I didn't know you could stack merchants. Somewhat tedious moving merchants and diplomats about though. Often in a campaign I forget about them for a few turns, they get older and die before I get them anywhere. Start over and do it again. Guess I just have a swiss cheese brain or something. Garrison thing is tough though. While I have a small garrison in all my settlements to maintain order, the AI will send a full stack, early in the game to take a settlement, I can't defend, especially when several factions are picking on me. Don't know if they are contending with one another in a similar fashion. Doesn't seem like it. But I complain. I don't go on a crusades. I don't like war with those far distant provinces that aren't near my provinces to take an underdevelop city, with poor troop producing capabilities, and surrounded by factions that no longer like me due to the crusade in the first place. Nothing worse than taking Jerusalem when egypt and its large armies are looming everywere ready to take back the city from my perhaps depleted army. Though this is all in speculation because I never do crusades...perhaps I should. I stray from topic and I am loosing the me sense of direction, I apologize...will keep your ideas in thought, thanks, and will ask more questions should the need desire.