Batu let Khulgen's answer settle and moved past it.
"The format can be modified," he said to Tükel. "What I want to discuss is the tax structure."
He looked at the goods on the table, the eastern side and the northern side together.
"Part of the tax comes in goods, specifically timber from the northern loads. Sarai's construction needs timber and the lower steppe doesn't produce enough. Hemp rope together as an additional. Fixed amounts per season, written into the document."
Tükel looked at the table as if reconsidering what the transaction was worth against this proposal.
"I can accommodate that for my own wares," he said. "What I can't do is commit the traders who come after me to the same terms. I can't speak for them."
"The document covers your merchandise," Batu said. "Traders who follow negotiate their own terms within the same contract. That's all."
Tükel considered that for a moment. "Agreed."
"Good. Then what comes to Sarai first."
