Chapter 225: Direct? No, that's called candor!

Feng Yage cleared his throat: "Your Majesty, allow me to remind you, Lanfang may be our friend, but they are not Deguo. Such a powerful navy appearing in the Far East, in the long run…"

"In the long run, they are the best pawn to balance the Yingguo Far East fleet!" Wilhelm II interrupted, "Yage, look at the map. Yingguo has a base in Singapore, a fleet in India, influence throughout the Far East. Now? Now Lanfang has shown the world with one naval battle: the Far East's maritime hegemony is about to change!"

He walked to the map, his finger traced from the East Sea to the South Sea, then to the Strait of Malacca: "Lanfang has Borneo, Dubai, and now they have proved they can control the East Sea. If someday they clash with the British… then the British will have to pull forces from the home fleet to the Far East. What does that mean for us?"

Xiao Maoqi's eyes lit up: "It means Yingguo's power in the North Sea will weaken."

"Correct!" Wilhelm II nodded approvingly, "So this is not a threat, it's a heavenly opportunity! We need Lanfang, we need them to check Yingguo, we need their oil, and we need… their technology."

The last sentence silenced the study. The three ministers exchanged glances, all understanding the emperor's meaning.

"Your Majesty," Tilpitz said cautiously, "you mean we should propose technological cooperation to Lanfang?"

"Not just propose, demand!" Wilhelm II walked back to his desk and sat, "We are allies, aren't we? We have given Lanfang shipbuilding, artillery, and armor technology. Now they have better stuff, sharing it with an ally is proper!"

Feng Yage frowned: "Your Majesty, this could be diplomatically sensitive. Lanfang people value technological independence, Chen Feng that person…"

"Chen Feng is a smart man." Wilhelm II waved his hand, "He knows who the real friends are. Yingguo? Yingguo only tries to limit him. Faguo? Faguo is too busy with itself. The Americans? The Americans only care about business. Only Deguo, only me Wilhelm, have supported him from the start, helped him build a navy, build industry!"

He stood, walked to the window, and looked at the garden of the Carefree Palace outside. Morning mist was lifting, sunlight spilling onto the meticulously trimmed lawn.

"Yage, send a telegram to the ambassador in Dubai. No, I'll dictate it myself."

He turned and began pacing, speaking as he walked:

"To the President of the Lanfang Republic, Excellency Chen Feng: I am pleased to hear of your nation's glorious victory at sea in the East Sea. I, representing the Deguo Empire and myself, extend my warmest congratulations to you and your navy's officers and soldiers. This battle not only showcases the strength of your navy, but also proves the preciousness of the German‑Lanfang friendship. I look forward to deepening our two nations' cooperation in military, technology, economy and all fields, jointly safeguarding peace and prosperity in the Far East and the world. May our friendship flow like the Rhine forever."

He paused, thought, then added: "One more line: I have instructed the Imperial Navy Department to engage in comprehensive technological exchange with your navy, sharing the latest achievements, jointly confronting the new era's maritime challenges."

Feng Yage recorded swiftly, but his brow furrowed tighter: "Your Majesty, won't phrasing like 'comprehensive technological exchange' and 'sharing the latest achievements' be too… direct?"

"Direct? No, this is called candor!" Wilhelm II shrugged, "Chen Feng will understand my meaning. Moreover, he knows Deguo is his most reliable ally. By the way, have the ambassador convey privately another line: if Lanfang needs, Deguo is willing to provide more loans for naval and industrial expansion. Interest… can be favorable."

Xiao Maoqi couldn't help speaking up: "Your Majesty, our finances are also tight, war expenditures…"

"The war will end soon!" Wilhelm II said confidently, "The Russians won't hold out long, the French won't hold out long either. When we win, there will be plenty of money! But now investing in Lanfang is for a longer‑term future!"

He walked to the map, his finger pointed at Europe, then slowly moved eastward, crossing Osman Diguo, crossing Persia, finally stopping at Dubai.

"Look, gentlemen. The railway from Berlin to Baghdad we have planned for over a decade. Now Lanfang controls the Persian Gulf, controls oil. If they cooperate… all Middle‑East oil can be shipped via this railway to Deguo. By then, will we still have to worry about the Yingguo blockade? Still worry about oil shortages?"

The three ministers' eyes lit up. The vision was too tempting—a land‑based energy corridor from Deguo's heart straight to the Persian Gulf, completely freeing us from reliance on sea routes.

"Thus," Wilhelm II concluded, "Lanfang's victory is Deguo's victory. We will make them stronger, let them check Yingguo in the Far East, and at the same time obtain the technology and resources we need from them. It's a win‑win, gentlemen, win‑win!"

Feng Yage finally nodded: "I understand, Your Majesty. I will arrange the telegram at once."

"Also," Wilhelm II called him, "tell the ambassador to discreetly inquire whether Lanfang has plans to expand oil production. If so, Deguo is willing to underwrite all increased output, at preferential prices."

"Yes."

The three ministers bowed and left. The study was left with only Wilhelm II. He returned to the map, stared at the East Sea's position, a smug smile curling at his mouth.

"Well done, Chen. Well done."

What he didn't know was that at the same time, in London's Naval Ministry building, another group stared at the same intelligence, their faces ashen.

London, Naval Ministry Building, First Sea Affairs Minister's Office, 9 a. m.

The office's atmosphere was so tense it could be wrung for water. First Sea Affairs Minister Admiral Fischer sat at the head, opposite him were the Director of Naval Intelligence, the Chief of Operations, the Chief of Equipment, and several senior naval officers. In front of everyone lay a thick report, its cover stamped "Top Secret".

"Gentlemen," Fischer began, his voice hoarse, "I'm seventy‑three years old now, but my eyes are still sharp. I assume you've all read the report. So, tell me your thoughts."

Silence. An unsettling silence.

Finally, Junior Admiral Oliver was the first to speak: "Marshal, if the report is accurate—I trust our intelligence officers—then we must reassess the entire balance of naval power in the Far East and worldwide."

"Be more specific." Fischer's fingers tapped the table.

"Specifically," Oliver rose, walked to the massive world map on the wall, "the Lanfang navy used four battleships to annihilate four of Japan's most elite battlecruisers within an hour. Technical analysis shows they achieved this at a Distance of at least 25,000 yards."

He jabbed the East Sea with a riding crop, "That Distance exceeds the Effective Range of all active Royal Navy capital ships. In other words, if a fight broke out in the North Sea today, our battleships would be destroyed before they could even fire."