《资治通鉴·汉纪·汉纪五十六》
如今，袁谭向您求救，表明他已走投无路；袁尚看到袁谭陷入困境，却不能一举攻破袁谭，说明袁尚也已智穷力竭。
今一旦求救于明公，此可知也。显甫见显思困而不能取，此力竭也。
Yuan Tan is asking you for rescue now, which means he has run out of options. Yuan Shang can’t defeat Yuan Tan when he is in trouble, which means Yuan Shang is also at his wit’s end.