I always lose even micro battles...

Help.

Here is my problem:

For example, the enemy will be franks, and I'll be chinese.

We'll have roughly equal armies. The enemy will have skirms and crossbows, pikes, and knights. I'll have Pikes, Chukonu, and Light Cav.

I can never fight the enemy on good grounds. It always seems like they have the upper micro hand. I cannot touch his skirms without his cav and halbs being personally placed to counter. Meanwhile, the skirms slowly pick off my Cho Ku No, and I'm left like a sitting duck.

Does anyone have any tips? I often have bigger armies, but I cannot seem to fight correctly.

(PS: another minor problem, how to stop 1 or 2 units running off and fighting the enemy alone? Do you stick them on Defensive?)

Thanks...