Chapter 859: 'Imperial-class' battleship

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In September 1909, the world's major powers began to announce that they would build new battleships to rival the Chinese Navy's 'Tang-class' battleships, which set off a new round of arms race around the world. The already tense atmosphere of the war has become even more tense. And this qiē is exactly what China wants to see. When the Chinese Navy's 'Tang-class' battleships were commissioned, the new battleships of the navies of various countries were probably still on the slipway. If war had broken out at that time, the battleships that had been built at great cost by the countries would not have been put into service. It will be a huge blow for countries. And China can gain a lot of advantages in this regard!

In order to confirm the situation in this regard, the Emperor Wang Yuze summoned Xiong Wu, Chief of the General Staff, and Zhang Cheng, Minister of the Navy, on the afternoon of September 18 to inquire about the relevant situation!

"Your Majesty, our intelligence officers have obtained the relevant plans for the British Navy. In order to compete with the Empire's 'Don-class' battleships, the British Navy will add three more 'Iron Duke-class' battleships to the four, bringing the total number of 'Iron Duke-class' battleships built to seven. The first four will enter service at the beginning of next year, and the next three in three shifts are expected to enter service in two years. In addition, the British Navy has already begun work on the design of new battleships, which are completely aimed at rivaling our 'Don-class' battleships, named 'Queen Elizabeth-class' battleships, which will be built five at once, and it is not excluded that an improved model will be introduced on this basis! Navy Minister Zhang Cheng said with a smile on his face. There are so many resources in each country, and if they all invest in the construction of battleships in the navy, they will be greatly restricted in other aspects. In addition, the Chinese Navy no longer uses battleships as the only decisive weapon. The aircraft carriers that are being secretly built and the aircraft carrier aircraft units that are secretly trained are the killer features of the Chinese Navy!

"Well, the more battleships the British built, the greater the burden on them and the greater the likelihood of collapse!" Wang Yuze nodded. Battleships will eventually become obsolete, and the next big war will break out, perhaps when battleships are at their most glorious. The Chinese Navy has opened the era of new battleships, and will also use aircraft carriers to end this era with their own hands!

"What about the Americans? How much are Americans ready to invest? Wang Yuze asked. The United States was the first target of China's attack after the start of the war. Therefore, Wang Yuze is also particularly concerned. The United States has a large population and a large number of soldiers. If the United States spends a lot of money on the Navy, it will reduce its investment in the Army. This time, the war between China and the United States will not only be about defeating the United States. It is to completely eliminate the United States. To achieve this goal, a large-scale land war is inevitable. Weakening the strength of the U.S. Army as much as possible can create favorable conditions for future land wars!

"The Americans also planned to add two 'Nevada-class' battleships to the emergency situation, and at the invitation of the United Kingdom, the United States joined the British Navy in the design of a new battleship. For this, they paid a price of 20 million pounds. In order to obtain a complete set of drawings and corresponding technology for the British Navy's 'Queen Elizabeth class' battleships. The U.S. Navy named this class of battleships the 'Pennsylvania class', and a total of six are expected to be built! Zhang Cheng replied!

"The British are treating the Americans as wronged, twenty million pounds, if it were the Imperial Navy. Enough to build three 'Don-class' battleships! Xiong Wu, Chief of the General Staff, said speechlessly!

"The Americans have a lot of money and have nowhere to spend it, so the British can help them spend a little. Anyway, the higher the price the Americans pay, the better it is for us! Wang Yuze said with a smile. Any way to weaken the national power of the United States is very beneficial for China!

"陛xià. The other two countries of the Entente, France and Russia, also came up with corresponding plans for naval development. The French Navy announced the construction of 'Dunkirk-class' battleships. But only two will be built. Germany put a lot of pressure on France, and all its resources were invested in building up the army. The French Navy's 'Dunkirk-class' battleships are also expected to use the British Navy's 'Queen Elizabeth-class' battleships. After all, after the start of the war, the main role of the French Navy was to blockade the Mediterranean Sea and fight with the British Navy, and the British would not abandon this ally. As for the Russians, Tsar Nicholas II was not willing to be lonely after such a long silence, and the Russian Navy proposed plans to build two classes of battleships in the future, the first stage was named the 'Gangut class' battleships, four of which were to be built, and the second of the 'Empress Maria class' battleships, which were also to be built, were also four of them. It's just that the Russian Navy has been abandoned a lot over the years, and it is estimated that they will also seek help from the British on the design drawings! Zhang Cheng continued!

