After getting my ass handed to me a few times, I have started to build barracks exclusively, build the crossbowman, pikes and skirmishers.
This generally allows me to hold off the early rush, provided I have a tower or two up, and eventually use the fort to build war wagons and a few uhlans.
I tend to hold onto the free uhlans, until there are enough to raid the enemy villagers, to split the group up until they get killed, when I can not remove them fast enough.
"The devil and the priest can't exist if one goes away, its just like the battle of the sun and moon, night and day. The force of the devil is what we are told to fear. Watch out for religion when he gets too near."
"Living in a world of fantasy, I can hide behind what's real."
"Behind a smile, there's danger and a promise to be told, you'll never get old. Life's fantasy, to be locked away and still to think you're free! So live for today, tomorrow never comes. Die young."