You decide to allow expansion of the silver mines.
You receive a report in which the overseer of the mines will begin the expansion in earnest but this year he can't promise anything.
1119 AD, Autumn
You hear that the war in the west is actually going head-to-head between Eldricans and the Tirines. Is the Eldrican Kingdom not as strong as it looks, or mayhaps the Tirines just exploited a moment of weakness, you're not sure. It's ahrd to get information out of travelers and King Elran III doesn't seem eager to get you involved.
Maybe it's for the best.
1119 AD, Winter
Tails
Unfortunately, the miners weren't able to finish expanding the mines this year, and thus you get no extra profits this time. Next year, though!
Gemstones also arrive, and are sent westwards to Eldrican with the caravan that brought Fireblood supplies.
1119 AD, End of the Year
The year came, the year went. It was a little uneventful, and you're not sure if that's good or bad. Good, maybe.
The Advisor brings the Scrolls of Kingdom Status, and you read them eagerly like an American dad reads his newspaper during breakfast with his family:
Happiness: 3
Population: 7
Economy:
0!Army: 3
Your Advisor stares at you, expectantly. You decide to...
A) Keep the Army off budget for another year.
B) Raise the taxes again.
C) Cut funding to alchemists and engineers working with Fireblood.
D) All of the above.
E) Do nothing, you will stay afloat somehow.
"Oh right, I almost forgot my liege." The Advisor pulls a big-ass scroll out of his robes and sprawls it on your desk. "The scribes and cartographers have completed updating the map of our neighbourhood."