乌集之众 a mob
Explanation
比喻临时拼凑起来，毫无组织纪律的一群人。
A metaphor for a group of people who have been put together at the last minute and have no organization or discipline.
Origin Story
话说战国时期，有个小国屡遭大国欺凌，国王决定组建一支军队抵抗侵略。然而，这支军队并非由训练有素的士兵组成，而是由来自各行各业，甚至有些是因犯错被抓来充军的乌合之众。他们缺乏纪律，纪律涣散，训练不足，士兵们各怀心思，纪律松懈。出战时，他们各自为战，毫无配合，如同散沙一般，战斗力极弱。最终，这支所谓的军队在战场上被敌人轻易击败，小国再次遭受侵略，这便是“乌集之众”的真实写照。
During the Warring States period, a small country was repeatedly bullied by larger ones. The king decided to form an army to resist aggression. However, this army was not composed of well-trained soldiers, but rather a motley crew from all walks of life, some even conscripted for committing crimes. They lacked discipline and training, and each soldier had their own thoughts, making them a loose, uncoordinated force. When they went to war, they fought individually, without any cooperation, like sand scattered by the wind. Their combat effectiveness was extremely weak. Ultimately, this so-called army was easily defeated on the battlefield, and the small country suffered another invasion, a true illustration of "Wū jí zhī zhòng".
Usage
用作主语、宾语；比喻杂乱无章的一群人。
Used as subject and object; a metaphor for a disorganized group of people.
Examples
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这支军队只是一群乌合之众，不堪一击。
zhè zhī jūnduì zhǐshì yī qún wūhé zhī zhòng, bù kān yī jī
This army is just a mob, incapable of fighting.
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起义军乌集之众，缺乏训练和纪律。
qǐyì jūn wūjí zhī zhòng, quēfá xùnliàn hé jìlǜ
The rebel army was a motley crew, lacking training and discipline.