Frederick. Crown Prince William's words made everyone's eyes light up. If this is the case, then perhaps the German Navy can really create a miracle? If there is a chance to defeat the Chinese Navy and gain supremacy at sea, the Germans will definitely not let go of this opportunity. After all, with sea power, you can truly become a world hegemon. The reason why Germany abandoned its maritime hegemony in the previous national policy was that they knew that they could not confront the Chinese navy and could not defeat it. But now, it seems that everything has changed.

However, what makes everyone a little strange is that the Chinese, as the hegemon of the sea, will they give up the status of the hegemon of the sea so lightly? That's obviously unrealistic. After all, China has vast overseas territories, and if it does not have a strong enough navy to protect it, it will be a huge blow to China's interests. Therefore, in any case, the Chinese will not give up their maritime hegemony lightly.

Besides, the financial situation of the Chinese is much better than that of the German Empire. The annual benefits they receive from India alone are enough to support the expansion of the navy. What's more, the total economic output of Chinese has long become the first in the world, much more than Germany. In such a situation, will the Chinese really be short of money? This is obviously impossible.

"Your Majesty, could this be a conspiracy of the Chinese? With the importance that the Chinese attach to the sea, they will definitely not let go of the sea power lightly! "Foreign Secretary Albrech. Feng. Earl Ron said.

"However, we got the information, the Chinese' 'Imperial-class' battleship. Only four will be built, just like the Empire's 'King-class' battleships! "Frederick. Crown Prince William said. The German Navy finally had a chance to turn over. Of course he wouldn't let it go.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you may have rejoiced too soon. The King-class battleships will not be able to enter service until two and a half years later. The Chinese' 'Imperial-class' battleships are estimated to be the same. So. If the war had broken out before the 'King-class' battleships were commissioned, would the Imperial Navy still be able to defeat the Chinese? If the Chinese had already won a decisive victory at that time, even if the 'King-class' battleships were commissioned in the later period, it seemed that they would not be able to change the unfavorable situation for the empire! "Prime Minister Otto. Feng. Bismarck said.

Suddenly, the smiles on everyone's faces disappeared cleanly. They all ignored this, and as soon as Chancellor Bismarck said it, they immediately understood. If you don't count the 'King-class' battleships, the lead ships of the Chinese Navy are still twice as large as the German Navy.

"Damn, it's hard to do it. The Chinese are ready, will war break out in the near future? "William I's face was as gloomy as water. In his opinion, it is really possible that the Chinese think this way. It is precisely because of this that the Chinese stopped the arms race of the German Navy. In the eyes of the Chinese, it may no longer be necessary for them to build more battleships. It was enough to defeat the German Navy and achieve victory just by relying on the previously built battleships. At that time, the four 'King-class' battleships of the German Navy, even if they were completed and put into service, the Chinese relied on four 'Reich-class' battleships. Also able to fight against it. Together with the other battleships, there was no doubt about victory.

"Your Majesty, if the war had started before the 'King-class' battleships had entered service, the Imperial Navy would have been able to defeat the 5th Fleet of the Chinese Navy at most. But. wants to completely defeat the Chinese Navy. That's impossible! The Minister of the Navy, Prince Felix, said bluntly. After all, the lead ships of the Chinese Navy, as well as the overall size, are twice that of the German Navy, and the German Navy is going to win. There is not a single possibility.

Originally, everyone was still smiling. It is believed that the Chinese Navy has stopped the arms race with the German Navy. That undoubtedly showed that it was the German Navy that won the arms race. But now it seems that the Chinese have decided to go to war! That's the case. The Germans will undoubtedly be at a disadvantage. Everyone felt that the pace of war seemed to be getting closer and closer.

"Guys, now it seems that the Chinese are ready to go to war with us. Time is running out. In the coming period, we must speed up preparations for war. Once the Chinese provoke a war, we must resist their attack and at the same time, accomplish our intended goal! Kaiser Wilhelm I said firmly. Although, he felt a lot of pressure. However, now he has no way back. There is no way back for the whole of Germany, and there is only one way to go to the dark.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" All the ministers replied. They also know that the most critical moment has come.

"Father Emperor, we should find a way to find out the true intentions of the Chinese and see if they really want to go to war with us. If the Chinese have this intention, then we may be able to delay the outbreak of war by some other means. Give us more time to prepare for war. If we can delay it until the King-class battleship is built, then we may be able to turn the tide! "Frederick. Crown Prince William said. Even at this time, he hadn't given up his last chance.

