Chapter 0045: Shared Interests

Kaiser Wilhelm II and Grand Admiral Tirpitz both fixed their gaze on the blueprint Qin Tian had laid on the desk. When Qin Tian first presented the design for the "Nassau-class" battleship, it had left them utterly astounded. Now, though the impact of this new battleship's blueprint wasn't as overwhelming, they understood that this was undeniably a powerful warship—far superior to the "Nassau-class."

Should the German Navy possess such a battleship, it would further elevate their naval strength. If, as Qin Tian predicted, future British battleships were only minor upgrades to the "Dreadnought," then even if the Royal Navy held a numerical advantage, the combat prowess of both the "Nassau-class" and this new battleship would grant Germany the upper hand. This would undoubtedly allow the German Navy to narrow the gap with, or even surpass, the British fleet.

"Oscar, this battleship is exceptional. Its firepower is immense, its defenses are formidable, and its speed is particularly impressive. This is precisely the kind of battleship the German Navy needs!" Kaiser Wilhelm II nodded in satisfaction.

"Your Highness, what is the estimated cost for constructing such a battleship?" Grand Admiral Tirpitz inquired, his concern more practical. Even with the large loans secured from Qin Tian, the navy's budget still required careful management to maximize its power and ensure every mark was spent wisely.

"The estimated cost is around sixty million marks," Qin Tian stated.

At this, both Wilhelm II and Tirpitz were visibly shaken. The price was exorbitant—one battleship alone costing such a sum. Constructing several would amount to billions of marks.

"Your Highness, sixty million marks for one battleship is far too expensive. The navy simply cannot afford such a costly vessel!" Tirpitz shook his head repeatedly.

"Your Excellency, while this new battleship is indeed more expensive than the 'Nassau-class,' its combat capabilities far surpass it. Against the British battleships, it would have an overwhelming advantage. I assume the navy wouldn't want to follow the British example of spending vast sums to build flashy but ineffective ships, would they?" Qin Tian replied with a smile.

Tirpitz found himself speechless. Naturally, he wanted German battleships to dominate the British fleet.

Kaiser Wilhelm II then made his stance clear: "Your Excellency, say no more. I'll find a way to solve the financial issue."

The Kaiser now felt confident, bolstered by the increasing profits from the German lottery company, which provided significant revenues to the royal family. Although the royal household only shared in the profits generated within Germany, it still amounted to over a hundred million marks annually. This windfall, combined with the royal estates and businesses, yielded ample profits. If the royal family were willing to invest in strengthening the navy, its rapid development would be unstoppable.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Grand Admiral Tirpitz beamed with joy. With the Kaiser's support, what more did he have to worry about? For the first time, he felt truly fortunate as head of the German Navy. Watching one cutting-edge battleship after another being launched under his leadership filled him with an indescribable sense of accomplishment.

"Father, how many of these battleships should we build, and what should we name them?" Qin Tian asked.

"And the number? Tirpitz, what do you think?" Wilhelm II turned to the Grand Admiral.

Tirpitz furrowed his brow, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Your Highness, there is one issue that needs to be addressed. The construction of the next class of battleships cannot be exclusively entrusted to the Deutsche Shipyard. The entire 'Nassau-class' was built there, which has already caused considerable dissatisfaction among the other major shipyards. Therefore, for the next generation of battleships, we must take into account the interests of all the shipyards. I hope you understand, Your Highness."

Qin Tian had anticipated this. After all, the leading shipyards of the German Navy had deep roots and complex affiliations. Watching the Deutsche Shipyard consistently secure new battleship orders while they were relegated to building smaller vessels naturally caused resentment. If this continued, Deutsche Shipyard would inevitably become the target of industry-wide animosity.

Even Kaiser Wilhelm II and Grand Admiral Tirpitz could not allow this to happen.

"Oscar, we fully recognize everything you've done for the German Navy and the Empire. But at times, we must consider the broader picture. After all, Germany's naval power cannot rely solely on Deutsche Shipyard. If the other major shipyards don't receive orders, face losses, or even go bankrupt, it would severely impact our shipbuilding capacity, damaging the Empire's long-term interests," Kaiser Wilhelm II added.

Qin Tian nodded. "Father, I understand. For the sake of Germany, it's only right for Deutsche Shipyard to share some of the benefits. For the next generation of battleships, Deutsche Shipyard need only build one. That one will be funded by me, fulfilling my promise to Director Birkenhagen."

Seeing Qin Tian so understanding, both Kaiser Wilhelm II and Grand Admiral Tirpitz breathed a sigh of relief. Wilhelm's perception of his once-reserved and introverted son improved considerably. He even began to think that Qin Tian might be the most suitable candidate for crown prince. Unfortunately, Wilhelm's eldest son, Crown Prince Wilhelm, held the first claim to the throne—a fact that could not be changed.

"Your Majesty, since His Highness is so agreeable, we have no reason to worry. To balance the interests of all the shipyards, I propose we build five of the next class of battleships," Grand Admiral Tirpitz suggested.