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In order to make the naval competition more lively, at the end of June, Zhang Wei arranged for David Stern of the Standard Arms Company to announce to the outside world that seven Lanfang-class battleships would be delivered to the Lanfang Kingdom by January 1, 1907.

This news immediately threw itself into the water like a boulder, causing a thousand waves, making the little hearts of dignitaries and naval officials of various countries thump in fright. In the past, everyone only suspected that the standard weapon company had a close relationship with the Lanfang Kingdom, but no one was optimistic about this weapon company that had just started business, but now it seems that it is not simple, and the organization that can start construction of 7 battleships at the same time must have a deep background and extraordinary strength. I just don't know how the newly built Lanfang Kingdom has such a large financial resource to order 6 battleships at one time.

Many people speculate that either the Lanfang Kingdom is the puppet launched by the mastermind behind the weapon company, or the Lanfang Kingdom hugs the big tree, and the two cooperate, anyway, there are all kinds of speculations.

No matter how you guess, all countries have begun to actively study countermeasures, and by the end of the year, there will be 11 new battleships in the world, and if they do not have them, then their coastal defense will face great security.

The first to think about this problem was the Americans, who designed the South Carolina-class battleships that never went into production, and now it seems that it was a very wrong decision, so the president gave an order to start production immediately, and it was the same as the two battleships.

Secretary of the Navy Victor H. Metcalfe said: "Your Excellency, it seems a little late now, even if we are now in full production, and we will not be in service until 1908 at the earliest, how will we deal with the crisis at sea in these two years?" You know, the Lanfang Kingdom is too close to our Philippines. ”

"It doesn't matter, now we are friendly with the Lanfang Kingdom, and we have provided them with 200 million US dollars in free aid, so that they can go to war with Japan, and when the war is over, they will rest and recuperate, how can it take 2 years, and at that time our battleships will already be in service."

"That's still too few, only 2 ships, and they are not the opponent of the Lanfang Kingdom's navy. Judging from the news from the embassy in Shangjing, it is the South Carolina-class battleships that are in service, and they are not their opponents, in terms of displacement, ours is close to 3,000 tons; Our main guns are less than 2, and they are 50 times the warp, ours only needs 45 times the warp; The power is 8500 horsepower less; The speed of ours is only 18.5 knots, and theirs is 21 knots, and overall it is still not as strong as the Lanfang-class battleships, and they are not their opponents. ”

"And what's the Admiralty's opinion?"

"Your Excellency the President, we should contact the United Kingdom and buy the battleships of the Lanfang Kingdom together, we have strengthened the navy and have new battleships in advance, and the Lanfang Kingdom does not have battleships, so it will not affect the security of our Philippines."

"They still have 1 battleship and 6 battlecruisers for the time being, and they will receive 7 battleships by the end of the year, and then there will be 8 battleships in the Lanfang Kingdom, and we can't eat so much with Britain."

"Your Excellency President, the latest news is that Germany and Japan have sent people to contact the Lanfang Kingdom to prepare to buy battleships, in this case, let's add the United Kingdom, exactly 4, and buy all their 8 battleships, if the Lanfang Kingdom continues to order battleships, it will take 2 years before they can enter service, and we will not be afraid of him at that time."

"Well, that's a good idea, and the Secretary of State immediately contacted the British Foreign Office. The Admiralty continues to design new types of battleships, with larger displacements, faster speeds, longer range of main guns, larger calibers, and stronger power, and our Navy of the United States of America cannot afford to lag behind. ”

"Yes, Your Excellency."

The same thing happened a few days later in London's Downing Street Prime Minister's residence.

The Foreign Minister said: "Your Excellency Prime Minister, judging from the information sent back from the embassy in Shangjing of the Lanfang Kingdom, there is still a big gap between our newly launched Dreadnought-class battleships and the Lanfang-class battleships, our displacement is only 18,000 tons, while the displacement of the Lanfang-class battleships is more than 20,000 tons, the power is 2,700 horsepower greater than ours, and the range of the main gun is also farther than our main gun, their main gun is 305mm, 50 times the warp, ours is only 45 times the warp. ”

"How do the three battleships that have just been put into production compare?"

Admiral Fisher, First Sea Lord, said: "Your Excellency, the three Bellerophon-class battleships that have just been put into production are still slightly behind the Lanfang-class battleships in terms of speed, main guns, and power. ”

"Your Excellency, where is the gap?"

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, our artillery technology is not as good as theirs, we can only produce 45 times the warp at present, and the range and muzzle velocity are not as good as the Lanfang-class battleships; Our power system is not as good as the Lanfang-class battleships, ours can only provide 22,300 horsepower, and their power is 25,000 horsepower. ”

"Can you make up for it as soon as possible?"

"It's not up to their level for at least two years."

"What is the Admiralty's opinion?"

"The Admiralty means that we want to buy 2 Lanfang-class battleships, and we can compare and study them, which can improve our overall shipbuilding level and design capabilities. Now France has purchased 2 Lanfang-class battleships, and Germany, Japan, and the United States all have the intention of buying them, and now they have sent people to the Lanfang Kingdom to negotiate. ”

The foreign minister said at this time: "Yesterday, the US Secretary of State contacted me, hoping that we will cooperate to buy all the battleships received by the Lanfang Kingdom at the end of the year, and now Germany and Japan have sent people to Lanfang to negotiate the purchase of battleships, we cannot lag behind, and after buying all the battleships of Lanfang, our Asian colonies will be safe, and at the same time strengthen the strength of our navy." ”

"Well, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs communicates with the United States, and the Admiralty sends someone to the Lanfang Kingdom to buy battleships."

Fisher immediately said at this time: "Your Excellency, our Admiralty means to buy 2 battleships and 2 battlecruisers, and 10 destroyers. “

"This is over budget and needs to be approved by the council."

"The Lanfang-class battlecruiser is exactly what suits our British Empire, just like it was specially designed for us, and the navy of the Lanfang Kingdom calls it the overlord of the sea. Its speed is very fast, the new battleships can't catch up with it, the other warships that can catch up with it are not its opponents, the old battleships are not its opponents in terms of speed and firepower, if it encounters a lone old battleship, it can be easily solved. Our colony is so vast that we need this kind of battlecruiser to protect. “

"Well, you can arrange for someone to leave as soon as possible, and I will persuade the council to agree to this procurement."

"Yes, Your Excellency Prime Minister."