"The performance of this heavy cruiser is still very good. In the face of the armored cruisers of the Japanese Navy, it had a great advantage. As for the light cruisers and destroyers of the Japanese, they could not threaten this heavy cruiser even more. Even in the face of the Japanese's 'Kongo-class' battlecruisers, they can compete with one or two. Wu Haoxuan expressed his affirmation of this heavy cruiser.

"Your Highness, if there is no problem, then I will let the shipyard make preparations. Construction is expected to begin early next year. The construction period is one and a half to two years. In this case, it will be able to enter service by the end of the following year at the latest. Marshal Sa Zhenbing said.

"Hmm. How much does this heavy cruiser cost? Wu Haoxuan asked.

"Your Highness, the current cost of each heavy cruiser is six and a half million Chinese dollars. Compared to the 'Qinglong-class' light cruisers, it is much more expensive. Marshal Sa Zhenbing said. The reason why it is so expensive is mainly that the main gun of the heavy cruiser is 210 mm, which is much more expensive than the 155 mm main gun of the 'Blue Dragon class' light cruiser. In addition, a heavy warship with a displacement of more than 10,000 tons should increase its speed to more than 28 knots, and even the ultimate speed to 30 knots, which is also very costly.

Wu Haoxuan nodded, although the price is not cheap, it is acceptable. Four of these heavy cruisers is equivalent to a battleship or battlecruiser of the latest type. However, four heavy cruisers certainly played a stronger role than one battleship or battlecruiser. Especially in the case of the scarcity of capital ships of the Imperial Navy, heavy cruisers were undoubtedly a good addition to the capital ships.

"Did the Navy name this heavy cruiser?" Wu Haoxuan asked.

"Nope. Just wait for His Highness to give a name to this heavy cruiser. Marshal Sa Zhenbing said with a smile.

Wu Haoxuan pondered for a few seconds, and then said: "This heavy cruiser should be named 'Zodiac Class'." The 12 traditional Chinese zodiac signs. can be used in the naming of these heavy cruisers. ”

"'Zodiac' is good, this name is good." Marshal Sa Zhenbing and Marshal Cheng Biguang both had smiles on their faces. Because, in traditional Chinese culture, there are 12 zodiac signs. Doesn't that mean that twelve heavy cruisers are to be built? That's a good thing.

"So, how many 'Zodiac-class' heavy cruisers does the Navy plan to build?" Wu Haoxuan continued to ask.

"Your Highness, since they have all been named 'Zodiac Level', it is natural to get all the twelve zodiac signs together! The Navy hopes to be able to build twelve 'Zodiac-class' heavy cruisers. Marshal Cheng Biguang said. That's the case. The strength of the Imperial Navy will undoubtedly rise to a new level.

"Twelve? You are really lions with big mouths! In the first batch, only four ships could be built, namely the 'Rat'. 'Ugly Bull', 'Yinhu' and 'Mao Rabbit'. Wu Haoxuan said directly. If you want to build 12 ships at once, it will cost 77 million Chinese dollars. For the current empire, it is already a heavy burden.

"Your Highness. Four words. That's too little, isn't it? We can't give all of them to the South Sea Fleet. Marshal Cheng Biguang said.

"Lao Cheng, didn't you hear that His Highness said that it was the first batch?" Marshal Sa Zhenbing heard the meaning of Wu Haoxuan's words.

"The performance of the 'Zodiac-class' heavy cruisers is really good. However, there is still a lot of room for improvement. In terms of the main gun, the 210 mm gun of fifty times the caliber, although it is already very good. However, the firepower of this heavy cruiser was still slightly lacking due to the three twin main guns. It would be nice if it could be replaced with three triple 50-caliber 210-mm guns. Other than that. There is also the possibility of increasing the speed. In the future, the speed of the 'Zodiac-class' improved heavy cruisers. It must be raised to more than 30 knots. Wu Haoxuan said.

He focused on the two aspects of the request, which he considered. Those capital ships of the future, whether battleships or battle cruisers, seem to be equipped with three triple main guns as standard. Since countries have adopted such configurations, there is obviously a reason. It is impossible for everyone to adopt such a useless design at the same time. The Imperial Navy adopted the design of three triple main guns on the 'Zodiac-class' improved heavy cruisers, which can be regarded as a technical preparation for the subsequent capital ships. As for speed, it has to be achieved. The speed of future aircraft carrier battle groups should generally be maintained at 30 knots, so that they can keep up with aircraft carriers. Otherwise, it will not be able to accompany the aircraft carrier in combat, and it will not be able to provide protection for the aircraft carrier.

