Compared to William and Joey, when the weekend party was so rotten that it couldn't be rotten anymore, and when they were torturous and restless, the second eldest of the Frederick family, Prince Albert Wilhelm Heinrich, stood on the bridge of the flagship of the Royal German Navy's global fleet "Caesar", looking at the British Royal Navy's Admiralty Admiralty Base in Victoria Bay, Hong Kong, and couldn't help but smile at the corners of his mouth.

Every sailor who has been on the sea for a long time will be inexplicably excited when he sees the land that he has been away from for a long time. Due to the reason to avoid the summer typhoon in the Pacific Ocean, the Grand Fleet's journey to Hong Kong was more than two weeks later than expected, and although the voyage was arduous along the way, the entire fleet did not suffer any losses in this typhoon.

With Singapore as its garrison headquarters and the flagship of the British Royal Navy's Chinese fleet in Hong Kong, the ironclad ship "Iron Duke" began firing a 21-shot national salute to welcome the arrival of the German Grand Fleet. With the end of the Royal Navy's national salute, the German Royal Navy's "Caesar" also began to fire a 21-gun salute in return.

On the pier at the Admiralty base, Vice Admiral Robert Coot, commander of the Chinese fleet of the British Royal Navy, and Baron Barland, the German minister to China, warmly welcomed the commander of the Grand Fleet, Rear Admiral Ernst Otto von Dietrich, and his party.

After a warm dinner with the British, Heinrich returned with Minister Barand to the German Consulate on Queen's Road East, where Minister Barand handed over several letters and telegrams to Prince Heinrich in a secret office at the consulate.

After patiently waiting for Prince Heinrich to read all the letters and telegrams, Minister Barand looked at Prince Heinrich, who was very similar to his old friend Crown Prince Frederick when he was young, and said with a smile, "Henry, you have read the entire diplomatic plan of the empire for the Qing Kingdom, if there is anything you don't understand, just bring it up." ”

"Uncle Maximilien, this plan has been implemented to that point, is Qing Guo's reaction consistent with what this plan expected?" Heinrich asked his first question.

"Henry, your question is really beyond my expectations. That's a great question! After complimenting him, Minister Barand told Heinrich in detail about the current progress of the plan.

1. Regarding the contradictions between Qing and Japan, former US President Grant is still actively mediating, but due to Minister Barland's high-level hints to the Japanese behind his back, the Japanese are now far tougher than the Japanese in history.

Originally, according to the development of history, after President Grant intervened in mediation, the Japanese agreed to assign the two islands of Miyako and Yaeyama in the Ryukyus to the Qing Dynasty according to the plan of "sub-island revision", but in the restoration of the Ryukyu court, the Japanese refused to agree to the request of the Qing government, and finally led to the abortion of the "sub-island re-treaty" plan.

2. Wanyan Chonghou, who was sent to Moscow by the Qing State to negotiate on the Ili issue, had already set off, and if he had followed the schedule, he would have arrived at the port of Hamburg.

And the latest news from the Foreign Ministry in Berlin is that the Russians will fully cooperate with the work of the Reich Foreign Ministry.

3. The Qing and French countries have become like fire and water on the Indochina issue, and under the impetus of the Qing hardliners, the Qing army under the jurisdiction of the governor of Liangguang has begun to actively prepare for war, and the Hunan army, the most effective local army in the Qing state, has begun to move to Guangxi.

In response to this situation, Minister Barand said that he was confident that there would be a war between Qing and France, so as to relieve the military pressure of the empire on the German-French border.

4. The purchase intention of the German guns of 3.4 million taels of silver has been determined, but on the issue of gun suppliers, Crown Prince Frederick has other plans and is ready to hand over the business to Sir Gruson's company, so the formal contract between the two parties has not yet been signed.

Minister Barand told Crown Prince Frederick's second son about this trade secret without concealment.

5. In order to reward the Krupp enterprises for their support for the crown prince's new economy, under the coordination of Sir Grusen, the counterparts of the German Coal and Iron Union agreed to transfer Germany's coal and iron interests in the Far East to the Krupp enterprises.

The cooperation of Kaiping's fine cotton soil factory was handed over to Heidelberg Cement Company, the future giant of the German building materials industry and the future giant of the world's cement industry. At the same time, Kaiping Fine Cotton Soil Plant is also the first cement enterprise in East Asia, and in the foreseeable future, Heidelberg Cement will make a lot of money.

In the future of the Swiss and Mexicans' cement company war, HeidelbergCement will be the winner at the starting line.

At the same time, according to Professor Richthofen's exploration of the mineral deposits of the Qing Kingdom, under the recommendation of Li Hongzhang, an important minister of the Qing Dynasty, Li Hanzhang, the elder brother of Li Daren and the governor of Huguang, agreed to the Krupp enterprise, and at the same time participated in the development of iron ore and the establishment of steel mills in Daye, Hubei.

If all goes well, Daye Steel Plant will be established nearly 30 years ahead of history.

Considering the possible construction of the Qingguo Railway in the future, Krupp Enterprises has also prepared two 450-ton blast furnace technologies with great enthusiasm to be placed in Daye Steel Plant. Now that the agreement for the steel mill has been signed, we are waiting for the Qing State to allow the construction of the railway.

6. After the Grand Fleet is repaired in Hong Kong, it will go to Tianjin on the date and route designated by the Qing government, and be inspected by the Qing Dynasty. It will provide armed backing for the next step of mediation between Qing Russia and Qing Japan.

At the same time, the key point is that the Grand Fleet must show the majesty of the Imperial Royal Navy, and pave the way for the next German plan to sell large warships.

