As Vasilisa resigns herself to a loveless marriage and the unromantic, unrelenting hard work of village life, Napoléon Bonaparte's armies invade Russia and the Patriotic War begins.

Heartbroken by Vasilisa's marriage, Ryazanov departs with a detachment of Russian soldiers for the front and throws himself into the fighting.

When she learns of the destruction of Ryazanov's regiment in a bloody French victory against the Russians, a grieving Vasilisa is obliged to admit both to herself and to god the depth of her devotion to the nobleman.

Emboldened by their early victory, the French occupy greater amounts of Russian territory, and take military possession of where Vasilisa lives.

The French forces murder peasants, impound food, rape women and execute any resistors.