Chapter 16

Tirpitz sighed inwardly. The Emperor always simplifies complex strategic issues into dramatic showdowns. But his face remained composed: "Yes, Your Majesty. The construction of the High Seas Fleet is proceeding as planned. With these six new ships, our strength in the North Sea has already risen to……"

"Not six." Wilhelm II interrupted him, "I want more. That Chinese—Chen Feng, how many more can he build?"

According to the contract, we can still receive four sister ships within a year. But the price is extremely high, each costing two million pounds, and half must be paid in gold.

"Give it to him!" Wilhelm II waved his hand, "We have the gold! Is the gold shipped from South Africa just molding in the treasury? No, it must become battleships! Become cannons! Become the scepter with which Germany conquers the seas!"

"The finance minister might……"

"Let Auguste shut up!" Wilhelm II called the finance minister by name, "What does he know? The navy is a future investment! Once we control the North Sea, the British global trade routes will be our ATM!"

Tirpitz remained silent for a few seconds, then chose a different angle: "Your Majesty, that Chinese person…… is he reliable? If he sells us the same battleship, might he also sell it to the British?"

Wilhelm II's laughter echoed in the study: "Alfred, you don't understand Eastern people at all. They value 'faithfulness'. We paid the money, signed the contract, they will fulfill it. Moreover……" He walked to the window, gazing at the palace garden outside, "The British would never buy a battleship from a Chinese. Proud John Bull would never admit that yellow people could build a better ship than theirs."

"But the risk of technology leakage……"

"We didn't just get ships." Wilhelm II turned, his eyes turning sharp, "There's also training, Alfred. Our sailors have undergone several months of intensive training in the Persian Gulf, learning to operate these new warships. That is priceless. When the four new ships are delivered, we will have a full thousand trained core crew members who can radiate throughout the fleet."

Tirpitz finally showed an approving expression: "That's indeed true. The Chinese are very…… systematic in training. Their teaching materials detail every operational step, and they emphasize standardization. Our officers' reports say this training method is two to three times more efficient than the traditional way."

"So you see!" Wilhelm II said proudly, "We're not buying six ships, but a whole set of seeds for a modern navy. When these seeds sprout in Germany……"

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

The Emperor's adjutant, Major von Miller, walked in, stood at attention and saluted: "Your Majesty, General Tirpitz. An urgent telegram from the Foreign Ministry."

"Read it."

"Yes." Miller opened the folder, "Ambassador to London, Count von Metternich, sent a telegram: British Foreign Secretary Lord Lansdowne urgently summoned at 11 a. m. today to express concern over 'the recent abnormal movements of the German Navy'. The wording…… is quite stern."

Wilhelm II laughed: "How stern exactly?"

"Lord Lansdowne's original words are recorded as follows: 'The Royal Navy of the British Empire always maintains surveillance over global waters. Any attempt to break the existing naval power balance will be regarded as a challenge to the British Empire's core interests and will invite corresponding countermeasures.'"

The study fell silent for a few seconds.

Then Wilhelm II burst into even louder laughter: "Challenge? Countermeasures? Alfred, did you hear that? They're scared! The Royal Navy actually used diplomatic language to threaten us! What does that show? It shows they have nothing in hand that can counter the Weser-class battleship! At least not now!"

Tirpitz, however, was not so optimistic: "Your Majesty, this means the British will concentrate all resources on accelerating the construction of the 'Fearless' and may also launch additional shipbuilding programs."

"Let them start." Wilhelm II wiped off his smile, his eyes turning dangerous, "That's exactly what I want. Let the British scatter their fleet across the globe to chase our raiders, draining their finances in a shipbuilding race. Then when the time is ripe……" He walked to the map, his finger tracing from the North Sea to the English Channel, "The German fleet will smash their blockade like an iron hammer."

He turned to Miller: "Send a reply to Metternich. Tell him to respond to the British like this: 'All movements of the German Imperial Navy are within normal training and freedom of navigation, in accordance with international law and the law of the sea. The Imperial government intends no disruption of any power balance, but reserves the right to take all necessary measures to defend national interests.'"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Miller finished recording, but did not leave.

"Anything else?"

"Another report from the military attaché in Cairo, Your Majesty." Miller handed over another document, "The British have set up at least eight concealed observation points along the Suez Canal coast, conducting full-scale photography and measurement of the Weser squadron. The attaché judges that by tomorrow at the latest, these photos will be on the desk of Admiral Fisher at the British Admiralty in Shanghai."

Tirpitz said: "As expected. We never intended to keep it completely secret."

"No." Wilhelm II, however, pondered, "Alfred, what do you think Fisher's expression will be when he sees these photos?"

"Shocked, angry, then demanding additional budget."

"What I want is not just that." Wilhelm II's eyes grew deep, "I want him to be afraid. I want the entire British Admiralty to be afraid. Afraid enough that they start doubting whether their three-hundred-year hegemony is over."

He paced to the desk, picked up a steel pen, and wrote quickly.

"Give the order to the High Seas Fleet Command: After the Weser squadron passes through Gibraltar, do not return directly to Kiel. Go…… to Portsmouth."

Tirpitz jerked his head up: "Your Majesty?"

"A friendly visit." Wilhelm II flashed a sly smile, "Tell the British we just want them to get a close look at our new toy. Invite their officers aboard to tour, demonstrating the smoothness of the steam turbines, the rotation speed of the main gun turrets, the precision of the rangefinders. Be courteous, be gracious, let them see the difference with their own eyes."

"This is too provocative, Your Majesty. It might trigger……"

"Trigger what? War?" Wilhelm II set down his pen, "No, Alfred. The British dare not start a war now. Their new fleet isn't built yet, while we have six of the world's strongest battleships parked on their doorstep. They can only smile, shake hands, and then lie awake at night."

Tirpitz remained silent for a long time, then slowly nodded: "From a strategic deterrence angle, this indeed maximizes the impact of this display. But I suggest sending only two ships for the visit. Having all six appear in British ports might be interpreted as an outright provocation."

"Two ships it is." Wilhelm II agreed, "The Weser and the Rhineland. Let our sailors wear their cleanest uniforms, scrub the decks until they can reflect a person. I want the front pages of British newspapers to be filled with photos of German battleships, headlined 'Visitors from the Future'."

Miller finished recording, saluted, and left.

Only the Emperor and the Admiral remained in the study.

Tirpitz gazed at Wilhelm II's excited back, finally voicing the question that had weighed on his mind: "Your Majesty, do you really think that with just these six ships we can challenge the Royal Navy?"

Wilhelm II did not turn back, his voice suddenly calm: "Alfred, have you read Chinese history?"