Zhongshi shook his head gently: "I will neither persuade nor stop me. Before the adults make a decision, I only have one word in my heart: None."

"Oh." Tokugawa Ieyasu nodded.

At this moment, Kamihara Kohei Taikamasa laughed loudly. "You are so sleek at Qilang Youwei. It turns out that you have to follow the will of your lord completely. But it is indeed reasonable."

"Lord," Heisuke spoke again, imitating Kamihara Kohei Yasumasa's tone, "Please give me a spear in this battle."

Tokugawa Ieyasu nodded and stood up. He suddenly understood that he shouldn't ask his retainers for their opinions. If they don't listen to their opinions, it may be possible to plant the root of disputes. So he immediately said, "The sun is about to set. Let's go back."

He looked up again at the mountains connecting Kakai and Shinshu. Whether the Takeda family wins or the Tokugawa family wins, the mountains will still stand there... Thinking of this, Tokugawa Ieyasu suddenly felt a burst of compassion.

Back in the city, Tokugawa Ieyasu asked his servants to bring wine for the first time. The food was still white rice with half of wheat rice, and three dishes and one soup.

Because of Tokugawa Ieyasu's frugality, Okazaki's granaries are full. There is no delicacy in the food without mountains and seas, and it is even more aftertaste when chewed. Every grain of wheat contains a long and delicious food. In fact, the same is true for life and battle.

"I want to drink today." Tokugawa Ieyasu said to the inferior who was serving the side, and he drank the muddy wine with a bitter expression. He was not addicted to alcohol. He just wanted to understand the feelings of those who were addicted to alcohol. What kind of enjoyment did they get in the wine? In Tokugawa Ieyasu's view, wine was useless except for making people forget themselves. While drinking, Takeda Shingen's shadow appeared before his eyes.

The wine tastes bitter and you can't taste the sweetness at all. If you drink this way, the only feeling is bitterness.

"It tastes sweet. Not too bitter." He seemed to suddenly remember something, "Call Saigo." He ordered his servants and then sipped the hot soup.

Saemon Saetsuki Saemoto was about to leave the city, but he was stopped by the servant sent by Tokugawa Ieyasu.

"The lord is having a meal?"

"It's done soon. Wait." Tokugawa Ieyasu finished speaking, ignoring him. After drinking three bowls of hot soup, he spoke, "Where is the thing I have placed with you?"

"thing?"

"Did you forget? Didn't I tell you the summer before yesterday?"

"You mean—Ai?"

"Remember. Let Ai come here." Saigo Saemon Saemon looked at Tokugawa Ieyasu blankly, and then looked at the wine pot next to him. Saigo knew that his lord Tokugawa Ieyasu was not the kind of person who joked after drinking. Even so, the whole city was in a tense atmosphere because of the rumors that the Takeda family was about to invade Mikawa, but it was ridiculous that the lord suddenly ordered Ai to come.

According to Tokugawa Ieyasu's instructions, the Qing official adopted Ai as his adopted daughter the summer of the previous year and raised her two children on his behalf. But he was still a little unfair. Since he was an adopted daughter, he should get married in two or three months; but unexpectedly, there was no reply after two years. Therefore, the Qing official kept telling himself that the lord was just a joke and should not take it seriously, and he also persuaded Ai in this way.

Seeing the Qing officer hesitating, Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was not drunk, urged harshly: "What are you hesitating about? Is Ai's health unwell?"

"Yes." The clerk seemed to want to say something, but finally stood up. Tonight's Tomorrow, Ieyasu, looked so cold that it was impossible to refuse.

After Qingshou left, Tokugawa Ieyasu picked up the wine glass again and asked someone to pour wine. It was really strange to drink after the meal... Although the servants around him were puzzled, they still filled him with obediently. But Tokugawa Ieyasu had no intention of drinking immediately, so he asked the servants to leave the food and leaned lazily on the support table.

The sun finally collected the last ray of light, a candlelight was lit in the room, and the flames rushed towards the high roof. Somewhere there was a sound of insects. About half an hour later, Ai Xixiang finally came over with the Qing official.

"I heard you just finished your meal." Ai fell to the ground. Tokugawa Ieyasu didn't reply, but just looked at her. For a long time, Tokugawa Ieyasu fought east and west, and racked his brains for victory or defeat and the survival of the family every day. Although I think of Ai occasionally, I really have no time to go to find her.

Moreover, Mrs. Tsuyama, Masamoto, has been having conflicts with him since she was released from the Imakawa family, which has made Tokugawa Ieyasu have no mind at all about Ai... In addition to the many complicated matters, although Tokugawa Ieyasu often thinks about Ai, she can't attract her.

Ai was obviously neglected and seemed uneasy. Her eyes were shy and she guessed Tokugawa Ieyasu's thoughts. She was worried and made her look even more pretty. Under the candlelight, her smooth skin looked very delicate.

"Cheung, please go back and rest." Tokugawa Ieyasu said, still staring at Ai.

"Yes." The Qing officer agreed, but did not stand up.

"What are you still rushing? Go back and rest!"

"Yes. Then, Ai..." He looked at Ai who was lying on the ground and stood up. The two servants who were accompanying him also felt nervous.

"Ai, look up. I can't see you."

“Yes…yes.”

