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The Times is one of Britain's most influential newspapers, and when The Times reported on the Tang-class battleships being built by the Chinese Navy, panic arose throughout the country. Although the Chinese' 'Tang-class' battleships have not yet entered service, they have already begun to be outfitted, and I am afraid that they will be able to enter service at most next year. By then, the British Royal Navy would not have a single battleship to compete with it.

With the development of the world in recent years, the British seem to have recognized the reality that the British Empire is no longer the world hegemon, and its position is now in jeopardy. Under such circumstances, the British people's sense of crisis is also very deep. The Chinese Navy's 'Tang-class' battleships undoubtedly made them feel a huge threat.

When The Times reported on it, newspapers in other countries around the world picked it up. Suddenly, it caused a panic all over the world. In particular, the United States, which has just been slapped in the face by China and clamored for revenge against China, was even more silent. The current US Navy can no longer compete with the Chinese Navy, and when the Chinese Navy's 'Tang-class' battleships enter service, the United States will have no ability to fight back. For a time, voices were everywhere in the United States asking the government to build 'Tang-class' battleships that could rival the Chinese Navy.

As the world's largest naval power, the British Royal Navy is undoubtedly the most sensitive to the development of navies around the world. Sir John Fisher, the British Admiralty-Secretary, immediately went to the Prime Minister's Office to report the situation to Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith. Former Prime Minister Sir Henry Campbell Benenenan and his cabinet ended their term on April 7 last year, and the new Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith came to power to form a cabinet. Sir John Fisher, with his outstanding ability, once again served in the new Cabinet. This makes him extremely prestigious in the Royal Navy and the Cabinet!

"Sir Fisher, has the news been confirmed? Did the Chinese really build such a terrifying battleship again? Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith asked sternly.

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister, it has been confirmed. The Times claimed that one of their reporters ventured into a shipyard in Tianjin, China, to photograph the Tang-class battleship being outfitted. The Chinese shipyard in Tianjin has surpassed their Beihai shipyard in the south to become the largest shipyard in China. According to the judgment of the Admiralty, this information is indeed true. The Chinese Navy after the service of the 'Han-class' battleships and the 'Hanshin-class' battlecruisers. New plans for the construction of warships were not revealed, which is clearly abnormal at a time when countries around the world are desperately developing armaments. Now it seems that the Chinese are not not developing armaments, but secretly building new battleships. This is very much in line with the consistent style of the Chinese. Sir John Fisher said.

"So. Once the Chinese' 'Tang-class' battleships are commissioned, will they pose a serious threat to the Royal Navy? Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith asked. Although China is now targeting the Americans, Britain will sooner or later go to war with China after defeating Germany. Therefore, the British side also attaches great importance to the strength of the Chinese Navy!

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister. Once the Chinese' 'Tang-class' battleships are commissioned, there is no doubt that they will pose a huge threat to us. The Royal Navy's most powerful battleship today is the 'King George V-class' battleship, and the 'Iron Duke-class' battleship will not enter service until early next year. However, whether it is a 'King George V-class' battleship or an 'Iron Duke-class' battleship. None can be compared with the Chinese' 'Tang-class' battleships. From the analysis of the photos, the displacement of the Chinese' 'Tang-class' battleships was at least 35,000 tons, which was nearly 10,000 tons higher than the 'George V-class' battleships and 5,000 tons higher than the 'Iron Duke-class' battleships. This meant that the 'Don-class' battleships had thicker armor than the 'George V-class' battleships and the 'Iron Duke-class' battleships. Plus the Chinese Navy has always attached importance to the speed of battleships. Therefore, the speed of the 'Tang-class' battleships is probably also very high. The most threatening thing is undoubtedly the main guns of the 'Don-class' battleships. With three triple 381mm guns, their formidable firepower will become a nightmare for Royal Navy battleships. We would have to invest at least two 'Iron Duke-class' battleships to be able to compete with one of the opposing 'Tang-class' battleships. According to the practice of the Chinese Navy in recent years, the 'Tang-class' battleships will probably be built six (in fact, China has only built four), and the Royal Navy needs 12 'Iron Duke-class' battleships to compete with them, while our 'Iron Duke-class' battleships are only four! In the event of a war between the Royal Navy and the Chinese Navy, the Royal Navy will not be able to guarantee victory! Sir John Fisher said. As the Minister of the Navy, he has been working hard for the revival of the British Royal Navy all these years, and the appearance of the 'Tang-class' battleships of the Chinese Navy has brought him great pressure!

