Russia TL Help

I'm looking to (in the semi-distant future) begin a TL for an alternate Rise of Muscovy. Namely, I want to limit the subjugation of the Rus by the Mongol invasions and give them a boost. I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of some good sources or suggestions for key events I might want to watch out for.
 
Limiting the subjugation would be hard, the Rus either fought with each other, or banded together too late. Even if you have the Rus listen to Cumans, you have two real outcomes. First the Rus can drive back the Mongols, but you may not see a united Russia as we know it. Second the Rus get beaten and a lot more cities are sacked.

There is the option of possibly more Rus states states willing submitting if that helps.

The thing is Moscovy's rise was largely based on Ivan Kalitia's wealth and political maneuvering in Golden Horde to become the preferred Russian state for collecting taxes.
 
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