1757. In Europe, the Seven Years’ War is raging—later Winston Churchill would call it the “First World War” because most European and American states took part in it. Captain-Lieutenant Aleksandr Belov continues his military career and receives an assignment to a cuirassier regiment as rotmaster. Aleksey Korsak, recovering from a severe wound he received in a naval battle near Memel, passionately discusses the situation with his old friend, Prince Nikita Olenyev. However, none of them—these bold cadets—imagines that Fate, personified by the all-powerful chancellor of the empire, Bestuzhev, has already prepared a new, deadly dangerous test for them. And to overcome all obstacles, they will have to remember their favorite motto again: “Fate and the Motherland are one!”