The struggle between the empire and the divine religion gradually began to surface. Everyone has slowly torn away the last fig leaf, and many conflicts began to be openly put on the table.
Pope Corsica VI has publicly declared that the empire's order to stop religious taxes is a challenge to the prestige of the religion and a form of disrespect to the gods. At the same time, the Flame Warriors of the Divine Religion began to mobilize frequently.
But the old skeleton did it even more ruthlessly! He issued a decree in the name of the emperor. Within the empire, any troop movement involving more than a hundred people must obtain an order from the imperial headquarters! After such an order was promulgated, the movement of the Flame Warriors of the Divine Religion was greatly restricted. In many places, hundreds of frictions occurred between the Flame Warriors and local garrison troops. For a time, the empire was filled with all kinds of conflicts. News of various disturbances.
All undercurrents are surging, Duke Tulip ordered that all Thunder God's Whips cancel all vacations and prepare to go!
The commander of the Northern Army, Marquis Roddy, ordered that the Northern Army cancel all vacations and get ready to go!
The commander of the Northwest Army, Count Eliot, ordered that the Northwest Army be on standby and ready to go!
General Camus, the commander of the Southern Army, ordered that the Southern Army dispatch two heavy cavalry regiments to move north towards the imperial capital!
In the eastern region of the empire, where the divine religion is the most powerful, nearly 30,000 flame warriors have successfully broken through the blockade of the empire's local garrison, gathered together, and occupied two medium-sized cities. At the same time, His Majesty the Pope In the name of the order, the imperial officials there were expelled, and the city was temporarily taken over in the name of the divine religion!
The empire is in an uproar!
"Did you know? Boy, among any religious believers, there are three types of people!" The old skeleton smiled triumphantly. Then he slowly raised his fingers and said with a smile: "The first type. Those are absolutely devout fanatics. These people will unconditionally pursue their beliefs under any circumstances! Such people are very important to us. They are the toughest enemies... But luckily, there are not many of them! Among 10,000 believers, there may not be even 1% of such fanatics! That is, although they usually believe in religious beliefs, they are not fanatical in their hearts. Most people have the attitude of "if you believe, it will work, if you don't believe, it will not work." Although such people seem to be very pious on weekdays, when their fundamental interests are involved, , they will abandon their faith and protect their own interests! For example, if they are asked to give a very small part of their income to worship the religion, they may be willing, but if they are asked to give up their wealth. If you sacrifice your lives, these people will retreat! Fortunately, the scandal we caused in Xilin Province has greatly reduced the loyalty of this group of people to the religion! The second group of people is the largest group of believers in the religion, and they are the largest part of the religion. It can be said that such people account for almost 70% of the believers in the religion!"
The old skeleton paused and took a breath. Then he continued: "The third type of people are the pseudo-believers. Don't be surprised, this is normal! The religion has been operating in the empire for hundreds of years, and it has formed a climate and scale. Believing in the religion has become a common practice. It’s a habit. It’s a trend! Many people don’t believe in religion at first, but when they see people around them becoming religious, they become believers with the mentality of “joining in the fun”. Such people also occupy a lot of religious beliefs. Part of them, but these people have the lowest loyalty to the religion! Once the empire breaks with the religion, they will abandon the religion without hesitation if they consider their own interests!"
Rody nodded and said with a smile: "So, although the divine religion claims to have tens of millions of believers in the empire, it is not terrible!"
"That's right." The old skeleton smiled and said: "Tens of millions of believers is just an inflated number. Once the empire breaks with the divine religion, the number of people who are willing to follow the divine religion loyally to cause chaos will never exceed hundreds of thousands. And Of these hundreds of thousands, the real Flame Warriors account for less than half, and the rest are just ignorant civilians! As long as we use thunderous means... it's not difficult to solve!"
Rody was silent for a while and whispered: "But after all, these are hundreds of thousands of people... After such a riot, I don't know how many people will die and how many families will..."
The old skeleton shook his head: "The Cult of God has become a huge cancer on the body of the empire! If we don't take this opportunity to completely solve it, it will be even more difficult to get rid of it when its power further expands and its roots are deep in the future. ! Roland Continent is the best example!”
Seth was sitting in the corner. He had been looking out the window and seemed to be smiling. When he heard the two people's words, he turned his head and looked at the old skeleton: "I think we still need a fuse to start action! what do you say?"
"Already have it!" Andy took out a military bulletin from his sleeve.
