The major slowdown on creation/loading is caused by the PrereqTech error. I disabled the loading of the victory progress lua and it goes back to normal loading times.
Prereqtech problems
<Row>
<TechType>TECH_CHIVALRY</TechType>
<PrereqTech>TECH_AGRICULTURAL_REVOLUTION</PrereqTech>
</Row>
<Row>
<TechType>TECH_AGRICULTURAL_REVOLUTION</TechType>
<PrereqTech>TECH_TRADE_FAIRS</PrereqTech>
</Row>
<Row>
<TechType>TECH_TRADE_FAIRS</TechType>
<PrereqTech>TECH_FEUDALISM</PrereqTech>
</Row>
<Row>
<TechType>TECH_FEUDALISM</TechType>
<PrereqTech>TECH_CHIVALRY</PrereqTech>
</Row>
not sure how to fix it properly
TECH_AGRICULTURAL_REVOLUTION requires TECH_TRADE_FAIRS which requires TECH_FEUDALISM which requires TECH_CHIVALRY which requires TECH_AGRICULTURAL_REVOLUTION causing the endless prereq loop. Was TECH_AGRICULTURAL_REVOLUTION used to be before trade fairs?
Prereqtech problems
<Row>
<TechType>TECH_CHIVALRY</TechType>
<PrereqTech>TECH_AGRICULTURAL_REVOLUTION</PrereqTech>
</Row>
<Row>
<TechType>TECH_AGRICULTURAL_REVOLUTION</TechType>
<PrereqTech>TECH_TRADE_FAIRS</PrereqTech>
</Row>
<Row>
<TechType>TECH_TRADE_FAIRS</TechType>
<PrereqTech>TECH_FEUDALISM</PrereqTech>
</Row>
<Row>
<TechType>TECH_FEUDALISM</TechType>
<PrereqTech>TECH_CHIVALRY</PrereqTech>
</Row>
not sure how to fix it properly
TECH_AGRICULTURAL_REVOLUTION requires TECH_TRADE_FAIRS which requires TECH_FEUDALISM which requires TECH_CHIVALRY which requires TECH_AGRICULTURAL_REVOLUTION causing the endless prereq loop. Was TECH_AGRICULTURAL_REVOLUTION used to be before trade fairs?