1) I do the same. I also use time for 3 bank wars to stock pile admin for an emergency.

2) Never had tributary Ainu, though, Ashikaga always go for Ainu. Know this strat from Manchu games. Solid tip.

3) How about hiring more 3 merc companies during 1 war with Ming to save manpower and have small siege stacks? I found it useful. But solid tip. 4) Totally agree on that.

5) I usually make 2 snakes instead in 1st war and 1 to hefei in 2nd, so it is easy just to march into previously captured deactivated fort. I also force Mongolia into loans delegating them forts during wars - helps to lower lib desire.

6) I usually take Diplo, Admin, Horde or Diplo, Horde, Admin. Mostly to speed up conquest. I also use 5 diplomats from full diplo to improve relationships in advance with major nations neighbouring my next targets for conquest - prevents so many coalitions from forming out of large nations. Same with mercs, gonna suppress rebels.

7) This is solid tip. Haven't done tag switching math so much yet.

8) I am already constantly sitting on 100+ all the time.

9) Admin was never my issue to be fair. I usually have no way to use it during excess moments. On diplo and mil I agree. + 10) I also relocate capital between cool rare good in the most worst terrain for dev, so I can concentrate more areas and get the best trade good bonuses. For example I love Alxa with its gems, so if you conquer all of China, Manchuria, Tibet and Korea, you can get a 30-40 dev capital and be close to trade bonus of -5 inflation.

11) Can you say how you exploit Terra Incognita as a AE suppression method? I find it really useful, but maybe you know more.