1906 Midsummer, Kiel. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

Near the pier of the Naval Academy, a large, strange-looking ship is quietly bathed in bright sunlight. Its three main masts are tall and thick, the most common three-mast schooner structure of the sail era, but in the middle of the deck stands two round chimneys, and the white-painted hull has neither the stern structure of a large sailing ship nor the deck of a steamship, and the bow and stern are basically at the same level. In the 20th century, it was like the occasional strange concovert that was out of step with the dress of the people around it, but in the mid-19th century, when human navigation technology transitioned from sail power to steam power, such ships with steam engines abounded. The pace of development of the booming industrial age is so rapid that the sailing ships that were active in all corners of the world a few decades ago have gradually become obsolete from history. The "warriors" who had weathered storms and rough waves were either chopped into pieces and burned or left in the harbor as floating museums or private collections, with only a small number still fulfilling their original mission.

Because it was moored, the three-masted schooner hoisted a black, white and red flag of nationality on the highest mast, and the sails were neatly folded under the crossbar. It is the "Charlotte" training ship of the German Royal Navy, although the country's first- and second-tier fleets have long been fully replaced with steam steel ships and even some small ships using internal combustion engines, in order to train the resilience and teamwork spirit of the new sailors and naval cadets, they have always retained the sailing long-distance training program. Having just completed her naval recruit training in the spring of 1906, the Charlotte will carry more than 300 elites from the Kiel Naval Academy to experience the unique charm of the vast blue ocean.

Most of the naval cadets who were about to join the voyage were busy packing up and shopping for personal belongings, while members of the royal family, descendants of nobles, and descendants of admirals who were studying at the Kiel Naval Academy were gathering at the Kiel Palace of the German Imperial Family, together with royal representatives, naval officials and other important people to attend for Feng. Earl Warren's Honour and Retirement Ceremony.

Feng. Count Warren's full name is Fritz. Schilt. Feng. Warren was the Chief Engineer of the German Navy's Design Department, Director of Shipbuilding, and Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Royal German Navy. Born in 1833 into a prominent aristocratic family in Schleswig, then Denmark, the Warren became a Prussian province with Holstein after two major wars in the sixties of the 19th century, the Prussian-Prussian and Austro-Prussian wars, and the Warren family swore allegiance to the Prussian king and later the German emperor. As a young man, the count served in the Danish Navy, taking part in the blockade of the coast of the North German Confederation by the Danish fleet and in the Battle of Helgoland against the Austro-Prussian Combined Fleet in 1864. After becoming a Prussian citizen, the count joined the Prussian Navy, where he gave up the opportunity to continue serving on warships in favor of the field of ship construction and design.

During his forty years of service to the Prussian and Second German Reich navies, Count Warren supervised the design and construction of hundreds of ships, presiding over the design and construction of the famous Saxony-class ironclads, Brandenburg-class battleships, the "Bismarck" armored cruiser, the Prince Heinrich-class armored cruisers, and many classes of cruisers. His conscientious, responsible, and meticulous work attitude enabled every warship designed by the naval department to become an excellent work representing the level of the German shipbuilding industry, and the Saxony-class ironclad ships became the most distinctive and practical coastal defensive armored warships of that era.

During his long tenure as chief designer and shipbuilding director of the German Navy, Count Warren was not only a creative designer, but also a down-to-earth executor, whose personal opinions never put the overall interests of the country and the navy above all else, and even at his peak, he always handled his work with a humble and low-key attitude. In spite of his reservations about Prince Joachim's bold and innovative design, he immediately led the design departments of the Navy to overcome the difficulties of the existing technology, so that two large warships, which were important to the German colonial strategy, entered the actual construction stage as soon as possible. The first ship of the class has completed the construction of the hull at the Blomfors shipyard in Hamburg, and the grand launching ceremony marked a wonderful end to his illustrious shipbuilding career.