7. Last but not least, Henry will visit the Qing royal family on behalf of the Hohenzollern royal family, and will express his goodwill attitude towards the Qing royal family and government on behalf of the German royal family and the top level of the government, and formally support all the efforts of the Qing state to safeguard its imperial power through the Qing-German peace and mutual assistance treaty.

Among them, Henry not only had to meet with the Qing royal family in Qing costumes, but also apologized for the harm caused to the Qing by Western countries on behalf of the Hohenzollern royal family, and most importantly, in this goodwill diplomacy, he also had to invest in railways, warships, and more mines and factories.

While looking through the letters and telegrams again, Heinrich listened to Minister Barand explain the story behind these seven demands, Heinrich gently rubbed the table with his hand a few times, looked up and asked, "Uncle Maximilien, in fact, the key to whether the first six things can be handled well lies in my performance in the last thing?" ”

"Yes, Henry, that's the heart of the whole plan." Minister Barand nodded.

"To what extent will I be allowed to do my own thing, or do you really want me to be like a marionette and follow Berlin's schedule?" Heinrich continued.

"Hehe, Henry, now I feel more and more that joining the Navy does not seem to be the wisest choice for you, and being a diplomat is the most correct choice." Minister Barland looked at Heinrich and quipped, "I'll call someone in, and he'll give you an answer." ”

With that, Minister Barand got up and opened the door, whispered a few words to the guards guarding the door, closed the door again and sat back on the sofa.

Not long after, there was a knock on the door, followed by an acquaintance whom Heinrich knew, "Master Michel Fadrien?" ”

Heinrich was delighted to see an acquaintance of the royal family in the far east, and Heinrich's best friend at the Charlottenburg Palace, the master of German court jewels. For a long time, the models of warships in Heinrich's cupboard were made by Master Fadrien.

After a cordial and warm hug, Master Fadrion asked the guards to bring in a model of a silver warship, a model of a modified pre-dreadnought-class battleship designed by Mr. Patrick Barnaby and Joey.

There is a slight difference from the model that Joey showed to Crown Prince Frederick, first replacing the Imperial Navy with three identical yellow satin dragon flags, representing the bow naval flag, the mast flag, and the stern naval flag. The selection of the Huanglong Banner was confirmed only after consulting the Qing ambassador to Germany, Li Fengbao. After all, the current Daishimizu Division does not have the Western etiquette system of naval flags.

Secondly, the bow is no longer decorated with the Hohenzollern family crest, but with two golden oriental dragons, which is also from Ambassador Li Fengbao's suggestion.

On the base of the last ship's red sandalwood, not in German, English or French, but in Manchu and Chinese fonts, the seal is engraved with a line of dense words "Dedicated to the Great Qing Dynasty Dezong, the same day to carry the .....", the signature is the Hohenzollern family of the German Empire.

Heinrich circled around the large model several times in a row, shaking his head and nodding his head, his eyes were always reluctant to give up this beautiful warship, and finally he reluctantly withdrew his gaze and asked Master Fardrion, "My dear old Mike, who designed this warship?" Oh my God, when did the Imperial Royal Navy design such a beautiful warship, and it was so big?! ”

"His Royal Highness, the design of His Royal Highness Prince Waldemar, Mr. Patrick Barnaby."

"Jojo's teacher?! How does the name sound British? "Heinrich was a little confused.

"Your Royal Highness, His Royal Highness Prince Waldemar now has several governesses from England, and Mr. Barnaby is just one of them." Master Fadrion laughed.

"Oh my God, did my parents arrange more than one tutor for Jojo? Old Mike, you know, Mr. George Hindpeter had tormented Willie and me to madness, and now he has hired several governesses for Jojo, tsk..."

Seeing the embarrassed Master Fardrion and Minister Barland, Heinrich blinked, and then laughed at himself, "I've been floating at sea for three months, and when I see acquaintances, I talk a lot.... Hey, Uncle Maximilian and old Mike, I didn't say anything indecent, did I? ”

"Master, I don't think we heard anything!" Minister Barand asked at Master Fadrion.

"Of course, Your Excellency, Ambassador."

"Okay, let's go back to the question just now, that is, the point of dealing with the Qing Emperor is to give this gift?" Heinrich asked.

"Yes, Henry. In addition to the warship, the master also brought a silver model train, as well as some German-made, precious jeweled table clocks. His Royal Highness, on behalf of the royal family, is ready to give them to the two most powerful queens of the Qing Kingdom. In addition, the gifts sent by the German railways are also on the way to Beijing. Minister Barland added.

"Oh... My father can touch the realm of Imperial diplomacy? Heinrich asked curiously.

After Minister Barand glanced at Master Fadrion, the master took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Heinrich before leaving, saying, "Your Royal Highness, this is the letter that His Royal Highness Prince Waldmar has entrusted me to bring to you. ”

After the two of them returned to the state of the secret room, Minister Barland said softly, "Henry, now that your father has returned to the center of the power arena in Berlin, according to the latest information I have received, the Prime Minister now fully supports your father's work. ”

Heinrich blinked vigorously, he really didn't expect his father to change so drastically during his three months of sea voyage.

After half a ring, Heinrich was finally able to accept this change calmly, and said with a smile, "So, I can play freely in how to interact with the Qing Emperor, and my father and the prime minister, is this also the meaning?" ”

"Well, yes." Minister Barland nodded, and then looked at Heinrich, who was a little too proud, and said, "Henry, the important reason for letting you play independently is not because the prime minister or your father thinks that professional diplomats are inferior to you, but because the emperor of the Qing Kingdom is not yet eight years old, and we feel that instead of letting an old man who is dozens of years old talk about feelings, it is not necessarily better than you, an eighteen-year-old child." ”