It is true that there are still twenty or thirty years before the realization of aircraft carrier battle group operations. However, get ready now. At that time, you can also save some money. Even by then, the age of these warships was as high as twenty or thirty years. But after modern modifications, it can still come in handy. After all, the cost of refitting these ships is far less than the cost of rebuilding a brand new one.

Marshal Sa Zhenbing and Marshal Cheng Biguang both frowned, although Wu Haoxuan only made two requests, but as professionals, they undoubtedly felt the difficulty.

"Your Highness, the problem of speed is still very easy to solve. We have already started to produce our own oil-fired boilers and steam turbines. When we have fully understood the technology and produced high-performance boilers and steam turbines, it will not be a problem at all. When the time comes, it will be easy to increase the speed of the battleship to more than thirty knots. However, we have not tried the triple main gun. Because of the influence of the muzzle storm, when the triple gun fires a salvo, the shells will be spread very large, but it is not as easy to hit the target as the twin main gun. Marshal Cheng Biguang said.

"I know this, but there is no way to solve the defects of the triple main gun that are too large. As long as there is a slight delay in the time for the individual guns to fire, it will be solved. For example, if there are three main guns in a turret, the main guns on both sides will fire first, and the main gun in the middle will be able to avoid the impact of the muzzle storm with a delay of 0.5 seconds. Austria-Hungary seems to have achieved good results in this regard. The navy could find a way to get in touch with Austria-Hungary and try to get results in this regard. Wu Haoxuan said. He always firmly believes that the triple bead main gun is the mainstream of the future.

Marshal Sa Zhenbing and Marshal Cheng Biguang both nodded.

"If the problem of muzzle storm can be solved, the use of a triple main gun is indeed more advantageous than a double main gun. For example, if a battleship uses three triple main guns, the length of the battleship can be further reduced, thereby saving armor and further improving the armor defense of important parts. The firepower of the three-seated triple main gun is also a little more powerful than that of the four-seater twin main gun. Marshal Sa Zhenbing said. If calculated in this way, the application prospects of the triple main gun are undoubtedly bright.

"Hmm. The Navy can start a study in this area. It can be used on the 'Zodiac-class' improved heavy cruisers first, and once the technology is mature, when the Imperial Navy builds its own capital ships, it is completely possible to use triple main guns. Wu Haoxuan said.

"Yes, Your Highness." Marshal Sa Zhenbing and Marshal Cheng Biguang both replied. Wu Haoxuan undoubtedly pointed out a path for them to develop the navy once again, so that the imperial navy could surpass its opponents and occupy an advantage at the minimum cost.

Although, compared with the Western powers, there is still a big gap between the Imperial Navy and the Western powers. However, Wu Haoxuan believed that if the Imperial Navy continued to develop step by step, after the end of World War I, the Imperial Navy should be able to develop into a world-class navy.

Time passed little by little, and the various constructions of the empire were proceeding in an orderly manner according to the predetermined plan. The industrial and military power of the empire was in the midst of a remarkable increase. The division of the Western world gave the Chinese empire an excellent opportunity to develop itself. Such an opportunity can be said to be the golden time of the Chinese Empire. If this were not the case, if the Chinese Empire wanted to develop, it would not have been possible at all. The Western world will certainly do everything possible to contain the Chinese Empire, and even directly use force to cut off the development path of the Chinese Empire.

Therefore, Wu Haoxuan has a strong sense of urgency. It had to be developed before the Western powers made a comeback. In this way, the future empire will not have to fear the threat of the Western powers.

Soon, the Yellow Emperor era of 4609 (11) ushered in, only three years before the outbreak of the First World War. The confrontation between the Central Powers and the Entente has become more and more intense, and the world pattern has become turbulent. A cloud of war seems to have appeared over Europe.

Just after the New Year's Day of the Yellow Emperor Era 4609 (11), the British Minister to China, Sir Zhu Erdian, went to the Imperial Palace to meet Wu Haoxuan.

For a long time, the relationship between the Chinese Empire and Britain was relatively estranged. In particular, after Britain fully supported Japan, the relationship between the two countries almost fell to a freezing point. It's just that at this point in time, neither China nor the UK wants to completely tear their faces. So, both sides are exercising restraint.

Sir Zhu Erdian has not visited Wu Haoxuan for a long time, which makes Wu Haoxuan a little unsure for a while, what Zhu Erdian's intention is.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, His Majesty George V, the new King of the British Empire, will hold a coronation ceremony in June this year, and we sincerely invite the Chinese Empire to send representatives to attend. It would be great if His Highness could visit England. After the coronation, we will have a grand parade. Sir Jurdian said with a smile. (To be continued.) )

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