"Your Excellency, we hope that your country will be able to build us four warships of these two classes, preferably in two years." Admiral Sa Zhen Bing handed over the design drawings of the 'Longxing-class' battleships and the 'Longfei-class' battlecruisers to Marshal Tirpitz.

Marshal Tirpitz took a look at it and was immediately stunned: "This is very similar to the 'Longteng-class' battleships and the 'Longyao-class' battlecruisers!" It's just that the main gun was replaced with 343 mm. ”

"Yes, Your Excellency. In our opinion, the design of the 'Longteng-class' battleships and the 'Longyao-class' battleships is very reasonable, and there is not much room for improvement. The only thing that is lacking is firepower. Therefore, we hope that the follow-up warships can have more powerful firepower. Admiral Cheng Biguang also said.

Marshal Tirpitz nodded: "Compared to defense, the 'Dragon-class' battleships and firepower are indeed a lot weaker. ”

In addition, Field Marshal Tirpitz has recently been hesitating about what kind of battleship to build for the next class of battleships of the German Navy. The German Navy's own designers, who came up with a design, did not satisfy him. Perhaps because the performance of the 'Longteng-class' battleship is too good, the subsequent design has never been able to get rid of this influence.

However, the new warships of the Chinese Navy made him suddenly brighter. Since there aren't many improvements, wouldn't it be okay to just increase the firepower? Changing the main gun from a 305mm gun to a 343mm gun will make it even more powerful. Isn't it exactly this kind of warship that the German Navy needs?

"General Sa, General Cheng, we can build these four warships for you. Although, now we do not have a 343-mm gun of fifty times the caliber, but we have already made a breakthrough in large-caliber guns. It is expected that after the launch of these warships. Our new main gun has been finalized. Marshal Tirpitz said.

"Thank you, Your Excellency." Admiral Sa Zhenbing and Admiral Cheng Biguang breathed a sigh of relief.

"However, these four warships are not cheap! In particular, it was necessary to replace it with a larger-caliber main gun, newer boilers and steam turbines. According to conservative estimates, it would take 240 million marks to build these four warships. Marshal Tirpitz said. That's it. The cost of a single battleship reached 60 million marks, which was 10 million marks more expensive than the 'Dragon-class' battleships.

"Your Excellency, this price is too expensive, it is completely out of our budget. These two levels of warships are almost the same as the 'Longteng-class' and 'Longyao-class', and there is not much improvement. If you build your country, it will be relatively easier. Therefore, we consider that forty million marks each is sufficient. Admiral Sa Zhenbing said.

If 40 million marks each could be taken, then the four would cost only 160 million marks. It is equivalent to saving 40 million marks, and it is possible to build another such battleship.

"No, no. General Sa, that's not how the accounts are calculated. Today's wages and materials are much higher than before. Sixty million marks each, which is already very cheap. Marshal Tirpitz shook his head repeatedly.

"Your Excellency Marshal, if the German side can reduce the cost a little, we can authorize both drawings to you. The German Navy could improve on this basis. Or just copy it. Admiral Cheng Biguang said.

Field Marshal Tirpitz was tempted to refute, with the design capabilities of the German Navy. Isn't it as good as the Chinese? However, when his eyes saw the 'Nassau-class' battleships anchored in the Kiel military harbor, he immediately did not know what to say. In terms of appearance, the 'Nassau-class' battleships are almost identical to the 'Longteng-class' battleships of the Chinese Navy.

Ultimately. After some bargaining, the two sides agreed on a price of 45 million marks. This price is the same as the 'Longteng-class' battleships and the 'Longyao-class' battlecruisers. However, as a result, the German Navy also obtained the right to use the 'Longxing-class' battleships and the 'Longfei-class' battlecruisers free of charge.

Of course. This was only promised by Field Marshal Tirpitz, and whether it could be implemented at this price would have to be approved by Kaiser Wilhelm II and the German government.

In the afternoon, however, Field Marshal Tirpitz left the port of Kiel and took a train to Berlin to formally present to the Kaiser the plans for the construction of the next battleship of the German Navy. The German Navy will copy the 'Longxing-class' battleships and 'Longfei-class' battlecruisers of the Chinese Navy for the next 'Caesar-class' battleships and the cutting-edge battlecruisers.