In recognition of Feng. Count Warren for his contribution to the development of the German Navy, the German royal family awarded him the Order of the Red Eagle of the first class, which is a high honor in Germany after the Order of the Black Eagle and the Order of the Red Eagle of the Grand Cross class, mainly awarded to the soldiers and outstanding military leaders who fought bravely in battle, and its winners include national heroes who fought against Napoleon, generals who performed well in modern battles, as well as scholars with outstanding achievements in the field of science and art and diplomats of other countries who have made important contributions to the German political environment. It has a fairly high influence and honor value. Kaiser Wilhelm II was unable to attend, and the Order of the Red Eagle was presented by Prince Heinrich, commander of the German High Seas Fleet, another important member of the royal family.

Count Warren, who wore the medal, was undoubtedly the only focus of the scene, and people paid their most sincere respects to this hard-working shipbuilder, and Natsuki was no exception. In fact, he had known Count Warren for more than ten years, and when the cadets of the Navy were still ignorant of the Iron Warships of the Imperial Navy, and had no idea who had designed and built these sea monsters, he had been granted free access to the secret office quarters of the Navy with the Emperor's permission and the approval of the Secretary of State for the Navy. In Natsuki's mind, Count Warren's approving smile was still as warm as the winter sun.

"A teacher for a day, a teacher for life." Natsuki translated this oriental quote into German and presented it to the earl, even if they could not remember the day when the two ceased to be master and apprentice, and had a heated argument over the design of the Scharnhorst-class armored cruiser and the new battleship, at this moment, they seemed to go back to the past, back to the purest and best time, like-minded and sympathetic.

Endless feelings were revealed in his eyes, and under the attention of everyone, Count Warren could only say respectfully: "The future of the German Navy is entrusted to His Highness!" ”

At the time of his retirement, Count Warren was the head of the German Navy's design department as chairman of the German Royal Navy's Technical Development Committee, chief superintendent of naval shipbuilding, and chief adviser to the Naval Act. After his retirement, there was a lot of speculation about who would succeed him in leading the naval design. If it had been two years ago, Colonel Bruckner, the chief engineer of the Navy, would have been the most anticipated candidate, and although the design scheme of the Scharnhorst-class armored cruiser and the new battleship project was not omitted, the performance of Prince Joachim, the "Hohenzollern genius", was too eye-catching, and his royal status attracted many snobs to tout, so that many people thought that he would at least take over the post of chief superintendent of the German Royal Navy, and the emperor and the secretary of state for the navy did consider the feasibility of such a position. But Natsuki took the initiative to refuse-even if a 16-year-old boy was talented, he was not suitable for such an important role that should not be neglected. At his suggestion, the Emperor and the Secretary of State for the Navy confirmed in principle that Colonel Bruckner would take over the important role, and at this time the appointment was still undecided and speculation continued, so Count Warren sent such a message to Natsuki.

The frustrated Bruckner was not far away, but Natsuki couldn't walk over and tell the old man that his long-term plan was to become a fleet commander like Prince Heinrich, and he had no intention of competing with him for the "number one position" in the field of shipbuilding. Waiting for Prince Christian of Oldenburg to pay his respects and blessings to the Earl, Natsuki and his hardcore brother withdrew from the crowd and came to the back door of the hall with the juice.

"It's going to be half a year away, and I really want to see Louise again." The seed of infatuation with thick eyebrows and small eyes stared in the direction of Berlin.

"Didn't you see it at the crown prince's wedding? It's only been a few weeks, and the real lovesickness is yet to come! "Natsuki said as if nothing happened, how could he have forgotten the delicate shadow in England far away. The last time the two saw each other was back when he and Louise visited Hill Manor, which means they haven't seen each other for 15 months. Although this voyage training will make a short stop in the British port, Natsuki is not sure whether he will meet it or not.

Christian raised his head and drank half a glass of orange juice, his face full of poet-like melancholy: "O goddess of love, please turn me into the hyacinth in front of her window, and accompany her day and night......"

Natsuki grinned and shook his head: "...... tooth soreness"

"Princes!"

The deep, magnetic voice caused Natsuki and Christian to turn around in unison, and before them was a burly, sturdy middle-aged man dressed in a white German navy summer dress and wearing the Black Eagle Starlight Medal on his chest—a noble and ornate medal awarded only to members of the German royal family.

(End of chapter)