
Isaac, standing nearby, suggested, "Your Highness, perhaps we could select the tribes with the most severe tax arrears and send in the military to discipline them."
Joseph shook his head. With anti-French sentiment already being stoked by some, deploying troops against the indigenous tribes now would only serve to aid their cause.
Moreover, his ultimate goal was to integrate Tunis, not merely treat it as a colony. Minimizing conflict was crucial.
After pondering for a while without finding a perfect solution, Joseph sighed. "We must take this step by step. For now, let us address the easier issue of the cognitive war."
He turned to Joey. "Please gather the best writers in Tunis for me. The more, the better."
"Yes, Your Highness. In fact, Mr. Hilada is an exceptional writer himself," Joey responded.
Joseph nodded. He remembered that Hilada had authored An Analysis of the Origins of Tunis previously—a familiar name.
He added, "Additionally, please begin preparations for the Tunisian division of Star of France. You’ve heard of it, haven’t you?"
"Of course, Your Highness. I read the newspapers from Paris thoroughly every week. In fact, I’m very interested in the event—both of my sons participated. My eldest even advanced two rounds in the Berri division."
"That's excellent. If you have any questions about the details, feel free to ask me."
"Understood, Your Highness."
...
By noon the next day, Hilada Celebi, a civil official in Tunis, and two other writers arrived at Joseph’s villa.
Hilada, having visited Versailles, was astounded to find himself in the presence of the Crown Prince. Overwhelmed, he stepped forward and bowed deeply. Speaking in perfect French, he said, "Your esteemed presence, Crown Prince, has graced all of Tunis with celestial radiance. Every ear in the city now hears the songs of angels..."
Joseph, bemused by the writer’s eloquence, interrupted with a smile and gestured toward the carpet. "Please, have a seat."
Once the three men were seated properly on the woolen rug, and coffee had been served, Joseph began, "I’ve invited you here to help me craft a great legendary story—one that can be written as a novel or a historical essay."
Hilada deftly pulled out paper and pen, nodding seriously. "Please, tell us the outline of this legend."
Joseph had already organized his thoughts the previous night. He began speaking with measured enthusiasm:
"A long time ago, the vast Eurasian continent was home to many peoples: the French, the Arab Tunisians, the Berbers of Tunis, the wicked Ottomans, and the cunning English.
"The Ottoman Archmage Sofan forged a powerful magical ring called the ‘Demonic Ring.’ It was used to conquer the prosperous Roman Empire. However, the ring's immense power eventually consumed Sofan himself, and the ring was lost somewhere on the continent...
"Years later, a Berber named Froyent stumbled upon the ring and learned that it could only be destroyed by casting it into a volcano in Constantinople. This was the only way to save the Roman Empire.
"The Demonic Ring had a seductive power, but Froyent alone could resist its lure. With the help of numerous brave Frenchmen and the skilled archers of Arab Tunis, Froyent repeatedly thwarted the Ottomans and their English allies..."
The story was grand and romantic, filled with heroic feats and sweeping adventures. Hilada and the other writers were so captivated that they forgot to take notes.
By sunset, Joseph reached the climax of the tale, where Froyent successfully destroyed the Demonic Ring, and his companions became the greatest heroes of the Roman Empire. The Tunisian writers, their eyes brimming with tears, exclaimed in unison:
"Praise our glorious Rome!"
"As long as Roman kin stand united, no evil can prevail!"
"So our ancestors had such a legendary past..."
With fervent sincerity, Hilada pressed a hand to his chest and declared, "Your Highness, I will ensure this history shines with its rightful brilliance! The world shall sing of this moving epic!"
In his zeal, Hilada seemed to treat the tale as historical fact, entirely undeterred by its fantastical elements. This must have been the famed zeal of a new convert.
The writers skipped dinner and immediately began writing upstairs in the villa. Within three days, they had produced a 20,000-word masterpiece titled The Ringbearer: The Heroes of Rome.
Joseph skimmed through the manuscript, noting that it covered roughly half of the first volume. He instructed Eymond to deliver it to Joey for immediate printing.
Joy worked swiftly, and within a day and a half, the first batch of manuscripts was distributed throughout Tunis. To reach illiterate Tunisians, he also ordered local officials to organize public readings of the manuscript in city squares.
Public sentiment united almost instantly.
Across Tunis, people eagerly discussed Froyent and his companions' adventures, boasting of their ancestors’ glory and recounting the thrilling battles. Some even began dressing as characters from the story.
Anyone who dared question the connection between Tunisians and Rome risked being beaten by passersby. Who would dare deny the ancestors of such a heroic lineage?
As subsequent volumes of The Ringbearer were released, Tunisian society turned its ire toward the Ottomans and the English.
Soon, two British spies spreading rumors that "Tunisia has no ties to Rome" were exposed. Their Tunisian collaborators, inspired by their newfound reverence for Froyent, turned themselves in and reported the spies to the authorities, refusing even to accept payment for their betrayal.
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