After numerous retreats and skirmishes, Kutuzov crosses the Danube and successfully engages Mortier's division of the French forces. Despite the victory, a third of the Russian troops are disabled, with the rest more ill-fed and ill-equipped than before. Kutuzov dispatches Prince Andrey to report the victory to the Austrian court at Brünn. Exuberant from participating in battle, Bolkonsky becomes dispirited when the Austrian war minister receives the news with indifference.
At Brunn, Bolkonsky lodges with Bilibin, an acquaintance of his circle known for his wit and urbanity. From his diplomatist friend, Andrey learns about the behind-the-scenes politicking of the war. The Austrians are dissatisfied, says Bilibin, because Kutuzov allowed most of Mortier's division to escape. Moreover, the Austrians support Russia's troops on their land and Napoleon still occupies Vienna. Bilibin foresees that Austria will make a secret peace with the French and turn against Russia. After Prince Andrey has an audience with the Austrian emperor Francis, he decides to quickly return to fight with the exhausted army, although they will be unable to hold off the French at the next battle. He has seen enough of the gamesmanship attitude of the controlling powers.
At first Kutuzov refuses to allow Andrey to go to the front under General Bagration. We will be lucky if one-tenth of Bagration's men survive, he says. The exhausted army of Prince Bagration must hold off the entire French force while Kutuzov and the main body of men and supplies gain a safe retreat and await fresh reinforcements from Russia. Fortunately, Murat believes Bagration's tiny force to be the whole army and he sues for a three-day truce. Napoleon, however, orders Murat to attack.
As Prince Andrey is first shown around the fortifications, he takes notes in order to make suggestions to Bagration. He overhears a conversation between two officers, one of whom is Captain Tushin, one of the"unsung heroes" of the coming campaign. Tushin expresses Tolstoy's fatalistic view of death. The front lines are so close together that the French and Russian soldiers talk together and share a joke. But their guns and cannon face each other in mute menace.
