First off, welcome to the Ageod Forums,
BitterBierce!
Regarding to conscription options and since the number of recruits depends on your current NM, try to request recruits when your NM is more high. Likewise (and regarding to financial options), the higher is your NM, the more money you receive.
An example would be: You can order the total blockade in the turn 1 to gain 1 NM point, and in the next turn you can issue war bonds and raise taxes.
Check out this
link. I think it will be very helpful for you.
Good luck with your game and have fun!
PS: And as my fellow
Jim would say
...
the search button is your friend.