When his servant came back to report, Wu Yuan had thought to himself, We're on the same page. With these people coming to him of their own accord, he'd be spared a lot of trouble. But when he saw them, he realized they all wore either mournful expressions or looks of displeasure, as if someone had dug up their ancestors' graves and picked them clean.
Seeing this, Wu Yuan's heart gave a thump. He couldn't help wondering what they were up to and prepared himself for the worst. He was just about to exchange a few pleasantries and remind them not to come around at a time like this and bring him bad luck.
Before he could even begin his prepared speech, one of them stepped forward, eyes brimming with tears, and cried out his grievance. He hoped the Prefectural Government would lend them some men.
Wu Yuan still had no idea what had happened.
He'd only heard the words "lend some men."
So he said, "Lend you men? Gentlemen, you know the situation. The Rebel Army is watching us from outside the city, and we're in a desperate bind, with a sword hanging over our necks. We can't let our defenses inside the city slacken for even a moment. As for lending you men... It's not that I'm unwilling. We simply don't have anyone to spare..."
The best way to deal with these "deadbeats" who came to "borrow" was to turn their own tactics against them. Wu Yuan changed his expression to one of difficulty and sighed deeply. "I'm ashamed to admit that last night, I was even wondering whether I should swallow my pride and ask you gentlemen to lend me some of your household troops..."
He said that aloud, but inwardly he rolled his eyes.
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