General Camus, commander of the Southern Army, reported the following:
On the order of His Majesty the Emperor, the Southern Army began a large-scale search of all religious sites and churches in the three southern provinces three days ago. A total of 1.19 million gold coins were found in large quantities of wealth of unknown origin! The contract value of the property and fields of unknown origin totals 2.2 million gold coins! Three local bishops, nine senior clergy, 28 mid-level clergy, and 160 low-level clergy were arrested. During the search, there was friction between the Southern Legion and the Flame Warriors. The Southern Legion suffered 620 casualties, including 190 dead, 300 seriously injured, and 130 slightly injured. Killed 1,080 members of the Flame Warriors and captured 2,600 people! General Camus, the commander of the Southern Army, reported to Your Majesty that the situation in the south is chaotic, the religious cult has incited civilians to riot, and there have been twenty-one friction incidents between the Flame Warriors and the Empire's local garrison...
"Look, is this fuse enough?" The old skeleton smiled and took out another item: "This is the order I have already drawn up, and I am going to send someone to deliver it to the south today!"
"This is to order General Camus, the commander of the Southern Army, in view of the increasingly serious unrest in the three southern provinces. The territory of the three southern provinces is designated as a war zone and wartime regulations will be implemented! General Camus, the commander of the southern army, is appointed as the supreme commander of the war zone! At the same time, the southern provinces are ordered to All religious activities of the Divine Religion are temporarily banned in the three provinces! General Kamu, the commander of the Southern Army, has the power to kill!" Rody finished reading the order gently, sighed, shook his head and said: "It seems you are ready. Taking action in the south? But that’s right. The commander of the Camus Army in the south is experienced, has great prestige in the south, and is loyal to the empire. At the same time, he is not a believer. "
"That's not enough!" Seth suddenly interrupted and said, "What's the current situation of the religious institutions in the imperial capital? Doesn't Corsica VI have any other actions?" He seemed to be sneering: "Waiting for your order. After being sent to the south, the civil war will break out! Corsica VI will definitely leave the imperial capital immediately and go to the eastern part of the empire controlled by the religious forces! "
At this point, the three of them looked at each other a few times, and then they whispered at the same time: "Strike first! Kill him!"
The old skeleton smiled and said: "The old Pope's divine descending technique is no joke. Even the strongest in the field may not be his opponent. We still need to discuss this matter carefully..."
There was a bit of hatred in Rody's eyes, and he said calmly: "We have Fatty, a strong person in the field, and me, Princess Ruolan, a holy sword warrior and a paladin, and Heisha, a great practitioner, and the old man Mark. Can always kill that guy."
Seth nodded and said: "But we can't do it in the imperial capital! We can kill him halfway, and then..."
The old skeleton had a wicked smile on his face: "Then put the blame on the vampires..."
Seth looked at the face of the old skeleton and said with a smile: "Of course, um... it's best if we reveal the news to the vampires in advance and let them also contribute..."
Two despicable conspirators, one old and one young, started their plan. Roddy was bored and stood up and left to find the fat man to practice martial arts.
In the Imperial Capital, the core of the Imperial Divine Religion, in the inner hall of the Imperial Capital Religion Institute.
Pope Corsica VI was obviously much older. His eyes seemed to be slightly closed, except for the occasional glint in his eyes.
Sitting in front of him were several senior elders of the divine religion dressed in white.
"The development of the matter has become obvious. The empire is going to take action against us this time!" The Pope finally spoke, his voice carrying a hint of anger: "The civil strife among the northern Roland people seems to have reminded the imperial royal family that they I want to take this opportunity to eradicate the cult.”
"Your Majesty the Pope." An elder said: "It is meaningless for us to continue to stay in the imperial capital. Now in the eastern part of the empire, our Flame Warriors have occupied two cities and controlled a province. We can take advantage of this opportunity." The royal family has not openly turned against us yet, so go there immediately and establish a diocese there to fight against the empire!”
"Yes!" Another elder also said: "The divine religion has the deepest roots in the east! We have countless devout believers in the east, as well as tens of thousands of heroic flame warriors! We should go there immediately, and then send messages to the entire empire Inform the imperial family of their sin of betraying the gods! Then launch a great holy war to defend the gods!”
Pope Corsica VI finally opened his eyes, glanced slowly across the crowd, and sighed: "Is this what you all mean?"
Everyone was silent, but their eyes looked at the Pope without hesitation.
"Okay!" Corsica VI stood up and waved the staff in his hand vigorously: "Since they want war, we will give them war! Pass on my decree and declare the Imperial Family of the Light Empire to be blasphemous heretics. ! All the believers in the empire will fight against the heretics under the leadership of the divine religion!"
After a pause, he whispered: "We will leave the Imperial Capital tomorrow! My teachings will be released in three days."