Hi Sara,
Never raising the white flag is the good choice you have choose!!!
Defeats gives lessons to learn. So, I think you gonna win step by step practicing and playing!
Experiment, try new tactics, if you lose some units; it's life. Today's peoples say that soldiers are foods for guns, pawns on a chest board or else(it's the same with this game), while the commanders(generals) are well secure in a bunker or shelter...
Be as one of these commander or generals.
You are the commander, you lead your troops...
War means sacrifice, Some say war is an art, it's also a state of mind(spirit),if you lose some units, create others units...
they are there to serve you, nothing else. They are your tools to lead you to victory. Know your tools, the good and the weak of each, also, the best way to use them.
remember:
-Have a good econ(you need this for an army, it's like this today too). it's also your security and your expansion.
-learn of your defeats
-have a military spirit(mind).(sometimes, it's the best when nothing seems to help you)
-re-read all the hints about this scn(the topics in this forum).
-start the game and say:"today the 2 relics(artifacts) was mine!!!"
enjoy!
See you later!