The battleship undoubtedly represents the highest industrial achievement of this era. Even now, the only countries in the world that can build battleships are the Chinese Empire and Germany. The British also had this ability, but due to treaty restrictions, their large shipyards had been dismantled, and a large number of skilled workers and engineers went to Germany to help the Germans build battleships. In addition, the shipbuilding capacity of the Kingdom of Spain was not weak, and with the support of the Chinese Empire, they were already able to build 10,000-ton heavy cruisers on their own. If you give them a little more time to develop, you will also be able to build battleships. However, in terms of performance, it may not be able to compare with the Chinese Empire and Germany.

As for other world powers, even the Ottoman Turkish Empire, which claims to be the third most powerful country in the world, could not build battleships. If they didn't rely on outside help, they would only be able to build some light warships at most.

The 'Imperial-class' battleship undoubtedly represents the most advanced crystallization of the Empire's shipbuilding industry. The senior officials of the navy naturally hoped to show the strength of the imperial navy with the guò 'Imperial-class' battleships, and even have a decisive effect in future wars. Therefore, they had the ambition to build eight 'Reich-class' battleships to deal a devastating blow to the German Navy.

In fact, the Minister of the Navy, Marshal Wei Yong, also knew that after the successful construction of the 'Imperial-class' battleships, perhaps the Imperial Navy had already achieved a decisive victory. However, everyone still couldn't control the desire for 'Imperial-class' battleships. Especially when the Germans had also begun to build the 'King-class' battleships, the Reich had to have battleships that could compete with the Germans.

However, Long Yufei agreed to build four 'Imperial-class' battleships. This is clearly not going to satisfy the Navy. All this time, the capital ships of the Reich were twice as large as the German Navy. How did it get to the 'Imperial-class' battleship. Breaking this convention?

"Your Majesty, won't there be too few of four ships! After all. The battleships of the Reich were to be divided equally between the 1st and 5th fleets. In this case, there will only be two on the 5th Fleet's side, and if you encounter the four 'King-class' battleships of the Germans, I am afraid that it will be a great loss! Marshal Wei Yong said. If eight ships were built, then the 1st and 5th fleets would each get four, and either fleet would have the strength to compete with the German navy. In this way, there is no need to be afraid of being broken by the German Navy. It's just that it seems very difficult to convince Long Yufei.

"There's no need for that. Four 'Imperial-class' battleships were sufficient. These four 'Imperial-class' battleships can be formed into a formation that belongs only to the Admiralty. Once built. Commanded by the Admiralty. After the outbreak of war, this formation can be temporarily assigned to the subordinate fleet. In this way, these problems can be solved! Long Yufei said. Building four more Imperial-class battleships would mean spending an extra 140 million dollars. Such a price is too high.

Wei Yong frowned, he knew that Long Yufei was determined to build more 'Empire-class' battleships. If you continue to persuade you, it may backfire. Four 'Imperial-class' battleships, although not much, but. Anyway, it's enough. In this way, there will be no fear of the four 'King-class' battleships of the Germans. Once the war began, the Reich Navy could have defeated the German Navy before the German 'King-class' battleships were built, gaining a decisive advantage in naval warfare. Wait until the Germans' 'King-class' battleships were built and put into service. It's already powerless. At that time, the 'Reich-class' battleships of the Imperial Navy could hunt and kill the four 'King-class' battleships of the Germans. Finish off the German Navy in one fell swoop and completely destroy this opponent.

"Okay. Majesty, then only build four! Wei Yong said. Build four. It's better than not building a single one!

"Hmmm! That's good. With the current strength of the Imperial Navy, it has completely achieved an overwhelming advantage. In this case, there is simply no need for us to build too many more battleships. That's just a waste of resources. What's more, future naval battles will change, and it is no longer the era when battleships dominate naval battles! Long Yufei said. He knew that with the development of aircraft, the era of giant ship cannons would soon come to an end.

"Your Majesty, is it the Navy's aviation?" Wei Yong frowned. He was a staunch giant ship cannon faction, believing that the battle of the battleship's giant cannon was the battle of the navy. Although, now naval aviation has been practicing attacking surface ships. But Wei Yong didn't care about it. How could toys assembled from wood and skin be the opponents of a battleship like a hill?

