Influence? and stupid general

[Alphidius]

Yup

It's like the AI making a last stand in the town square even when they are sorely outnumbered, getting rained by arrows or pilas

[Herodotus]

To avoid gaining the Coward vice when fighting rebels, send in a smaller force which is near equal in number to the rebs. Send troops who will counter the enemies advantage. eg. Swordsmen would have been ideal to send after spearmen, send spearmen for cav etc.
Using a modest force to defeat rebs is not so boring because it is more even, like a scaled down large battle.

[soibean]

I'll give that a try
and who knows maybe they'll give me that man of the hour thing