Chapter 0093: Dividing the 'Cake'
"Your Majesty, the navy plans to construct a total of five 'Kaiser-class' battleships; I humbly request that Your Majesty bestow names upon the remaining four," remarked Admiral von Tirpitz, his eyes glistening with anticipation as he gazed at Wilhelm II.
Previously, five 'Helgoland-class' battleships were commissioned, leading Admiral von Tirpitz to naturally expect the same for the 'Kaiser-class.'
No one opposed this notion. Although each battleship's construction cost is exceedingly high, resulting in a total exceeding three hundred million marks, the navy's capacity to undertake such an endeavor meant that dissenting voices were scarce.
Wilhelm II nodded thoughtfully. "The lead ship of the 'Kaiser-class' shall be named 'Kaiser,' the second 'Frederick the Great,' the third 'Catherine,' the fourth 'King Albert,' and the fifth 'Regent Louis Leopold.'"
With a moment's hesitation, Wilhelm II swiftly assigned names to the soon-to-be-constructed vessels, leading to speculation that he had long since prepared these names, waiting for the shipbuilding plan to be approved before unveiling them.
"Your Majesty is indeed wise; these names are splendid!" Admiral von Tirpitz immediately offered his praise.
Others, including Qin Tian, chimed in with their own compliments, much to Wilhelm II's delight, as a broad smile graced his face.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, the navy plans to construct a total of eight battleships of two classes. Which shipyards will be entrusted with their construction?" inquired Count von Warren, chairman of the naval technical committee.
The previous three classes of warships had largely been commissioned to the German Shipyard, leaving other yards with mere scraps. Despite the navy distributing some orders to smaller shipyards, the desire for large warship contracts remained strong; after all, such contracts represented both substantial profits and a mark of prestige for the shipyards capable of fulfilling them.
Wilhelm II remained silent, looking to Qin Tian, as the designs for both classes of warships were his. The German Shipyard possessed ample large slipways, many of which were now available. They could easily accommodate the construction of all eight vessels, though it might prove a slight strain.
Qin Tian smiled, understanding that Count von Warren represented the interests of numerous shipyards. The German Shipyard's acquisition of several substantial military contracts had undoubtedly stirred envy among competitors. If they were to secure both the 'Moltke-class' battlecruisers and 'Kaiser-class' battleships in one fell swoop, other shipyards would likely voice their discontent, potentially making the German Shipyard a target of collective resentment. While Qin Tian had no fear of such backlash, he saw no reason to provoke it. As a prince, competing for profits would undoubtedly breed dissatisfaction among many.
"Regarding the construction of the 'Moltke-class' and 'Kaiser-class' battleships, I propose that the lead ships, 'Moltke' and 'Kaiser,' be built at the German Shipyard. As for the remaining vessels, I believe the navy should have the discretion to decide," Qin Tian suggested.
Securing two out of eight battleships constituted a considerable share. Assigning the other six to various shipyards would ensure a more equitable distribution of benefits, allowing others to partake in the bounty afforded by the navy's expansion. Winning the support of these influential shipyard owners was crucial, as Germany operated within a capitalist framework, where their voices held significant sway. Qin Tian had no desire to alienate such powerful figures.
Furthermore, the German Navy could not rely solely on the German Shipyard; it required the collective effort of many yards to flourish. Qin Tian also intended to construct large oil tankers at the German Shipyard to accumulate experience for future aircraft carrier projects.
"Let us proceed as the prince suggests!" Wilhelm II declared with satisfaction. Qin Tian's willingness to share the spoils rather than hoard them for himself pleased Wilhelm II immensely. He saw in Qin Tian a burgeoning maturity, resembling not just a prince but a potential ruler.
Count von Warren sighed with relief. Qin Tian had not monopolized the contracts, allowing several shipyards the chance to secure orders. The six large warship contracts would surely satisfy at least six major shipyards.
"This lad, does he truly not even surpass twenty years of age? How can he exhibit such sophistication?" thought von Moltke to himself, increasingly convinced that Qin Tian's demeanor bore no resemblance to that of someone under twenty; rather, he appeared more like a cunning old fox. This led him to ponder whether opposing Qin Tian was a prudent choice.
Meanwhile, Admiral von Tirpitz regarded Qin Tian with admiration. He had intended to remind the young prince to avoid greedily accumulating all the benefits, only to find that Qin Tian had already grasped this principle.
"The German Empire is truly fortunate to have such a prince!" Admiral von Tirpitz mused inwardly.
In truth, Qin Tian was hardly driven by the allure of profits. With the expansion of the German Lottery Company's operations across Europe and America, he reaped substantial monthly returns. Compared to this, the profits from military shipbuilding paled in significance.
His interest in the German Shipyard stemmed from its immense influence. After all, battleships were a pinnacle of technological achievement, and shipyards capable of producing them were the crème de la crème. Such shipyards were regarded as key enterprises in any nation.
Additionally, Qin Tian hoped the German Shipyard would invigorate the broader shipbuilding sector, motivating others to accelerate their development. This would undoubtedly bolster the strength of the German Navy.
Thus, in his pursuit of enhancing the German Navy's capabilities and ensuring victory in future conflicts, Qin Tian devoted considerable effort.
Under his careful orchestration, the commissioning ceremony for the 'Nassau' battleship was a resounding success, with all attendees reveling in the occasion.