At first glance, having returned from the fronts of the First World War to his family in Harbin, Russian Army Colonel Alexander von Adelberg leads the life of a peaceful everyman. Having exchanged his military uniform for a civilian suit, he goes to work at the office of the Chinese Eastern Railway, attends dinner parties and balls with his wife, receives guests, and goes to the dacha. His son Sashik is growing up in an atmosphere of love, trust and, it would seem, has no secrets from his parents. However, the peace and well-being of the city rests on a fragile balance. Too many divergent military and political interests converged on the territory of Manchuria.