A question? (Contains Spoilers)

There is a river between Zui (Sai) and Xianyang, I think this was rushed to explain in the anime. If Li Mu army tries to skip Zui and go for the capital, they will be hunted down while they try to cross the river. Even if some part of the army surrounds the castle and the rest goes for the capital, it would be a risky move. That's why it's essential to capture Zui first.

Also, after Li Mu learns that the king is in Zui, there is no point in going after the capital at all. After all, it is game over for the kingdom once the king is dead.



Found it where they explain the river part. From chapter 327

@Laetaita I recently rewatched 3rd season so regarding your explanation of isui river, iirc li mu had 30000 soldiers and zui had 35000(20k women plus children), if li mu had used 10k soldiers for surrounding zui and the remaining 20000 soldier goes for xianyang by crossing isui river at night then i believe they would have conquered xianyang. What do you think?

@MrPerfectGamer Moving 20000 soldiers across a river in one single night is quite impossibel or atl least a massive logistical nightmare so more time would probably be needed. Also 10000 vs 35000 is a big risk even if the 10000 are the best of zhao army. Of the 35000 a few thousand were still hardened veterans and many prominent fighters remained in the city.

Also not really having a line of supply could easily prove fatal. The fortified zui army could cut the supply to Xianyang by a significant amount. Xianyang is still a very well fortified city with many inner walls so the siege could take a few days in which a lack of food could destroy the moral if not the fighting ability.

Lastly Li Mu was 100% about to win the battle of zui and wasn't in a hurry. He only retreated because the mountain folk came out of nowhere. Zheng and the folk had kept quite minimal if any contact after forming their alliance and Li Mu had no way of knowing they weren't hostile of indifferent towards Qin or any "flatlanders". And if I remember correctly he said he could defeat them but would not have any troops left to conquer Xianyang after that and that was why it was better to retreat with minimal losses.