Early Game Maximizing income vs long term growth.

[SsSam]

Anybody willing to share ideas on how to balance funding an early army to expand with what the unrest will do to you later?

I know there are other nations with similar units, but specifically I'm looking at MA Pythium and the Hydras. An army of 5 of those beasts will take out any of non heavy cavalry independents and be ready to do the same thing again next turn (and the turn after and...) There is no real resource cost, but you're looking at stashing 1250 of gold in order to field such a force.

If I jack up taxes to 200...that money comes quickly, but I'm doing some long term damage to my starting home. Clearly one such force is a great asset. Why not hold out for two? Double the expansion rate should bring great late game rewards...well, if I can hold the ground.

How can/should I go about balancing the tradeoff?