The convoy waited along the camp's southern edge, organized into rows by Torghul's logistics riders over the course of the morning.
Covered wagons held tribute from Moscow, Kolomna, and Ryazan, each load tied down against the punishment of the road and recorded using Sarai's ledger system. Craftsmen and selected captives stood in sections according to their trades and how well they could keep pace on foot. The livestock remained at the rear, where their noise and smell stayed farthest from the command position.
Every horse harnessed to the wagons ate from the supplies carried with the army.
Batu studied the lines and recognized the problem immediately. The animals pulling the tribute were steadily consuming the provisions needed to keep the campaign moving.
Two hundred meters north, smoke climbed above Moscow.