"Oh God! 12 'Iron Duke-class' battleships! Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith couldn't help but exclaim.

"Sir Fisher, then, what about the Admiralty's countermeasures? In any case, we need to keep the Royal Navy at the top of the world! Prime Minister Asquith said.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, the Admiralty plans to come up with a new type of battleship to compete with the 'Don-class' battleships within a year. Until then, we hope to be able to add a few more 'Iron Duke-class' battleships to the construction program! Sir Fisher said.

Prime Minister Asquith frowned, whether it is the construction of new battleships or the construction plan of additional 'Iron Duke class' battleships, a lot of money is needed. In order to prepare for war, Britain has invested almost all its funds in the armament war, and it is difficult to come up with more funds for the navy!

"Sir Fisher, we will convene an emergency meeting of the Cabinet at once to discuss the appropriation of funds for the Admiralty!" Prime Minister Asquith said.

In the evening, all the important ministers of the British Cabinet rushed to the meeting room at the Prime Minister's House in Downing Street, and the response was attended by Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith, Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey, Admiralty Sir John Fisher, Chancellor of the Exchequer David Lloyd George, War Secretary Paul Stafford Mehuin, Business Secretary Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, and Colonial Secretary George Nathaniel Marquis Curzon.

"Gentlemen, we have received definite information that the 'Tang-class' battleships built by the Chinese with 381 mm guns and a displacement of more than 35,000 tons are about to enter service, and it is expected that the Chinese will build a total of six, which will be a mortal threat to the Royal Navy. As a result, the Admiralty proposed an additional financial allocation for the design and construction of new battleships, as well as the construction of several 'Iron Duke-class' battleships. What is everyone's opinion on this? Prime Minister Asquith said.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, I agree in principle with the plans of the Admiralty. However, the treasury already does not have a penny! Last year's fiscal revenue had already been distributed, and half of the £150 million fiscal revenue was spent on armament warfare. Among them, the expenditure of the Admiralty has accounted for seventy percent of the total military expenditure. If the Admiralty needed additional appropriations, the Treasury would not be able to come up with even a penny. In addition, Your Excellency Prime Minister, I have to remind you that in recent years the excessive spending on military has affected the economic development of the British Empire. This year's fiscal revenue is expected to fall to around £130 million! Chancellor of the Exchequer David Lloyd George said. Lack of money is not just a problem in the UK. In fact, both the Entente and the Allies were already short of money. In order to strengthen their armaments, almost all countries are already heavily indebted. When the government is about to go bankrupt, it is probably the time when the war begins!

"Sir George, what about our proceeds from the colonies? Now that the navy is facing great challenges, we must concentrate all our efforts on developing the navy! Sir John Fisher said. Britain has the largest colonies in the world, and is able to reap huge profits from the colonies every year. India alone is capable of extracting tens of millions of pounds a year. Especially in recent years, because of the need to expand armaments, Britain has stepped up the exploitation of its colonies. Major colonies such as India, South Africa, Australia and Canada are all transfusing blood for Britain, otherwise the British government would have been unable to hold on!

"Sir Fisher, last year we received a total of £87,000,000 from the colony. However, half of this proceeds were used to repay the loans due, and the other half, except for the expenses of the colonial officials and staff and the garrison, was already spent on the rearmament of the war! Said the Colonial Chancellor, Georges Nathaniel, Marquis Curzon.

Sir John Fisher frowned at once. The navy is indeed a gold-swallowing beast, and the cost of the 'Iron Duke-class' battleships alone is about four million pounds. It is expected that the cost of the new battleship will be about twice that of the 'Iron Duke-class' battleship. There is no doubt that the amount of money required will be enormous!

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, Ministers, I fully support Sir Fisher's plan, the Royal Navy of the British Empire is already under serious threat, and we must now invest as much as possible in the Navy, even if it is to be used as underpants for this!" Business Secretary Winston, Leonard Spencer Churchill stood up and said excitedly!