Chapter 380: Money... Still Damn Money

"Before that, allow me to first report on the loan situation," Wang Wenwu took the assessment report from his briefcase, opened it, and said, "As of this month, Lanfang owes Deguo a loan principal of 30 million pounds, with a contractually agreed annual interest rate of five percent, and interest of 4.5 million pounds has accrued."

William's expression brightened temporarily. Money, again money. The war had drained Deguo's gold reserves, and now at last the time for repayment had arrived.

"Mr. Wang, you know the special circumstances under wartime..."

"Of course, I understand," Wang Wenwu interrupted gently, "President Chen Feng has specifically instructed that Lanfang, as Deguo's friend, is willing to provide assistance. So we have a proposal."

He turned to the last page of the report and placed it before William.

"Specifically, what do you want?" he asked, his eyes fixed on Wang Wenwu.

Wang Wenwu opened his briefcase again, this time taking out the stack of photographs. He spread the photos on the desk one by one—panoramic view of a battleship in the dock, a close-up of the Main Gun turret, details of the bridge, and the layout of the anti‑aircraft gun positions.

William II sat up sharply. As an avid naval enthusiast, he recognized at a glance what it was.

"This is..."

"Bismarck Class battleship," Wang Wenwu said, "standard displacement 41,000 tons, length 251 meters, beam 36 meters. Armed with eight 380 mm Main Guns, twelve 150 mm secondary guns, sixteen 105 mm anti‑aircraft guns, and a large number of medium and small caliber anti‑aircraft weapons. Armour Belt thickness 320 mm, deck armor 120 mm, turret front armor 360 mm. Propulsion system: twelve high‑pressure boilers, three steam turbines, maximum output power 150,000 horsepower, maximum speed 30 knots, range 8,500 nautical miles."

With each figure he quoted, William's eyes brightened a bit. These specifications far exceeded any of Deguo's active battleships, and even surpassed the Bavaria Class battleship still in the design stage.

"These two battleships," Wang Wenwu pointed at the photos, "the 'Yangtze' and the 'Yellow River', of course also the newly launched ones undergoing final outfitting at Lanfang's Dubai naval shipyard. They are expected to enter service in three months."

William stared at the photos, his throat a little dry. He could imagine what the sight of these two giants in the North Sea would be— they could crush any Yingguo active battleship, and might even alter the entire naval strategic balance.

"Do you... are you willing to sell?" his voice was hoarse.

"Yes," Wang Wenwu nodded, "and we can accept non‑cash payment."

The study fell silent for a few seconds. William II's gaze shifted between the photos and the loan report, his mind calculating rapidly. A 30‑million‑pound loan, two world‑top battleships...

"Price?" he asked the most crucial question.

Wang Wenwu quoted the figure instructed by Chen Feng: "For a single Bismarck Class battleship, since it is a transfer of active equipment and considering strategic value and technical secrecy, our price is 30 million pounds per ship. Two ships total 60 million pounds."

"Sixty million!" William nearly sprang from his chair, "Mr. Wang, do you know Deguo's annual military budget? Do you know how many submarines sixty million pounds could build?"

"I know," Wang Wenwu remained calm, "but I also know that the appearance of two Bismarck Class ships in the North Sea would cause the Royal Navy to reassess the blockade risk. I know they could escort Deguo merchant ships to break through the blockade line. I know they could become the most powerful diplomatic chip in Your Majesty's hand."

He paused, his voice softened a bit: "I also know that Your Majesty now needs a victory most of all, even a potential, as‑yet unrealized victory. These two ships represent that hope for victory."

William fell silent. He sat back down, his hands braced on his forehead. Wang Wenwu's words struck the deepest anxiety in him— he needed hope, Deguo needed hope, the whole nation needed to see a possibility of breaking the impasse.

"Sixty million... we cannot afford it," finally, he admitted the humiliating fact.

"That's why I said we could accept non‑cash payment," Wang Wenwu opened another page of the report, "The plan is as follows: the loan we owe your country directly offsets the price of one battleship. For the other battleship, your country must pay cash—but we understand your fiscal situation, so we accept installment payment, a twenty‑percent down payment, with the remainder to be paid within ten years after the war."

William quickly calculated in his head. A 30‑million debt offset, plus a 6‑million down payment, would secure two Bismarck Class ships. Paying the remaining 24 million after the war, while still a large sum, at least would not have to be produced now.

"What are the conditions?" he asked, "Besides the loan offset, what other terms?"

Wang Wenwu raised three fingers, "First, the delivery of the two battleships must be conducted under absolute secrecy. Lanfang's crew will sail them to the designated sea area, after which the Deguo Navy will take over the ships. During this period, if intercepted by the Royal Navy, the risk is borne by your country."

"Can two ships really break the stalemate?" William muttered to himself, more as a question to himself.

"At least it can break the naval stalemate," Wang Wenwu said, "Admiral Tirpitz has told you the fleet needs time, that is a fact. But if two Bismarck Class ships join, time will be on your side. You can tell the British: either negotiate, or face a rapidly modernizing Deguo Navy."

William stood up and walked to the window. The roses in the garden were still in bloom, but in his eyes they had lost their color. His fingers unconsciously brushed the window frame as his mind raced wildly.

Money, or power?

Gold, or battleships?

Short‑term pain, or long‑term hardship?

"Forty‑eight hours," finally, he turned, "Give me forty‑eight hours to consider. I need to consult the Ministry of Finance, the Navy Department, and the General Staff."

"Of course," Wang Wenwu also stood, "I will be waiting at the Foreign Ministry Guesthouse. However, allow me to remind Your Majesty—time waits for no one. Each day, Verdun devours more lives. Each day, Yingguo's blockade tightens. And these two battleships can appear in the North Sea in three months."

He packed away the photos and documents, gave a slight bow to the emperor, and turned to leave.

After the study door closed, William II stood where he was, unmoving for a long while. His gaze fell on the Verdun battle report on the desk, the numbers seeming to mock him— 8,000 lives, what did they buy? A 300‑meter advance?

Then his eyes landed on those battleship photos. Steel behemoths, firepower massive, armor heavy.

Power.

He needs power.

Even if the cost is a third of the treasury's gold.

Outside, the sky grew even gloomier, the first raindrop struck the glass, leaving a winding water streak.