Chapter 41: and translation of chapter title

Chen Feng took the telegram and quickly decoded it.

The telegram came from Tirpitz:

"Mr. Chen, Your Excellency: I am pleased to hear that Yingguo's 'Fearless' has been launched, as expected. Your Majesty commands me to convey: The German Empire places great importance on our cooperation; it hopes the second batch of orders can be delivered on schedule or even earlier. Furthermore, Your Majesty intends to dispatch a high-level delegation to visit you soon to discuss deeper technical cooperation and strategic coordination. Details to follow. Yours faithfully, Tirpitz."

Chen Feng finished reading, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Emperor Wilhelm could not sit still.

As the Yingguo people catch up, the Deguo people must run faster; only Lanfang can make them run faster.

"Reply." He said to Wang Bo, "The content is as follows: Dear General Tirpitz, Your Excellency: Thank you, Your Majesty, for your attention. The second batch of orders is progressing smoothly; we can consider appropriate early delivery. We welcome the high-level delegation's visit; please inform us of the specific time in advance so we can make arrangements. Regarding deeper cooperation, we maintain an open attitude, but it must be based on the principle of mutual benefit. Sincerely, Chen Feng."

Wang Bo noted it down, hesitated a moment: "Young Master, will the Deguo people accept the term 'mutual benefit'?"

"They must accept now." Chen Feng returned the telegram, "Because besides us, no one can provide the warships they need. And..."

He looked out the window, his gaze deep:

"And they will soon discover that we hold a better card than the Weser-class." (The editor will pluck the successive ships layer by layer).

Berlin, the Navy Ministry building.

In Tirpitz's office, smoke lingered. The Admiral sat behind a massive oak desk, with three reports spread before him: the first was a detailed analysis of the launch of Yingguo's "Fearless"; the second was the evaluation by the military attaché in London of Yingguo's subsequent shipbuilding plans; the third was vague intelligence from the Naval Intelligence Department concerning Lanfang's "Leopard Plan".

Sitting opposite the desk were Prince Heinrich, commander of the High Seas Fleet, and Vice Admiral von Tir, the Navy's shipbuilding director.

"So," Prince Heinrich spoke first, the Kaiser's brother and a senior naval officer, known for his directness: "The Yingguo people have built their own Fearless-class ship, although eight months later than us, but they have built it. Moreover, they plan to build eleven, nearly twice our number."

"Quantity is not the sole deciding factor," Vice Admiral von Tir countered, "Our Weser-class is more balanced in design, and its combat performance..."

"We have no combat performance at all!" the prince interrupted, "The six ships have been back for half a year; aside from training in the North Sea and a trip to Yingguo, they have never fired a shot. Who knows how they will fare in real combat?"

Tirpitz finally spoke, his voice calm but carrying undeniable authority:

"Your Highness, von Tir, arguing is pointless. The fact is: the Yingguo people are catching up, and doing so quickly. According to intelligence, the parameters of Yingguo's 'Fearless' are on par with ours, possibly even slightly superior in some aspects. Once their ten follow‑up ships enter service, the balance of power in the North Sea will shift further toward Yingguo."

He paused, then picked up the third report:

"So, what we need is not just the second batch of four Weser‑class ships. We need … a generational advantage."

Prince Heinrich frowned: "Generational difference? What does that mean?"

"It means that before the Yingguo people catch up, we already possess a next‑generation battleship." Tirpitz pushed the report over: "This is fragmentary information sent back by our engineers in Lanfang—they observed that Lanfang is building a battleship much larger than the Weser‑class, code‑named 'Leopard'. Its size, tonnage, and firepower far exceed existing designs."

Vice Admiral von Tir took the report and quickly scanned it, his face changing: "This… this is impossible. 40,000 tons? 381 mm main gun? 31‑knot speed? With Lanfang's industrial base, how could it be…"

"But our engineers have seen some of the components with their own eyes," Tirpitz said, "the castings of the massive turret, the extra‑long drive shaft, and the new fuel‑oil boiler they are testing—its efficiency is twenty percent higher than ours."

