[Native] Advice needed for solving impending economic issues

I picked this game up during a Steam sale a couple of weeks ago, and I think it's fair to say I'm hooked. I'm on my first playthrough on moderate difficulty settings, and while I started off as a mercenary for the Swadians, I soon found myself building relationships with the Vaegirs and accepted an offer to be a vassal.

I currently have two castles and three villages under my control, along with 4 (perhaps 5?) weaveries/dyeworks, and I've noticed that the budget the last few weeks has been getting significantly more negative.

I have Ryibelet Castle fairly well-garrisoned (168 troops, mostly Swadian Knights and Vaegir Marksmen), and have been working on getting Vyincourd Castle's garrison up to strength, since we're at war with everyone except the Sarranids.

My issue is pretty clearly my income-to-expense ratio, but my expenses already need to increase to sufficiently defend my fiefs. The war effort has left everyone but the Sarranids pretty angry with me, so buying up more property can only really happen in the desert, and I don't currently have the funds to do that.

What should I be focusing on to pull myself out of the red?

Submitted November 11, 2019 at 11:17AM by FurlockTheTerrible https://ift.tt/2X1ITB9