Bruges), so you can have better trade income as the English Channel is an End Node and by moving your capital to a Dutch cultured province you will prevent the Dutch Revolt Disaster from loading. You should aim to eventually move your Capital which also moves your Trade Capital to the English Channel node, preferably in the Lowlands (e.g. You can fiddle around with your merchant placement but generally it is not worth to collect in another trade node especially if it is upstream of you, as you will receive a -50% penalty. Use your merchants to transfer trade to your home node, generally it is not worth sending a merchant to collect in your trade node since it already automatically collects, but sending a merchant there does improve your trade power slightly. If you’re vassals are loyal enough, you can get them to Divert Trade. Just remember to un-mothball your combat fleet 8 months before you declare a war since they will be at 25% health. Mothball your non-light ships during peace time to save money and send your light ships to protect trade in whatever node gives you the most profit. You do not need more than 4k cavalry as a non-horde nation, if you have more than 4k then you should delete them, cavalry are very expensive to maintain but only slightly better than infantry so they fail a cost-benefit analysis. 81k troops in 1480 is too much, just because you can build up to force limit doesn’t mean you should cuz it is a waste of money and it’s an overkill.

Coalition europa universalis 5