"The Russians have been recuperating since they put an end to the Democratic Labour Party rebellion. Although they lost most of their territory, they retained the best of Europe, as well as Siberia, and quickly regained their strength. Russia is stronger now than it was ten years ago. The empire gained a large territory from Russia in the war ten years ago, and Tsar Nicholas II and the whole of Russia have a grudge against it, and we must be vigilant! Chief of the General Staff Xiong Wu said!

Wang Yuze nodded, and then said: "After the war, the army will improve the defense of the west. However, our original goal of defeating the United States cannot be changed. As for Russia, even if they wanted to take revenge on the Empire, I am afraid that Britain and France would not agree. Our allies have also been preparing for so long, and when the time comes, they will definitely launch a large-scale offensive in Europe. At that time, the front line of Britain and France will be tight, and Russia will definitely be asked to attack Germany from the east to relieve the pressure on the two countries. This is a great opportunity for us to kill two birds with one stone! ”

Xiong Wu, Chief of the General Staff, and Zhang Chengcheng, Minister of the Navy, nodded, although China and Germany are allies, but after the end of the war, they will definitely become enemies and fight for world hegemony. At this time, it is very advantageous for China to let the Entente attack Germany on both sides and consume Germany's strength. After China completely defeated the United States, the national strength of the Entente and the Allies was estimated to be almost exhausted, and China would be able to win the victory at the minimum cost. At the same time, its own strength will not be lost too much. Wait until after the war to compete with Germany for world hegemony, and you will be in the lead!

"What about our allies? Countries around the world are speeding up the design and construction of new battleships, and they will not be indifferent, right? Wang Yuze asked. You know, almost all the 'King-class' battleships of the German Navy have been commissioned, and it is impossible not to have follow-up plans!

"Your Majesty, the German Navy has already begun to act. In fact, at the beginning of this year, after the commissioning of the last 'King-class' battleship 'Crown Prince', Germany began the relevant construction program. Judging from the current number of German battleships, it has once again been surpassed by the British, which puts a lot of pressure on Germany. Therefore, the design of their 'Bavaria-class' battleships is estimated to be almost complete, and they may be able to enter service before the British Navy's 'Queen Elizabeth-class' battleships. Zhang Cheng said. The number of battleships in the German Navy now stands at 24, including 8 'Nassau-class' battleships, 8 'Helgoland-class' battleships, 5 'Caesar-class' battleships and four 'King-class' battleships. However, their opponents, the United Kingdom, had 1 'Dreadnought-class' battleship (the other five Dreadnought-class battleships had been sunk or captured by China during the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea battles), 6 'Bellerophon-class' battleships, 6 'St. Cent' battleships, 4 'Neptune' battleships, 3 'Giant-class' battleships, 4 'Orion-class' battleships, 4 'King George V-class' battleships, and 4 more The Iron Duke-class battleships will be commissioned at the beginning of next year, and the other three Iron Duke-class battleships will be commissioned in two years. Judging by the number of battleships, the German Navy was already completely at a disadvantage! However, the quality of the battleships of the German Navy was generally stronger than that of the British Navy. But even so, the German Navy will have an advantage only if it preemptively enters service with new, more powerful battleships!

"Haha, very well, the stronger the German and British navies, the more fiercely they fight and consume more resources, which is in the interests of the Reich! However, Germany wants to develop a navy on the one hand, and an army on the other, and I am afraid that its national strength is limited! Chief of the General Staff, you can contact the German side and ask if Germany needs the help of the Reich, and we can provide them with all kinds of resources, on the same terms, with the technology we are interested in or directly with gold! Wang Yuze said. Although they are allies, they still have to settle accounts. Germany is one of the most important channels for China to obtain advanced technology, and even now, Germany still has many technologies that China covets. The acquisition of these technologies will be conducive to the improvement of China's industrial strength!

"Yes, Majesty, I see!" Xiong Wu said. In recent years, in order to expand its armaments and warfare, Germany has provided China with advanced technology. Although from now on, it's a win-win. But in the long run, Germany is completely raising tigers!

"Your Majesty, on the 1st of next month, the Imperial Navy's 'Imperial-class' battleships are ready to start construction, and both the shipyard and the Admiralty hope that you will be able to attend the groundbreaking ceremony!" Navy Minister Zhang Cheng said!