Game is very sluggish and slow mid game

Guess still has severe memory issues. I am playing a large map with all factions including the one I made, so 9. I am mid game right now and it is getting slow and sluggish. 

A few battles have been slow as well, seemed to happen when I minimized and went back into game, I think. I would just quit the game and go back in and it was okay. Just tried to save and it got stuck, stayed frozen at a blank background screen. 

Tis a shame because I am really enjoying the game.