"Come on. I have something to tell you."

"grown ups?"

"Do you remember what I said? From tonight, you will be responsible for my daily life. Do you understand?"

Ai looked at Tokugawa Ieyasu in surprise. She voiced low and lowered her head: "Yes...yes."

Tokugawa Ieyasu's eyes were still staring at Ai: "Do you understand? Answer me clearly."

"Yes... I understand..."

"Okay! That's it! Let's face the Takeda family." After Tokugawa Ieyasu said, he covered his stomach and laughed wildly. No one knew what he was thinking.

Can acquired efforts change a person's destiny? To change things that cannot be changed will be futile in the end; if you can change but don't work hard, you are lazy. In other words, there is a destiny that changes due to people's acquired efforts, and there is indeed a life dominated by fate. What is confusing is that people cannot move against the will of heaven, but people are moved because they hope to escape fate.

Tokugawa Ieyasu is now standing at this crossroads, carefully comparing the pros and cons of life. If you regard your destiny as something absolutely unchangeable, it will inevitably lead to extinction; if you regard yourself as an absolute existence that can change everything, you will fall into vain and blind movement. But no matter how you judge the world, people can only regard themselves as an absolute existence and have no other way. Whether it is success or failure, what people have to do is to practice according to their own will.

Hearing Tokugawa Ieyasu's unquestionable tone, Ah Ai seemed to understand immediately. From now on, her fate is to try to obey. Tokugawa Ieyasu's order seemed cold and ruthless on the surface, but pointed out the direction for the confused people.

"Ai, if you really understand, take the cup and come here."

"Yes." After a long time, Ai seemed to have finally made up her mind. She walked to Tokugawa Ieyasu. Tokugawa Ieyasu drank all the wine in the glass and handed the cup to Ai. He found that Ai's hands were no longer shaking as hard as before, and couldn't help but smile.

Looking at Ai, he seemed to suddenly understand what she was worried about. For a woman who gave her whole heart to love, the most feared thing is the death of her beloved man. But who can predict life and death? Incredible, Tokugawa Ieyasu's heart gradually calmed down and began to carefully appreciate Ai's beautiful face. Life is like wine, and only after you taste the bitterness can you taste some sweetness.

"Thank you." Looking at Ai pouring wine for herself, Tokugawa Ieyasu said softly, "You have a good temperament and a great appearance. You will have a wonderful life in the future."

"Thank you...thank you, sir."

"Don't be polite. Benduo is here, you can relax."

Hontasasa Zaemon came to the entrance and saw Ai in the room, he couldn't help but smile: "It's rare to see the lord drinking."

"I can't bear it anymore: I can't stand it next to the bed, how can I allow others to use it!"

Sasaemon looked up at Tokugawa Ieyasu with a worried look on his face. If possible, I really want to persuade Tokugawa Ieyasu to let the Takeda family go. According to his experience, when encountering a surging rapids, the best way is to hide. Because it does not flow to the sea, the rapids will not stop by themselves. Only when the stream becomes more relaxed can you build a dike and dam to guide it. Or find a way to lead the disaster to the Imakawa family next to it, and even join forces with the Imakawa family to resist the Takeda family.

"What do you think?"

"If I object, will the lord listen?" Zuo rolled his eyes and looked at Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Tokugawa Ieyasu immediately scolded: "Bastard! If you have any opinions, it is my business to make a decision."

"Thank you... Thank you." Zuo Zaemon put his posture in a correct position and leaned on the ground and said, "Since the lord said that, I have nothing to say. If you ask us to die, we will not hesitate for a moment."

Tokugawa Ieyasu stared at Sasaemon tightly, then turned to look at Ai. "Saozuo, you actually talked about death. Ai's weird guy." Ai was silent, and Saozuo's words seemed to remind her of something.

"I have put life and death aside. Life and death are decided by the gods and Buddhas, and I only need to do what I should do." Tokugawa Ieyasu said with a sigh.

"Master."

"What's up?"

"I thought you were abrupt person."

"Your words are too much."

"No, no, I'm telling the truth. I didn't expect that you could ignore life and death at a young age and you didn't hesitate to use your life to fight."

"You are becoming more and more able to speak."

"It seems that I am a mistake now. Then please exude your youthful passion and heroic spirit." Zuozuo regained his careless expression, "But I think it's better not to be too young and vigorous."

"What did you say?"

"No, no, this may be my worry. I just think I should not be too young and energetic. Before Oda reinforcements arrived, I rashly entered the danger. Of course, maybe I was too concerned."

Tokugawa Ieyasu frowned slightly and said with a wry smile: "You always pour cold water on the end. I don't have that kind of pride anymore."

"That's my concern. You're so amazing. I hope your will and determination can be conveyed to every warrior."

Tokugawa Ieyasu nodded. Unconsciously, Saemon talked about morale issues. He intended to remind Tokugawa Ieyasu that he must disclose his determination to all his retainers and not let any Takeda people go.

"Okay, that's it!" Tokugawa Ieyasu stood up with a serious expression, striding into the yard, looking up at the night sky. He no longer had any fear and confusion, and the night air blew coolly into his heart.

"Come on Takeda's family? And, Imakawa's family, what will you do?"

(Thanks to "kingleo" for its 100-point reward support.
Chapter completed!