How are you supposed to play the emperor properly?

[Will]

You start with loads of character salary and the influence give you huge debuffs you're racing against time to fire everyone before you bankrupt.
So far the only solution I found is to request aid and make everyone unhappy, but I don't think that's the intended way to do it. Are you just supposed to slowly accumulate political influence to fire everyone?

Also even the people you personally hire take political influence to fire but that's BS because you don't know what their buffs are in the goverment without hireing them first. So often I find myself having the first save the game before hireing new generals.

The imperial army is also difficult because it can't replenish, you have to only beat up on inferiour forces so that you can capture enough enemies to replenish your losses. I like the idea that the most elite forces can't replenish quickly but shouldn't there be a way to replenish them? Like maybe you build a really expensive and high upkeep building and it can replenish imperial forces or something?

[OZZO]

check out the tread called "Liu Hong gameplay tips"

[The Mailman Thinks I Am Gay]

Originally posted by Will:

You start with loads of character salary and the influence give you huge debuffs you're racing against time to fire everyone before you bankrupt.
So far the only solution I found is to request aid and make everyone unhappy, but I don't think that's the intended way to do it. Are you just supposed to slowly accumulate political influence to fire everyone?

Also even the people you personally hire take political influence to fire but that's BS because you don't know what their buffs are in the goverment without hireing them first. So often I find myself having the first save the game before hireing new generals.

The imperial army is also difficult because it can't replenish, you have to only beat up on inferiour forces so that you can capture enough enemies to replenish your losses. I like the idea that the most elite forces can't replenish quickly but shouldn't there be a way to replenish them? Like maybe you build a really expensive and high upkeep building and it can replenish imperial forces or something?

For the imperial army, at least with He Jin can be replenish. You have to disband and just spawn him back. But he cost a ♥♥♥♥ ton of money due to his units

[Vin362]

The goal of Liu Hong is banish the eunuchs but not all of them as some have some good assignments or faction bonuses so examine each them to find the bonuses you want to keep, next hire generals who support the warlord and dynasty faction to find a balance.

Political influence is gained by building administrative buildings so you best bet is to send He Jin north to fight the Yellow Turbans, as for replenishment He Jin as mentioned earlier is the one that provides replenishment for the imperial units, remember that imperial units are late game units for other factions so Liu Hong thanks to He Jin has one of if not strongest armies in the game from turn 1.

It is worth noting that victory for Liu Hong is to defeat Zhang Jue and his brothers and the ultimate gameplay for his faction is let the vassals do the work in your case subjects of the empire.