The office fell into silence.

After a long while, Prince Heinrich asked, "Alfred, do you mean… we should purchase this new type of battleship from Lanfang?"

"Not just purchase," Tirpitz's eyes gleamed, "we want to acquire the technology, at least to qualify for joint development. Your Majesty has already approved sending a high‑level delegation to the Persian Gulf to negotiate: purchasing two Leopard‑class ships, obtaining technology transfer, and … establishing a closer strategic partnership."

"Will Lanfang agree?" von Tir questioned, "They are not fools; their core technology is their only bargaining chip."

"So we need to offer a higher price," Tirpitz stood and walked to the world map on the wall, "Money, we have already paid a lot. Technology, we can also provide some. But the most crucial thing is…"

He turned and looked at the two of them:

"We can give them 'living space' on the international stage—tolerate their actions in the South Ocean and even provide limited support."

Prince Heinrich sucked in a breath of cold air: "Supporting them in the South Ocean against the Netherlands? That would provoke a diplomatic incident!"

"The Netherlands?" Tirpitz scoffed, "A third‑rate state living off the colonies its ancestors seized. Moreover, Your Highness, don't you think letting a Chinese power in the South Ocean contain Yingguo and the Netherlands would be advantageous for the Empire?"

He walked back to the desk, his fingers tapping the surface:

"The Yingguo people are now fully focused on us, but they have vast colonial interests in Yazhou. If Lanfang stirs up trouble in the South Ocean, Yingguo will have to divert forces to the Far East, easing our pressure in the North Sea. This is a classic strategic containment."

Vice Admiral von Tir pondered: "But will Lanfang be willing to act as our pawn? That Chen Feng does not look like someone easily controlled."

"It's not control, it's cooperation," Tirpitz corrected, "Each takes what they need. We want warships and technology; they want national restoration and living space. As long as interests align, the partnership can be sustained."

He picked up a pen and signed a document:

"The delegation will depart in three days. I will lead it personally."

"You're going yourself?" the prince exclaimed in surprise.

"This matter is too important; I must negotiate it myself." Tirpitz handed the signed document to his adjutant, "Also, inform the engineers stationed in the Persian Gulf: before their delegation arrives, gather as much detail on the Leopard as possible. We need bargaining chips."

The adjutant received the order and left.

Only three people remained in the office.

Prince Heinrich sighed: "Alfred, we are playing with fire. Lanfang is now like a powder keg. The Yingguo people have already noticed; the Faguo people may also be eyeing it, and the Japanese certainly have ill intentions. If we get too deeply involved, we may get burned."

"Your Highness," Tirpitz said calmly, "since we decided to challenge Yingguo's naval supremacy, we have already been playing with fire. Now the fire is lit—either we learn to dance in the flames, or we will be burned to ashes."

He walked to the window and looked out at the Berlin streetscape:

"Deguo needs a navy, needs a strong navy. Without a navy, we will forever be a second‑rate nation blockaded in continental Europe, forever having to gauge Yingguo's mood. Your Majesty Wilhelm was right: Deguo must have a 'place in the sun'."

"And to gain that place we need a fleet; building a fleet needs technology." Von Tir added, "Lanfang possesses the technology, so we must cooperate—even if it entails risk."

"Yes," Tirpitz turned, his gaze firm, "and I believe that in this game our chips outnumber Lanfang's. We have powerful industry, ample funds, and Your Majesty's support. Lanfang… has only technology and a population of three hundred thousand."

He paused, his tone turning cold:

"If they are wise, they will choose to be the Empire's partner. If not…"

The rest of the sentence went unsaid, but the meaning is clear.

The office fell silent again, with only the ticking of the wall clock.

Outside the window, Berlin's night lights were just beginning to glow.

And in the distant Persian Gulf, another negotiation is about to begin.

A negotiation that will determine the future world order.