War and Peace

At Prince Andrew's estate of Boguchárovo, a power struggle unfolds that reveals how ordinary people respond to crisis and authority. The peasants here are different from those at Bald Hills—they're called 'steppe peasants' and have a history of following wild rumors and mysterious movements, like when hundreds once abandoned everything to migrate toward mythical 'warm rivers.' Now, with Napoleon's army approaching, they're supposed to evacuate, but they're refusing. The village elder Dron finds himself caught in an impossible position. On one side, the steward Alpátych demands he provide carts and horses to evacuate Princess Mary and her belongings, invoking Prince Andrew's orders and the Tsar's authority. On the other side, his own community has decided in secret meetings to stay put, influenced by French propaganda promising they won't be harmed. Dron gives Alpátych excuses—the horses are away, sick, or dead—but Alpátych sees right through him. This experienced manager knows Dron is torn between loyalty to his masters and pressure from his community. The confrontation reveals a fundamental truth about leadership during crisis: when people are scared and uncertain, they don't always make rational decisions, even when their safety depends on it. Alpátych gets a reluctant 'I understand' from Dron, but both men know the real test will come when evening arrives and no carts appear.