William I nodded: "Alright! Count Moltke, let our intelligence agencies find a way to find out the real situation! ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The Chief of the General Staff of the German Army, Count Moltke, nodded. Germany's intelligence agencies in the Chinese Empire were very strong, but it would certainly cost a lot to get hold of this classified information. It is not known how many German intelligence officers will die as a result. However, for the sake of Germany as a whole, even if they gave their lives, it was worth it.

In March 1862, the weather in the Whale Sea was still a little cold. However, the ice on the surface of the sea has long since melted. This is the sea south of Vladivostok. Now, this area of the sea has been blocked by the warships of the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy. Because, here there will be a secret exercise of the Navy. The Admiralty attaches great importance to this exercise, so it has long set up a no-navigation zone in this sea area. Fishing vessels and merchant vessels of any country are not allowed to enter this sea area. The same was true of the fishing and merchant ships of the Imperial Navy.

Emperor Long Yufei and a group of senior officials of the Admiralty, as well as senior officials of the General Staff and the Naval Fleet, all gathered on the battleship 'Ming Taizu', the flagship of the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy. This is the most powerful battleship currently in active service in the Imperial Navy. With a displacement of more than 30,000 tons, coupled with three triple 381 mm guns, this formidable battleship has extremely terrifying combat power. Before the 'Reich-class' battleships were put into service, the 'Ming-class' battleships and the 'Ming-class' battleships that were about to enter service later became the main force of the Imperial Navy against the German Navy.

It's just that the bishop of today's exercise is not the battleship 'Ming Taizu', but someone else.

About ten kilometers from the battleship 'Ming Taizu', a coal carrier was sailing slowly at a speed of 10 knots. At this moment, there was no one on the coal ship. The people on board had already been evacuated. The ship will be a target ship. And the Emperor Long Yufei and the others gathered on the battleship 'Ming Taizu' precisely to observe this exercise.

In the sea area 60 kilometers away from the battleship 'Ming Taizu', a huge battleship was sailing against the wind on the sea. This battleship was very different from the warships in service with the Imperial Navy, there were no large-caliber guns on the battleship, and there was no high bridge. The entire battleship was topped by a flat deck, with the exception of a small island on one side of the battleship. On the deck, there are planes parked.

This battleship is the only aircraft carrier of the Imperial Navy, and it is also an aircraft carrier with real significance -- the 'Kunlun' aircraft carrier. This aircraft carrier was built last year. Since then, I've been training intensively. It is much more difficult for naval aviation fighters to take off from the deck of an aircraft carrier than from an airfield. During the training, accidents often occur, and many pilots pay with their lives. However, after nearly a year of hard work, the aircraft carrier finally barely formed combat effectiveness. Today is the day to test their combat effectiveness and decide the fate of aircraft carriers in the future. If they are able to show themselves well in today's exercise and conquer the commanders of the General Staff, the Admiralty, and the Navy's fleets, then aircraft carriers will become the next major development force of the Imperial Navy. For the sake of their fate, the officers and men of the naval aviation will have to fight hard.

The Kunlun aircraft carrier has a standard displacement of 17,500 tons, a full load displacement of 23,700 tons, a total length of 195.6 meters, a width of 31.2 meters, and a draft of 7.6 meters. It is equipped with 12 large oil-fired boilers and two new steam turbines, with a power of 38,000 horsepower, a maximum speed of 21 knots (22.5 knots at sea trials), and a cruising range of 12 knots and 9,000 nautical miles. There are 1,200 members, including 200 officers. It is armed with 8 105 mm rapid-fire guns, 12 twin 75 mm anti-aircraft guns and 24 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine guns. (At a time when China was vigorously developing its aviation forces, the development of anti-aircraft weapons did not stop). The most powerful weapon of the aircraft carrier is not the artillery equipped with the aircraft carrier itself, but the fighters on it! At the time of design, the Kunlun aircraft carrier would carry 48 warplanes and four seaplanes. Fighter planes are mainly used to attack targets, while seaplanes, with their long range and ease of take-off and landing, are used to detect and discover targets.

Of course, the number of such carrier aircraft is not large, and this is mainly due to the fact that the "Kunlun" aircraft carrier is a real aircraft carrier, not a real fleet aircraft carrier. (To be continued......)

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