unless macsen rufus can shed some light on this then I do think I can progress any farther in the game
'Fraid not - I've never hired THAT many mercs before, so you're the trailblazer on this one. My Turks have been languishing since the weekend, but I expect I'll get a chance to stir them up a bit again on Sunday

Hmm, even leaving nothing but peasant garrisons behind you, it will be a struggle conquering everything with just five stacks of serviceable troops. Definitely would need to fall back on the "fort-only" types and bribees to keep up the numbers. What about a strict adherence to GA goals? Would that still be possible, you reckon?