Just after breakfast, snowflakes began drifting outside.
Pan Yun stood at the doorway, tilting her head up to watch for quite a while. When the two old soldiers began to grow uneasy, she turned back and said, "Let's go. We're buying a building."
Zhao Shizhu froze. "A building?"
Pan Yun nodded. "A building. Whether you remain here or not, Ming Dynasty scouts must be stationed here. If people are to stay, they naturally need somewhere to settle."
Zhao Shizhu was stunned by this. He swallowed and asked, "National Preceptor, do you mean... we can return to our homeland?"
"Why not?" Pan Yun's gaze swept over their grizzled hair. "At your age, even if you were still in the army, you ought to be returning home to enjoy your remaining years."
Zhao Shizhu gave a bitter smile. "With bodies like ours, returning would have been difficult even in peacetime, let alone now. The Oirat tribes are constantly clashing, and they have no small amount of friction with Ming Dynasty. I fear..."
"As long as you wish to return, I will bring you back safely," Pan Yun said. "But before that, we'll buy a building and make the preparations."
She had not brought anyone with her because she had intended to use the people Zhao Shizhu and the others had trained. Outsiders always drew attention; they could not compare to people who had lived here all along and were naturally trusted.
But upon seeing Zhao Shizhu and Hu Ning, Pan Yun's heart softened.
They had devoted their entire lives to the country. She could not keep them from going home, could she?
Zhao Shizhu and Hu Ning immediately put on their ragged leather coats. After pulling the wooden door shut, they led them toward the local government office.
Zhao Shizhu followed close