Counting from when Li Chi first led his army into Shu, it had been nearly two years — and over a year and a half of that had been spent outside Mei City, with the greater part of that time devoted to wearing down the Meishan garrison camp.

The first great benefit was that it greatly reduced casualties among his own troops. The second was that it was enough to intimidate the enemy forces inside the city.

At the very least, it showed the enemy that the Ning army had absolutely no concerns about its grain and supplies.

With such powerful logistical backing, the Ning army could besiege Meishan for a year and a half — and could do the same to Mei City, grinding it down over the long haul.

After Guan Zaixing’s death, the mood inside the city shifted almost at once into something close to panic. The hope that a single man’s bravery had kindled was now like a dazzling, iridescent bubble — and it had burst.

Throughout this period, the Ning army had been steadily preparing for the assault. Trebuchets were an essential weapon if the city was to be taken while minimizing casualties.

The days of Guan Zaixing’s challenges were, in fact, the very reason the Ning army had not yet attacked — they had been waiting for the trebuchets to be brought up.

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