to be at one's wits' end; to have no alternative; to be at a loss for what to do
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
Towards the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Dong Zhuo led his army into Luoyang, deposed the young Emperor Shao, and installed Emperor Xian, Liu Xie. Though Cao Cao and Yuan Shao raised armies against him, Dong Zhuo abducted Emperor Xian to Chang'an and appointed himself Grand Tutor, seizing absolute power.
Dong Zhuo's cruelty and authoritarian rule caused deep dissatisfaction among the court's civil and military officials. However, despite their grievances, they found themselves at their wits' end, unable to devise any effective plan to challenge or remove him.
It was then that Situ (Minister of Education) Wang Yun devised a strategy: he first promised his beautiful maid Diao Chan to Lü Bu, Dong Zhuo's formidable adopted son, and then secretly presented her to Dong Zhuo himself. By using Diao Chan to sow discord between Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu, Wang Yun successfully incited Lü Bu to kill Dong Zhuo, thus eliminating the tyrant.