Batu planted both hands on the map.
"Ryazan falls and the army splits into three."
His finger tapped the center line.
"The center is Jochid. We push west toward Kolomna."
His hand shifted north.
"The northern wing is Guyuk and Büri together. You leave the Vladimir road and advance north."
Then south.
"The southern wing is Möngke. You move from the Chernigov road and drive southwest."
Tangqut followed the charcoal markings across the map. "The center includes the Jochid tumens with you?"
"The Jochid tumens and Subutai's command."
Toqa-Timur's attention moved to the eastern side of the map. "Berke keeps the river covered until the wings move far enough west?"
"Until the eastern road is no longer a threat," Batu said. "Then his riders join the center."
He dragged his hand west from the Oka river. "The center takes Kolomna first. After Kolomna, we turn northwest toward Moscow and Tver and the towns between them."
His hand flattened against the map.
