The answer is a combination of AI and Options. Also to use player positions and diplomacy to this end.
Good AI's for the subject position would be Immobile Units Gold or Advanced by Zanzard Lothar, and Enoth has some different enhanced AI's that might work for either the military or the subject economic positions. There are also good military AI's that provide a more specified attack.
In my experience, the problem with Options is that the Standard or Petersen AI is a volume of rules that are changing and adapting to many situations and maps. One set's the position for say no Hand Cannoneers in Options, and the next thing you know it's found a way to override the Options and produce them. So, try a good custom AI at the Blacksmith, because they tend to keep with the settings in options better.
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