IMHO bashkorts are THE VB secret weapon. They are versatile, and shouldn't just be relegated to flanking. With their defence stats and anti-cav bonus, they can form the main battle line more effectively and cheaply than kursybays. I use them more like spearmen with missiles, not skirmishers. A couple of volleys of those spears can wipe out a royal knight unit, and make a serious mess of mongol heavy cav. The AI never uses them properly, just as skirmishers, which misses their all-round strength.