It took some 10 years to build it up too. War is totally expensive if you're not getting paid for it, just look at Ibladesh.
But that's my point. It is one reason that inflation of costs would make sense.
You've had gold poured into the game and yet no inflation visible in the game for 10 years. People will obviously build up stockpiles. One way to discourage stockpiling is to make gold spent now worth more than gold spent later. Basic economic theory.
Why not be subtle about it even? Increase gold production by 10% island wide, but also increase all costs by 10%.
