Help with Victory or Decisive Victory

[ArmoredSergeant]

Getting the feel of Shogun 2 combat before I start a campaign. I'm trying to get above close victory facing a normal difficulty AI enemy army. The units for both armies are the same:

1 General 2 stars
1 Yari Ashigaru
1 Yari Samurai
1 Katana Samurai
1 No-Dachi Samurai
1 Ashigaru Bowmen

I'm trying to win with a regular assault on them, not by luring some of their units but a straight attack on even terrain. They like to put their spears in front and swords in back.

I send my swords after their spears and try to flank both sides with my spears, but the enemy is smart enough to send their swords after them and prevent the flank. Meanwhile, I can't get my general close to the action because their bowmen are pestering him and I have to move him away. Their general is too far away to shoot, so I try to arrow whichever of their units is open to hurt their morale.

Once again, trying to win a victory that is higher than a close victory so that the end report won't say "won by a swordstroke." Tips?

[wealthmonger]

Why wouldn't you lure one of their units?

I tried the battle, although it's a little difficult trying to get on flat terrain. I'm not sure which map your using? I went against them on fairly flat terrain. I had my general on my left flank then yari samurai, yari ashigaru, katana samurai, no dachi(from left to right with my archer just in back of the center). A fairly simple line formation.

I sent my general along the enemies side to get their yari ashigaru to come after me then I had my yari samurai rapid advance to attack them. Then my general wheeled around and hit them from behind. They ran fairly quickly. My KS charged their bows, my YA went into spearwall against their katana samurai, no dachi hit their other side and my archer shot whoever was in the open.

My general and yari samurai came around the rear of their forces and slammed into them. Shortly afterwards they ran and I chased them down. (large unit size)

166 casualties for me and almost complete destruction of their forces. Decisive victory

Post a replay so we can see what you're doing right or wrong.