Ivan Shadrin, a peasant who became a soldier, goes to Petrograd in order to convey a letter to Vladimir Lenin with questions that concern his comrades.

Ivan Shadrin, a former peasant and now a soldier, is sent by his comrades from the German front to revolutionary Petrograd to deliver a letter to Lenin containing their questions.

Wandering through the Smolny Institute with a rifle and a kettle in search of boiling water, Shadrin accidentally encounters a short man in a three-piece suit.

During a reconnaissance mission in Tsarskoye Selo, Shadrin nearly captures a White Army general but ultimately lets him escape.

Shadrin is also present during this meeting, where Lenin and Stalin encourage him, saying, "Next time, a soldier won't hesitate before a general!"