Early the next morning, Tirpitz went to the palace to meet Kaiser Wilhelm II. The Kaiser was quite satisfied with Tirpitz's plan for the construction of a new capital ship for the German Navy. With a mature design, the cost can be further reduced. At the same time, the 343 mm gun will make the new battleships of the German Navy have great power.

However, when he learned that these two warships were actually designed by the Chinese and asked Germany to build them for them, Kaiser Wilhelm II's face changed. Although the relationship between Germany and the Chinese Empire became more and more intimate, a powerful Chinese Empire was the object of Germany's wooing. But Wilhelm II still looked down on China in his bones. The great German Empire, the first dreadnought was designed in China, which already made him feel very faceless. Now, the follow-up super dreadnought still has to adopt the design of the Chinese, isn't this embarrassing to him?

Of course, Kaiser Wilhelm II was certainly conceited, but he was not a man who did not know what was important. He also knew that adopting Chinese designs would be of great benefit to Germany.

"Okay, let's build it according to this plan. As for the cost of 45 million marks, although the profit is not large, it can basically ensure that our shipyard can have a certain profit. Kaiser Wilhelm II finally said.

"Your Majesty is wise." Tirpitz hurriedly delivered a sycophant.

"Tirpitz, now that we have eight new battleships and two battlecruisers, how many Caesar-class battleships do we plan to build?" Wilhelm II asked.

"Your Majesty, the 'Caesar-class' battleships, we plan to build five, and we need a total of two hundred million marks." Tirpitz said.

"Two hundred million marks?" Wilhelm II frowned. Although Germany's industrial strength is strong, it is not well understated. The arms race with Britain has already made it a little difficult for them. In particular, Germany needed to maintain a strong land force, in addition to catching up with Britain in terms of navy, which made their financial pressure even greater.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Although our 'Helgolan-class' battleships are about to enter service. But even then, we had only eight new battleships and two battlecruisers. On the other hand, our opponents, the British, have 10 more dreadnoughts in service and have already begun construction, including 1 'Dreadnought' battleship, three 'Fleur Rophon-class' battleships, three 'St. Vincent-class' battleships, 1 'Neptune' battleship and two 'Giant-class' battleships. The battlecruisers already have three 'Invincible class' in service, and another three 'Indefatigable class' are under construction and are expected to be commissioned in two years. In addition, according to the information we have received, the British 'Orion-class' battleships equipped with 343 mm guns are also about to start construction, and four of the same class will be built. The pressure on the Imperial Navy is very high, and if we can build five 'Caesar-class' battleships, we will be on par with the British in terms of new capital ships. In addition, we also plan to build two new battle cruisers. In this way, the gap between us and the new capital ships of the British Navy will be further narrowed. Tirpitz said.

Wilhelm II nodded, his ambition was to catch up with Britain in terms of navy. Therefore, even if it is a big price, he is willing.

"In that case, then you can do it." Wilhelm II made up his mind.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Tirpitz said. He was undoubtedly fortunate to have the support of the emperor, which allowed him to do whatever he wanted.

In late October of the Yellow Emperor era 4607 (09), the imperial crown prince Wu Haoxuan ordered that the imperial naval fleet was ready to return to China from Germany. In order to hide people's eyes, the Reich government sent an invitation to the German government, hoping that the German navy would go to China for naval exchanges between the two countries.

To the request of the Chinese Empire, the German side agreed. They were to send two 'Nassau-class' battleships, led by Reinhardt. Led by Major General Scheer, he went to China for exchanges. And the two battleships of the Chinese Navy, two battlecruisers, seven light cruisers and 12 destroyers, will also all fly the flag of the German Navy and return home all the way east.

When the fleet left the Wilhelmshaven Naval Base, Admiral Sa Zhenbing, Admiral Cheng Biguang and others were full of sighs. From now on, they will be on their way home. Even if they went to war with the Japanese after returning home, they didn't have any regrets. Of course, if the flags on these warships can be replaced with the Chinese Navy's own flag, it will undoubtedly be the best.

Of course, this is also done to hide people's eyes. Otherwise, if the Japanese navy jumps over the wall in a hurry and strikes directly on the way home from the Chinese navy, the consequences will be serious. The Imperial Navy, which spanned more than half the world, would not be very difficult to defeat the Japanese Navy, which was waiting for work.

It's just that a fleet of up to four battleships and two battlecruisers, a total of more than twenty battleships, is almost impossible to completely hide from the public. (To be continued.) )

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