The region was in such a bad shape that it should have revolted on its own. I have a hard time seeing the followers lost as a price worthy of anything.
As for my actions, I never use 1 hour. maximum hours almost all of the time.
What do you mean, like it was at 5% loyalty already? Then, alright, your actions probably didn't do much. A 2% drop means 40% of the remaining loyalists listened to you!