Long Yufei nodded: "I know that there are many people in the navy who think that naval aviation is insignificant. However, soon you will learn how wrong your thinking is. The development of science and technology will also change the shape of warfare, just as we defeated the sail warships of the West with steam warships and led the development of the entire era. In the future, the aircraft of naval aviation will also be able to play such an effect. The aircraft of the Navy will replace the warships and become the main force in future naval battles! ”

Even if Long Yufei said it so surely, Wei Yong still couldn't believe it. After all, the idea of a giant ship cannon was already ingrained in his mind, how could he change it so lightly? If seeing is believing, it is impossible for them to change their perception.

"It's too late to say that. Well, there's going to be an exercise in the Sea of Whales next month. When the time comes, the Admiralty and the commanders of the major fleets will take a look. When the time comes, you will know how powerful naval aviation is! Long Yufei said.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Wei Yong nodded. He also had some doubts in his heart, could it be that those toys were really that powerful? He was very reluctant to believe it, but he knew that Long Yufei had always been targeted. Since Long Yufei is so sure, in this case, maybe those planes of the naval aviation can really create a miracle.

The Empire had already begun to build aircraft carriers, but the original aircraft carriers were just real aircraft carriers. At present, it is still in intense training, and it has not yet been able to form combat effectiveness. Long Yufei hopes that a drill will be used to let the admirals of the navy know about the changes in naval warfare, and at the same time, it will also knock these proud and complacent guys. As the Imperial Navy defeated the British and became the hegemon of the world. In the naval arms race with the Germans, they built twice as many capital ships as the German Navy, which further stimulated the Imperial Navy and made them have no one in sight. Long Yufei didn't want the Imperial Navy to capsize in the gutter for such reasons when the Imperial Navy and the Germans were in a decisive battle.

The construction plan of the capital ship of the next class of the Imperial Chinese Navy has always been valued by the Germans. Therefore, every year in order to obtain the construction plan of the Chinese Navy, Germany has to work very hard. With the cooperation of the Reich Department of Homeland Security and the Military Intelligence Agency, it will take this as an opportunity to eliminate many German intelligence organizations. However, the German intelligence officers were like leeks, cutting stubble after stubble. This made it impossible for the Reich Navy's shipbuilding program to be kept secret at all, and it would not be long before the Germans learned about it. In the same way, the Reich was able to get the Germans' shipbuilding program. In this regard, both sides are almost transparent.

"Your Majesty, this is the latest shipbuilding plan of the Chinese that the empire has learned, and they will serve eight 'Ming-class' battleships this year and eight 'Ming-class' battleships next year. This allows the Chinese to have 16 super battleships armed with 381 mm guns, twice as many as our 'Helgoran-class' and 'Caesar-class' battleships. This is in line with the Chinese's goal of having twice as many capital ships as the Imperial Navy. However, to our surprise, the Chinese only ordered the construction plan of four 'Imperial-class' battleships after the 'Ming Reform' battleships, which is comparable to the construction plan of our four 'King-class' battleships. "said the Minister of the German Navy, Prince Felix.

"That is, starting with the 'King-class' battleships, the Chinese will no longer maintain a twofold advantage over us?" William I said in surprise. After all, the Chinese had been ambitiously engaged in a naval arms race with the German Empire, and the German Navy built one battleship, and the Chinese Navy built two battleships, which put great pressure on the German Navy. After all, it is undoubtedly very, very difficult to defeat an opponent when the strength is only half of the opponent's!

"Could it be that the financial resources of the Chinese cannot support it?" The cost of the King-class battleships is too high, and the cost of the Chinese' 'Imperial-class' battleships will not be much cheaper than the 'King-class'. Building eight ships at once is also a huge pressure on the Chinese. Therefore, the Chinese chose to stop the arms race with us and build only four 'Imperial-class' battleships. That is, the Chinese can no longer hold on, they can no longer continue to maintain an advantage over us? In this case, when the 'King-class' battleships are commissioned, won't we be able to gain an advantage in the North Sea? Then we may be able to defeat the 5th Fleet of the Chinese Navy at the minimum cost, and then wait for the 1st Fleet of the Chinese Navy to go on an expedition across the sea, and then defeat them and completely pull the Chinese off the throne of sea supremacy! "German Crown Prince Frederick. William said excitedly. (To be continued......)

PS: The second update arrives, asking for subscriptions, monthly passes and recommended tickets! Thank you book friend Tianyan ☆ Wakakaze for the monthly pass!