Certainly a breakthrough but it would be better IMHO if the patch forced the ai to make decent armies (not multiple easily defeated ones) led by captains. I have no problem facing/having armies lead by captains as long as they as strong.

Also how does promotion to general work then?, I guess that would be out.

One of the interesting things is to get as many heroic victories as possible to give better chance of promotion to general, this would seem to cut off that strategy, but other incentives for heroic victory may be able to be implemented.( eg. bonus experience level to troops involved)

If captain led rebels are stuck then unless they are blocking trade they can be ignored..