Summary
Kutúzov continues his strategy of restraint, holding back his troops from attacking Napoleon's retreating army. He knows the French are already destroying themselves—they don't need help. Meanwhile, Napoleon's army carries what Tolstoy calls 'the chemical elements of dissolution.' They've been looting instead of planning, consuming resources instead of preserving them. The army is rotting from within. At a war council, all the French generals dance around the obvious truth until a simple soldier named Mouton says what everyone's thinking: they need to get out, fast. Nobody can argue with that brutal honesty. But there's still shame in admitting defeat. Then Napoleon gets the shock he needs. While inspecting his troops, Cossacks nearly capture him. They only fail because they get distracted by loot—the same greed that's destroying the French army saves its emperor. This close call gives Napoleon the excuse he needs to do what he already knew he had to do: retreat. Tolstoy makes a crucial point here—Napoleon didn't cause the retreat through leadership. The same forces destroying his army were acting on him too. Sometimes we think we're making decisions when really, circumstances are making them for us. The key is recognizing when you're already beaten and having the courage to act on that knowledge.
Coming Up in Chapter 298
The French army begins its infamous retreat, but the real horror is just beginning. Winter is coming, and Napoleon's forces are about to face their greatest enemy yet.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
From the time he received this news to the end of the campaign all Kutúzov’s activity was directed toward restraining his troops, by authority, by guile, and by entreaty, from useless attacks, maneuvers, or encounters with the perishing enemy. Dokhtúrov went to Málo-Yaroslávets, but Kutúzov lingered with the main army and gave orders for the evacuation of Kalúga—a retreat beyond which town seemed to him quite possible. Everywhere Kutúzov retreated, but the enemy without waiting for his retreat fled in the opposite direction. Napoleon’s historians describe to us his skilled maneuvers at Tarútino and Málo-Yaroslávets, and make conjectures as to what would have happened had Napoleon been in time to penetrate into the rich southern provinces. But not to speak of the fact that nothing prevented him from advancing into those southern provinces (for the Russian army did not bar his way), the historians forget that nothing could have saved his army, for then already it bore within itself the germs of inevitable ruin. How could that army—which had found abundant supplies in Moscow and had trampled them underfoot instead of keeping them, and on arriving at Smolénsk had looted provisions instead of storing them—how could that army recuperate in Kalúga province, which was inhabited by Russians such as those who lived in Moscow, and where fire had the same property of consuming what was set ablaze? That army could not recover anywhere. Since the battle of Borodinó and the pillage of Moscow it had borne within itself, as it were, the chemical elements of dissolution. The members of what had once been an army—Napoleon himself and all his soldiers--fled without knowing whither, each concerned only to make his escape as quickly as possible from this position, of the hopelessness of which they were all more or less vaguely conscious. So it came about that at the council at Málo-Yaroslávets, when the generals pretending to confer together expressed various opinions, all mouths were closed by the opinion uttered by the simple-minded soldier Mouton who, speaking last, said what they all felt: that the one thing needful was to get away as quickly as possible; and no one, not even Napoleon, could say anything against that truth which they all recognized. But though they all realized that it was necessary to get away, there still remained a feeling of shame at admitting that they must flee. An external shock was needed to overcome that shame, and this shock came in due time. It was what the French called “le hourra de l’Empereur.” The day after the council at Málo-Yaroslávets Napoleon rode out early in the morning amid the lines of his army with his suite of marshals and an escort, on the pretext of inspecting the army and the scene of the previous and of the impending battle. Some Cossacks on the prowl for booty fell in with the Emperor and very nearly captured him. If the Cossacks did not capture Napoleon then, what saved him was the very thing that...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Necessary Retreat
When we know a situation is failing but wait for external drama to justify the action we already know we need to take.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to spot the early signs when organizations, relationships, or situations are failing from within.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when people start hoarding information, avoiding responsibility, or explaining away obvious problems—these are your early warning signs.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Strategic Restraint
The military tactic of holding back from action when your enemy is destroying themselves. Kutúzov refuses to attack because Napoleon's army is already falling apart from within.
Modern Usage:
Like not arguing with someone who's already digging their own hole deeper on social media.
Chemical Elements of Dissolution
Tolstoy's phrase for the internal forces that destroy an organization from within. The French army carries the seeds of its own destruction through poor discipline and looting.
Modern Usage:
When a company culture becomes so toxic that good employees start quitting without being fired.
War Council
A formal meeting of military leaders to discuss strategy. In this chapter, French generals meet but can't face the truth about their desperate situation.
Modern Usage:
Like those workplace meetings where everyone knows the project is failing but nobody wants to say it out loud.
Cossacks
Russian cavalry warriors known for their fierce independence and hit-and-run tactics. They nearly capture Napoleon but get distracted by plunder.
Modern Usage:
Think of them as the special forces of their time, but with a weakness for grabbing whatever they can carry.
Retreat vs Rout
A retreat is organized withdrawal; a rout is panicked flight. Napoleon needs to frame his necessary retreat as strategic rather than desperate.
Modern Usage:
The difference between 'stepping back to reassess' and 'running away screaming' - same action, different spin.
