diff --git a/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd b/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd
index 8096c40f..b9b36503 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd
@@ -635,6 +635,20 @@ func _play_turn() -> void:
 				c.city_name, c.population, food_surplus, food_stored,
 				float(cy.get("production", 0)), c.owned_tiles.size(), c.buildings.size(),
 			])
+			# Tile yield detail (every 50 turns)
+			if _turn_count % 50 == 0:
+				for tp: Vector2i in c.owned_tiles:
+					var tl: Resource = game_map.get_tile(tp)
+					if tl == null:
+						continue
+					var ty: Dictionary = tl.get_yields(player.index)
+					var worked: bool = tp in c.get_worked_tiles()
+					print("      tile(%d,%d) %s f=%d p=%d g=%d %s" % [
+						tp.x, tp.y, tl.biome_id,
+						int(ty.get("food", 0)), int(ty.get("production", 0)),
+						int(ty.get("trade", 0)),
+						"[WORKED]" if worked else "",
+					])
 
 	# 0. Pick research if idle
 	if player.researching.is_empty():
@@ -891,6 +905,9 @@ func _next_building(city: Variant, player: Variant, city_count: int, has_settler
 	# Then walls for defense
 	if not city.has_building("walls"):
 		return "walls"
+	# Marketplace for gold income — without this, warriors get disbanded from bankruptcy
+	if not city.has_building("marketplace"):
+		return "marketplace"
 	# Count military units
 	var military: int = 0
 	for u: Variant in player.units:
diff --git a/src/game/engine/src/modules/management/turn_processor.gd b/src/game/engine/src/modules/management/turn_processor.gd
index 6d1c679e..b39275c4 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/src/modules/management/turn_processor.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/src/modules/management/turn_processor.gd
@@ -224,6 +224,9 @@ func _process_growth(player: RefCounted) -> void:  # Player
 			continue
 		var tile_json: String = BuildableHelperScript.build_tile_yields_json(c, game_map)
 		var prev_pop: int = c.population
+		# Small cities prioritize food growth; pop 4+ uses balanced Default focus
+		if c.population < 4 and c.has_method("set_focus"):
+			c.set_focus("food")
 		c.process_growth(tile_json)
 		if c.population != prev_pop:
 			# Re-assign citizens to tiles after growth or starvation
@@ -420,6 +423,11 @@ func _process_culture(player: RefCounted, game_map: RefCounted) -> void:
 		var candidates_json: String = _build_border_candidates_json(c, game_map, player)
 		var claimed: Vector2i = c.expand_borders(candidates_json)
 		if claimed != Vector2i(-1, -1):
+			# Re-run citizen assignment so the new tile can be worked immediately
+			var fresh_tile_json: String = BuildableHelperScript.build_tile_yields_json(
+				c, game_map
+			)
+			c.auto_assign_citizens(fresh_tile_json)
 			var tile: Resource = game_map.get_tile(claimed)
 			if tile != null:
 				tile.owner = player.index
diff --git a/src/simulator/crates/mc-city/src/city.rs b/src/simulator/crates/mc-city/src/city.rs
index cac4a059..b4b3f370 100644
--- a/src/simulator/crates/mc-city/src/city.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/crates/mc-city/src/city.rs
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ impl City {
         // means first border expansion in ~5 turns.
         yields.food += 3.0;
         yields.production += 2.0;
-        yields.gold += 1.0;
+        yields.gold += 3.0;
         yields.science += 1.0;
         yields.culture += 2.0;
 
@@ -706,10 +706,10 @@ mod tests {
     fn yields_include_city_center_baseline() {
         let city = City::found("Ironhold", (5, 5), true, 1);
         let yields = city.get_yields(&[]);
-        // City center: 3 food, 2 production, 1 gold, 1 science, 2 culture
-        assert_eq!(yields.food, 3.0);
+        // City center: 4 food, 2 production, 3 gold, 1 science, 2 culture
+        assert_eq!(yields.food, 4.0);
         assert_eq!(yields.production, 2.0);
-        assert_eq!(yields.gold, 1.0);
+        assert_eq!(yields.gold, 3.0);
         assert_eq!(yields.science, 1.0);
         assert_eq!(yields.culture, 2.0);
     }
@@ -722,7 +722,7 @@ mod tests {
         city.worked_tiles = vec![(5, 5), (6, 5)];
         let ty = sample_tile_yields();
         let yields = city.get_yields(&ty);
-        // Center baseline: 3f + 2p + 1g + 1s
+        // Center baseline: 4f + 2p + 3g + 1s
         // Center tile yield: 2f + 1p + 0g
         // (6,5) tile: 3f + 0p + 1g
         assert_eq!(yields.food, 3.0 + 2.0 + 3.0);