True, but my way doesn't require mana, and can be done at the beginning of the game to build up a quick army for quite cheap. after the first berate, I find that there's almost never an escape attempt. I generally berate once, and put them in communal room. If they're particularly disobedient I leave them in jail one night. I lose one or two now and then, but when each one is literally just a 15 gold loss? Not really an issue. It's a bit more expensive if you put any equipment on them, but if the equipment includes handcuffs, you never have a successful escape attempt.
All in all, there are MANY ways to do something. Find a method that fits your play style.