Coming up with a reason for war isn't so hard tbh
In Caergoth I saw apathy coming as well, so we made up a reason for war and started fighting. Task now is actually to keep pushing for aggressive tactics as Suville has blockaded everything with militia and partly mobile. But in all honesty, I'd rather lose everything than sit around and do nothing for so long. It's why I'm so aggressive in Caergoth and also why I split from Sirion in EC.
Most Dukes (especially the rich ones in CE) can easily form their own nation and never be taken with the new citizens militia code as a back-up xD
Ps, badgers, good old days where you couldn't attend a tourney which wasn't overrun by them.