Chapter 0005: Donating a Battleship

 "Your Excellency, Dean, please listen to my explanation." Qin Tian said in a hurry.

　　If Dean Ludwig Birkenhagen had sent a telegram to Wilhelm II, then wouldn't all the efforts he had made be in vain?

　　Dean Ludwig Birkenhagen looked at Qin Tian coldly, if it wasn't because of Qin Tian's identity, he wouldn't want to talk nonsense with them at all, and would directly have this uneducated fellow whisked out of the Kiel Naval Academy.

　　"Sir Dean, perhaps in your opinion, entering the Kiel Naval Academy for four years is a great improvement to one's abilities. However, to me, it is a waste of four years. Is it hard to believe that I am going to stay here for the full four years and graduate to serve as a minor ensign?"

　　Dean Ludwig Birkenhagen, directly exasperated by Qin Tian's remarks, trembled all over.

　　"Your Royal Highness, shut up, if you don't wish to join the navy, I won't force you. However, please do not insult the navy. It is with the countless tiny ensign officers who graduated from the Kiel Naval Academy that hold up the German Navy." Dean Ludwig Birkenhagen became furious.

　　"I'm sorry, Your Excellency the Dean, it was me who slipped up." He apologized in a hurry.

　　"But, Your Excellency the Dean. With all due respect, the German Navy has risen to the occasion. However, the gap between it and the British Navy, not only has it not narrowed, but it is widening. The British control most of the colonies around the globe, which allows them to plunder wealth from the colonies with impunity, and then invest it in the construction of their navy.

　　But what about Germany? Our geographic location has forced us to invest a considerable amount of money in our land forces. This makes our investment in the navy far from comparable to that of the British. At this rate, it is simply delusional for us to try to challenge the British Navy."

　　Dean Ludwig Birkenhagen was silent for a while, as an old man who had worked in the navy for decades. He could be said to have watched the German Navy develop from nothing, bit by bit. Naturally, he also knew how big the gap between the German Navy and the British Navy was. Although, Wilhelm II was ambitious to develop the navy, subject to the influence of national power as well as external factors, it was indeed very, very difficult for the German navy to defeat the British navy.

　　"Although, our enemy is very powerful. But, the German Navy will never give in, we will develop even stronger, and we will definitely be able to defeat the British in the future." Dean Ludwig Birkenhagen said stubbornly.

　　Qin Tian nodded, these admirals and officers of the German Navy were all worthy of respect, it was because of their continuous efforts that the German Navy had developed into the world's second largest navy after the British Navy in a short period of time.

　　But so what? The German Navy was ultimately unable to defeat the British Navy. After Germany's defeat, all the warships of the German Navy sank. This left Germany without a strong navy ever since.

　　"Yes, Your Excellency the Dean. I believe that with everyone's efforts, the German Navy will become stronger. However, it will still be very difficult to defeat the British Navy. With the British's financial strength, it's enough to create a twofold main ship crush on us. At that time, how easy will it be for us to defeat them? Naval warships have developed to this level now, the role that luck can play in a naval battle has become smaller and smaller." Qin Tian continued.

　　In the age of sails, luck played a large role in naval battles. However, when the navy's main ships entered the era of ironclad giants, if one counted on luck for victory, then they would definitely lose.

　　Dean Ludwig Birkenhagen couldn't help but nod his head, although he didn't want to admit it, he had to admit that Qin Tian's analysis was on point in every sentence.

　　"Your Royal Highness, could it be that you are so pessimistic about the future of the German Navy that you think we won't be a match for the British?" Dean Birkenhagen asked.

　　"Your Excellency, Dean, frankly speaking, there is no semblance of a chance that the Navy will be able to defeat the British if it continues at its current pace. And once the Navy is unable to defeat the British Navy in the middle of a future war. It will be an absolute disaster for Germany. By then, our coastline will be blockaded, overseas trade routes will be cut off by the British, and we will be surrounded by the enemy. Once the army is also unable to defeat the enemy quickly enough, making the war enter a stalemate phase, I'm afraid that the final result for Germany will be to be dragged out alive."

　　Dean Ludwig Birkenhagen, as well as Karl were all shocked. Obviously, they were all shocked by the scene that Qin Tian had depicted. They had great confidence in Germany. But they also had to admit that the enemy was powerful. And all that Qin Tian had said was entirely possible.

　　"Your Highness the Prince, could it be that Germany will never have another chance?" Karl's voice was trembling a bit.

　　"No, Germany still has a chance. If we can build more main ships with performance that can completely crush the British, then our navy can defeat them. As long as the navy can win, then Germany will be invincible in the future war." Qin Tian said.

　　"However, the Empire simply doesn't have that much money to invest in the development of the navy. Trying to compete with the British in terms of the number of main ships is simply unrealistic." Dean Birkenhagen shook his head.

　　"Indeed, in terms of the performance of the main ships, we are not inferior to the British. However, if we have to fight for numbers, then we're still far behind. So, that's why I'm not willing to waste four years at the Naval Academy."

　　"Your Highness, what does this have to do with your unwillingness to come and study at the Naval Academy? It's precisely because the gap between the German Navy and our enemies is so great that we need a talent like you to join!"

　　Unconsciously, Dean Birkenhagen's hostility towards Qin Tian had dissipated quite a bit. In his opinion, since Qin Tian had these insights, he shouldn't be an uneducated talent right!

　　Qin Tian shook his head, ''Your Excellency, Dean, the most crucial factor restricting the development of the German Navy is nothing more than funding. If I am able to contribute more funds for the development of the German Navy through my own efforts, then it would undoubtedly be more favorable for the German Navy."

　　Dean Birkenhagen could not help but frown, this reason of Qin Tian's seemed too far-fetched or whimsical.

　　"Your Excellency Dean, if I can guarantee that I will donate a battleship to the German Navy within the next four years. Then, will Your Excellency the Dean agree to my previous request?"