Regress from insula to hut - always

[Imeror]

Ok, I really need help. I know caesar III and pharaoh since I was a child, but I was never able to play them well. I don't understand why I can't manage to play THOSE city buider correctly. Despite my best efforts, I can't get anywhere and it's extremely frustrating.

I've read many guides, I know the theories (the 9*9 block, the need to "guide" workers and avoir unneccesary cross path, the gate to force your worker to go where they are needed etc...) but every attempt (even if some try are succesfull at the beggining) always fail at a time or another. If the mission is long at least.
My problem is not about money or the management of ressources (I've played many others city builders, I know how to handle that), it's about the logistic for keep houses at a high level.


Here my example, from 30 minutes ago :
I play Milletus. No problem at the beggining. I catch fish and I stock 3 or 4 full granaries (to always have enough and have time to import wheat or create farms if I run low), I create a legion to repel invaders, I export the surplus of weapons to earn money, I prepare oil to sell even more goods, I create blocks with all the buildings needed to have nice houses and happy people... and my problem begins.
My granaries are full, I have plenty of potery and oil and 3 of my blocks are nicely evolving into insula. They were always stable since their creation. So, I begin to create furnitures to let them go further. I begin to be a little worried when I place the firsts sawmill, since I see that markets don't ressuply very often. Maybe traders take a little time to arrive after all. I finish my plan for furnitures ; everything is ready and a warehouse receives the firsts piece of work. So I go back to my block and ... they are devolving because they don't have any potery (neither the market). Few time later, no more food ! Market workers go to granaries less and less ! Yet, my 4 granaries are full !
Ok, I try to not panick. I try something : I place granaries and warehouses near markets (with the order to seek food and potery). Ok, my granaries have 2400 units of food, but the worker of the market, litteraly next to the granary, DON'T GO OUTSIDE AND SEEK FOOD ! After months of waiting, no one is going here to supply the markets. I've tried to destroy it and place it few tiles next, still no effect.
At that point, I have 4 granaries near my starting position half filled with food ; 4 others near markets nearly full, a reserve of 5 months of food according to the advisers
; but my people are starving... From growing insulas, nearly every houses of my city are now huts or tents.

It is extremely frustating.
Can someone explain me how the supply system for market work ? Why my workers don't leave their markets ?

I really want to like this game :'(

[Bald Tzu]

It sounds like an issue with grain. If you import grain and it is available in your city, the market ladies will prioritize it and will walk long distances to find it, which takes up their time finding other good. Take a look at my food guide, it might help you out:

https://youtu.be/616sBo4DOYE

[Imeror]

What you are saying already makes sense : I've effectively began to import grain. So I should focus only on fish and import only if I want to reach very rich houses ?

I've watched your video. 2021 ? Hey, Caesar community is still strong :)
Short videos and clear, I'll watch the others one too.

[Bald Tzu]

Thanks!

You can still import wheat, you just have to make sure the market ladies don't try and go for it. Are you using the Augustus mod, or vanilla C3?