Churn out more Generals:

Send some Captains out against some enemy forces and mop the floor with them - it has a possibility of giving you the option of Adopting him into your family because of his valour on the battlefield.

Reduce Squalor etc...

Really all you can do is make sure your capital is in the center of your controlled areas and build happiness and public order buildings. Or at least I can't think of anythign else besides increasing garrison sizes.

Protectorate....

not sure about this one - I haven't had to coerce anyone into one yet. If they don't accept I don't know what else you can do.