Rus in high: strategy and tactics

[Gilrandir]

Well done! What kind of army composition did you have by 1231?

It was mostly armored spearmen, arbs, halbs and boyars. Through the Kiev inn I hired 3 italian infantries, 2 billmen, 2 longbows, but because of the civil war never had a chance to use most of them. To think that they've been eating a lion's share of my budget!
As for troops location, I kept a whole stack in Kiev (which eventually rebelled) and Lithuania (to forestall any movement from the Polish), half a stack in Chernigov, Ryazan and Muscovy.
Boyars are just great! I attacked Volgo-Bulgaria with quite a small army (6 or 7 units, one of them - the monarch's boyars) and the Mongols brought in reinforcements from Khazar - so the odds were 1 to 3 not in my favor. But Boyars tore everyone to peaces like there's no tomorrow!!! I have this battle saved to enjoy it in a more peaceful moment.
And one more thing: Ryazan has a river border with Khazar only - the frontier with Volgo-Bulgaria is wide open.