“Convert to your ideology” is the key here, I think… It’s damn hard to wipe out a religion, especially those, such as some variants of Christianity and Islam, that push “your religion is the only thing that matters” up to 11. If all you care about is taking their money, I suppose you could emulate what the Mongols did in Russia and let the locals mostly govern themselves as long as they pay you your tribute.
“Convert to your ideology” is the key here, I think… It’s damn hard to wipe out a religion, especially those, such as some variants of Christianity and Islam, that push “your religion is the only thing that matters” up to 11. If all you care about is taking their money, I suppose you could emulate what the Mongols did in Russia and let the locals mostly govern themselves as long as they pay you your tribute.