How do I fight ermor?

[jaif]

I'm playing the inquisition people (mar-something). I started on one side of a continent, ermor started on the other, and we're both crushing the two unfortunates in the middle (btw, monkey in the middle really stinks in this game.)

I don't think I'll have too much trouble in battle; after all, I have great priests and should be able to banish the hordes. The problem is that my spies tell me his land is depopulated, which means it's going to be very hard to advance (no supplies).

Any suggestions? Oh, bonus question: if a province is at population zero, is there anyway for it to increase?

-Jeff