(Spoilers ACOK) Should Yoren have opened the gates? Did he honestly believe that his ragged band could hold out against an assault by Lorch's raiding party? What would have happened had he allowed them in? It certainly couldn't have turned out any worse, right?

I realize this is asking for pointless speculation but I'm re-reading the series knowing full well when disaster's looming and can't help but try and logic a way out of it.