The only other way (besides assassinating the general) to make soldier die is from a plague...I am just wondering if somehow all this massive deaths in the battle (or battles) can generate that in a randomized event...it would tip some balances, no?

Actually if the 'plague' (kill a bunch of people command for no other apparent reason, simply put) can be implemented in some other use then perhaps they can simulate the post-drug trauma experienced by the Gaesatae...yet I guess the function is hardcoded and not exactly possible to modify...?