I went the other way with the Sweboz. I didn't disband any troops and hired a cavalry mercenary unit for my southern group, which was the smallest. Then I just branched out and conquered everything within reach. Out of my starting 2,500 men I'm left with 988, most of whom are in the conquered settlements as a military rulers. It took 6 years for me to finally get out of debt and turn a profit. I immediately started up a program of establishing military rule for all conquered towns up to that point, and eventually establishing governments.
Here are the lands I've conquered with the initial warriors of the tribe, as of 264.
I don't have enough men to take on the Hattoz just yet, and since I now have money I'm training a couple of units to help in the effort. After that tribe has come under Sweboz control, I'll lay back for a while and develop. I hope I don't have to take that one rebel settlement east of Scandanavia on an island in order to "unite" all the tribes... I'd have to build a fleet and spend a lot of resources I need elsewhere...
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