The historical timeline for the siege is unreliable, but somehow the number of soldiers is rock-solid accurate? And, further, it is known that they were able to

The historical timeline for the siege is unreliable, but somehow the number of soldiers is rock-solid accurate? And, further, it is known that they were able to complete their siege works unharried? This paper at best provides a best-case estimate. At worst, it's trying very hard to find evidence to support a fashionable belief that the siege was short.