 While he did make an effort to securing the nearby towns that controlled access to the city, there is no mention of any attempt to attack Samarra.By staying within Baghdad and keeping the city's supply routes open, while at the same time cutting off foodstuffs and tax receipts meant for Samarra, Muhammad likely believed that he could outlast al-Mu'tazz's armies.A massive amount of work was done to prepare Baghdad for a siege.