What to build in 'iron' provinces?

[Ironside]

Just try them in the desert..... They're so monstruous that even exhausted they rather hold the line. But even with a 2 for 1 killing ration, this is a waste of talent. OTOH, Golden Clansmen absolutely rule in the desert - as long as you have light cav to purchase those ***** archers.

Well I was thinking of a 1 to 95 ratio for my lances (they wasn't even a full stack, and only a four-star general) when putting down a faction re-apearence.

My desert corps usually lacks any extra armour and is planned to lose the first wave and win the rest. The first wave isn't normally exhausted so it's quite strong.