Historical Determinism
Tolstoy's belief that events are shaped by larger forces, not individual decisions. Napoleon thinks he's choosing to retreat, but circumstances are forcing his hand.
Modern Usage:
When you think you're making a choice but really the situation has already decided for you.
Characters in This Chapter
Kutúzov
Russian commander-in-chief
Shows masterful leadership by doing nothing. He restrains his own troops from attacking because he knows Napoleon's army is destroying itself. His patience and wisdom contrast with everyone else's eagerness for action.
Modern Equivalent:
The experienced manager who doesn't panic when competitors are making obvious mistakes
Napoleon
French Emperor and military leader
Faces the reality that his army is falling apart but struggles with the shame of retreat. Gets the wake-up call he needs when Cossacks nearly capture him during an inspection.
Modern Equivalent:
The CEO who built an empire but now has to admit the company is failing
Dokhtúrov
Russian general
Follows orders to advance to Málo-Yaroslávets while Kutúzov holds back the main army. Represents the competent subordinate who executes strategy without questioning.
Modern Equivalent:
The reliable team leader who handles the tough assignments without drama
Mouton
French soldier
The only person at the French war council brave enough to state the obvious truth - they need to get out fast. His blunt honesty cuts through all the generals' diplomatic dancing.
Modern Equivalent:
The frontline worker who tells management what everyone already knows but won't say
Key Quotes & Analysis
"That army could not recover anywhere. Since the battle of Borodinó and the pillage of Moscow it had borne within itself the chemical elements of dissolution."
Context: Tolstoy explaining why Napoleon's army was doomed regardless of strategy
This shows how some damage can't be undone. The French army's discipline and morale were so broken that no amount of tactical brilliance could save them. The rot was internal and irreversible.
In Today's Words:
Once you've poisoned the well, you can't just move to a new location and expect clean water.
"Nothing prevented him from advancing into those southern provinces, but nothing could have saved his army."
Context: Responding to historians who claim Napoleon should have moved south
Tolstoy argues that strategic options are meaningless when your fundamental situation is hopeless. Geography couldn't fix what was broken about Napoleon's forces.
In Today's Words:
You can change your location, but you can't run away from your problems.
"How could that army which had found abundant supplies in Moscow and had trampled them underfoot instead of keeping them recuperate anywhere?"
Context: Explaining why the French army was beyond saving
This highlights how self-destructive behavior becomes a pattern. An organization that wastes resources when times are good won't suddenly become disciplined when times are hard.
In Today's Words:
If you can't manage money when you have it, you won't suddenly get smart when you're broke.
Thematic Threads
Self-Deception
In This Chapter
Napoleon and his generals all know they need to retreat but can't admit it until forced by external circumstances
Development
Deepening from earlier chapters where characters rationalized their choices
In Your Life:
You might catch yourself making excuses for staying in situations you know aren't working
Leadership
In This Chapter
Kutúzov shows true leadership by restraint, while Napoleon's leadership is revealed as reactive rather than decisive
Development
Contrasting leadership styles have been building throughout the war sections
In Your Life:
Sometimes the best leadership decision is knowing when not to act or when to step back
Truth-Telling
In This Chapter
Simple soldier Mouton speaks the obvious truth that all the generals are dancing around
Development
Continues theme of common people seeing clearly what elites obscure
In Your Life:
The person willing to state the obvious truth often has the most power in the room
Internal Decay
In This Chapter
The French army carries 'chemical elements of dissolution'—greed and indiscipline rotting them from within
Development
Building on earlier themes about how corruption spreads through systems
In Your Life:
You can spot failing organizations by watching for hoarding, blame-shifting, and resource waste
Circumstantial Forces
In This Chapter
Tolstoy shows how the same forces destroying the army also act on Napoleon—he's not above the patterns he's caught in
Development
Reinforces ongoing theme that individuals are shaped by larger forces beyond their control
In Your Life:
When you're struggling, consider whether you're fighting circumstances or working with them
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why couldn't the French generals at the war council say what soldier Mouton said so plainly—that they needed to retreat immediately?
analysis • surface - 2
How did the same greed that was destroying Napoleon's army end up saving him from capture by the Cossacks?
analysis • medium - 3
Think about a workplace or organization you know—what are the 'chemical elements of dissolution' that show when a system is rotting from within?
application • medium - 4
Napoleon needed the shock of nearly being captured to justify doing what he already knew he should do. What's something in your life you know needs to change but you're waiting for 'permission' to act?
application • deep - 5
Why is it often easier to see problems in other people's situations than in our own, even when the warning signs are obvious?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Permission Audit
Make two lists: situations in your life where you're seeing warning signs but haven't acted, and external events you're unconsciously waiting for to give you 'permission' to make changes. For each situation, write down what the early warning signs are telling you and what action you'd take if you gave yourself permission right now.
Consider:
- •Look for patterns where you explain away obvious problems
- •Notice if you're waiting for someone else to make the decision for you
- •Consider what you'd advise a friend in the same situation
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you waited too long to act on something you knew needed to change. What would have happened if you'd trusted your instincts earlier instead of waiting for external permission?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 298: The Psychology of Retreat
What lies ahead teaches us people create intermediate goals to survive overwhelming challenges, and shows us mass psychology can override individual rational thinking. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.