indeed, war to acquire more hard assets. But then unable to sustain the war because the current reserve cannot pay i.e. you paid out all your gold to your soldiers already.

Yes, I have read Adam Smith and other economic works. Not once did I say he did, he is classical economics, aka mercantilism. I already said this though. I'm "talking" Keynesian because it is what works for every government run economy in the world.

But like I said, you can most certainly return to Mercantilism, Trump wanting Canada and Greenland is that basic economic principal. Will they win a war though, or would that end the empire?