贫瘠的小国三河冈崎城主松平广忠之子松平元康，在战乱中失去了父母，后被送到骏河大国今川家做人质。虽然失去了自由，但是元康得到了今川义元的看重，不仅生活无忧，还接受了充分的教育，同时与今川家重臣关口氏纯之女濑名相恋。然而，跟随元康的石川数正、鸟居元忠等三河人看到他逐渐融入今川家族，不禁感到痛苦。某一天，元康回到三河冈崎，为拜祭父亲而重逢曾侍奉父亲的酒井忠次等旧臣，得知他们对今川家族不满，意欲复兴松平家。但是，对于仰慕义元的家康来说，这些人的想法实在是一种负担

1560年，今川义元进攻织田家领地尾张。元康告别妻子，执行向受织田军攻击的大高城运军粮的任务。他好不容易从敌人的猛攻中脱身，到达了大高城。然而，他很快听到了桶狭间的消息，织田信长率领大军前来进攻。元康在脑海中回忆起与信长在一起度过的不愉快时光。在织田军的包围中，元康面临着重大的选择：是回到家人正等着他的骏河，还是前往故乡三河，或者坚守大高城。他的决定，将引领他的人生不断地处于危机和忍耐之中，为之后的壮烈人生拉开序幕。

Matsudaira Motoyasu, the son of Matsudaira Hirotada, the lord of Mikawa Okazaki, a small barren country, lost his parents in the war, and was sent to the family of Imagawa, a large Suruga country. hostage. Although he lost his freedom, Motoyasu was valued by Imagawa Yoshimoto. Not only did he live a worry-free life, but he also received a sufficient education. However, people from Sanhe who followed Motoyasu, such as Ishikawa Susho and Torii Motochu, could not help but feel pain when they saw him gradually integrate into the Imagawa family. One day, Yuan Yasu returned to Okazaki, Mikawa, and reunited with the old ministers of Sakai Tadaji who had served his father in order to pay homage to his father. He learned that they were dissatisfied with the Imagawa family and wanted to revive the Matsudaira family. However, for Ieyasu who admires Yoshimoto, the thoughts of these people are really a burden

In 1560, Imagawa Yoshimoto attacked the Owari territory of the Oda family. Yuan Kang bid farewell to his wife and carried out the task of transporting food to Dataka Castle attacked by the Oda army. With great difficulty, he escaped from the onslaught of the enemy and reached Dagao City. However, he soon heard the news that Oda Nobunaga led an army to attack. Yuan Kang recalled in his mind the unpleasant time spent with Nobunaga. Under the siege of the Oda army, Yuan Yasushi faced a major choice: whether to return to Suruga where his family was waiting for him, or go to his hometown of Mikawa, or stick to Dataka Castle. His decision will lead his life to be constantly in crisis and endurance, which will kick off the heroic life in the future.