i gots to admit, i get bored with having so much money after a while, especially as really expensive buildings take an age to build. it's worse in VI, even fewer exciting and expensive things to build, and cheaper troops too. trade does give people an excuse to commit piracy, which in turn gives you an excuse to kick hell out of them. not that i need an excuse, but i like to feel morally justified.

attempting to bribe someone's level 9 Man of Principle general while he's leading 2,000 elite troops can take care of the surplus though!