It is 1812, and Napoleon pushes eastward in a war that will affect millions. Napoleon's men are unflinchingly faithful. In this chapter, a colonel unnecessarily flings himself into a river to please his commander. He is given an award. The army pushes eastward at an increasing rate. The Russian army is not ready for war. Tsar Alexander has spent more than a month holding reviews and vacillating in his plans, attending balls and parties instead of readying his troops. Boris and Helene happen to be in attendance at one of these balls, and though both are married, they spend a lot of time together. News of Napoleon's crossing of the Niemen River arrives during the ball.
In the middle of that night, Tsar Alexander sends Balashov out with a message to Napoleon......
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