Chapter 0155: Tense Atmosphere
"Your Majesty, should we dispatch a warship to Morocco, it may further escalate the situation and provoke a reckless reaction from the French, thereby intensifying the tension," expressed Foreign Minister von Kidderlin-Waechter, concern etched upon his face.
"Let it escalate; what's the worst that could happen? Do the French truly dare to engage us in war?" Wilhelm II replied dismissively. Indeed, although France was Germany's arch-enemy, Wilhelm believed that due to Germany's industrial prowess, military strength, and population—factors which overwhelmingly surpassed those of France—such a threat had become negligible. If it were not for the support of Britain and Russia, Germany could swiftly subdue the French, forcing them to kneel in submission.
Of course, it was precisely this support from Britain and Russia that emboldened the French, allowing them to repeatedly provoke Germany without fear of repercussions.
"Your Majesty, while the French may be insignificant, we cannot overlook the stances of Britain and Russia. Particularly the British, who are quite displeased with our naval expansion. If we were to exacerbate the situation now, they would undoubtedly respond. Once tensions escalate, the situation may spiral out of control," cautioned Prime Minister Bernhard von Bülow.
"Must we do nothing? Allow the French to shamelessly plunder our imperial interests!" Wilhelm II retorted, his dissatisfaction evident.
"Your Majesty, it is imperative to assert the Empire's stance, but we should refrain from igniting a war. After all, our preparations for conflict are far from complete," added Count Tirpitz, the Grand Admiral.
"Count Tirpitz, if we were to go to war with the British now, would our navy prevail?" Moltke suddenly inquired.
Count Tirpitz paused, contemplating before responding, "Chief of Staff, our 'König-class' battleships and 'Derfflinger-class' battlecruisers will not be operational until the end of the year. The 'Bavaria-class' battleships and 'Mackensen-class' battlecruisers are about to commence construction. If we were to engage the British navy with our current fleet, we might have a fifty percent chance of victory. However, naval warfare is unpredictable; many variables can influence the outcome of a decisive engagement."
Wilhelm II nodded in satisfaction; a fifty percent chance of success against the Royal Navy was indeed remarkable. It justified his vigorous support for naval development over the years. Without such progress, Germany would still be far from matching the British fleet.
Wilhelm II understood Tirpitz's implication—that it would be wiser to wait until the 'Bavaria-class' battleships and 'Mackensen-class' battlecruisers were operational before engaging in war. This way, Germany would possess ten battleships equipped with 380mm main guns, along with six battlecruisers also armed with 380mm guns. Such an arsenal would grant Germany a decisive advantage in battleship power, significantly increasing the chances of defeating the Royal Navy.
"A fifty percent likelihood is substantial. Your Majesty, while we may not yet be ready for war, neither are the British. If we were to seize this opportunity and engage them, our odds would still be quite favorable," proposed young Moltke.
Clearly, this suggestion was audacious and had not been contemplated by Wilhelm II or other imperial officials. For everyone, initiating a war that could alter the fate of the Empire and the nation felt hasty. Once war began, halting it before a victor emerged would be impossible. Thus, opinions on whether to declare war were measured, with no one wishing to become a pariah for leading the Empire to defeat. Even the obstinate Wilhelm II hesitated on this matter.
"Declaring war now would be premature. Let us observe the situation's development before deciding," Wilhelm II stated.
"Understood, Your Majesty," Moltke replied, though a flicker of dissatisfaction crossed his eyes.
Qin Tian observed Moltke's reaction with keen interest, fully aware of his thoughts. As Qin Tian's influence within the military grew, the space for figures like Moltke was diminishing. Even as Chief of the Army General Staff, Moltke felt tremendous pressure. Should war erupt sooner, it might alleviate some of that strain.
"Father, the navy could first send a light warship to Morocco to assess the situation, then we can decide on our next steps," Qin Tian suggested.
Wilhelm II nodded, accepting Qin Tian's recommendation.
After the meeting, Count Tirpitz issued orders for the 'Leopard' gunboat to proceed to Morocco. Upon learning this, Qin Tian could only shake his head in exasperation.
"Clearly, history has a remarkable tendency to correct itself! Even though I have altered the world, it appears to be gradually reverting to its original course," Qin Tian mused inwardly.
In another timeline, it was also the 'Leopard' that was dispatched to Morocco. Yet ultimately, that crisis did not escalate into war. Thus, Qin Tian believed that although the current situation was tense, it was unlikely to ignite a conflict.
As of now, Germany's preparations for war remained incomplete. Similarly, Qin Tian's own preparations were not yet finished, with various advanced weapons still in development. He hoped to finalize these preparations before the outbreak of hostilities, thereby increasing the chances of success in any future conflict.
The 'Leopard' gunboat belonged to the Imperial German Navy, classified as an 'Ildis-class' patrol vessel, previously serving in Germany's overseas colonies. Such a small warship lacked the capacity to participate in large-scale naval battles. However, it was precisely this modest vessel that exacerbated international tensions.
The French reacted vehemently to Germany's decision to send a warship to Morocco. The French government threatened that should Germany not withdraw its ship, they would deploy additional troops to Morocco. This ultimatum escalated tensions between France and Germany, creating a situation fraught with hostility.