Wilhelm II nodded, and the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Chief of General Staff all supported the support of China, which undoubtedly showed that the plan was very feasible. What's more, this plan, if successful, will be of great help to Germany.

"Your Excellency, what is your opinion?" Wilhelm II asked. Of the loans proposed by the Chinese, two-fifths were used to buy warships, and the other fifth were used to buy fortress guns, which were all related to the navy.

"Your Majesty, I am compelled to state a fact to you. The design drawings of the three warships produced by the government of northern China have been thoroughly demonstrated by experts. In the end, it was concluded that the battleships, light cruisers, and destroyers that were now in service with the German Navy, or were still on the drawing board, were inferior to these three types of warships. If it could, the German Navy hoped to abandon the previous design and build the battleship directly according to the drawings of the Chinese. Marshal Tirpitz said.

Wilhelm II was stunned for a moment, did not expect Marshal Tirpitz to say such a thing, doesn't this show that the battleships of the German Navy are not as good as the design scheme that the Chinese came up with? This is undoubtedly a shame for Germany!

Wilhelm II attached great importance to the development of the navy, and it was because of his strong support that the German navy could develop rapidly. He knew that if Germany was to replace Britain, it would be indispensable to have a strong navy. Of course, Wilhelm II never imagined that the German Navy would defeat the British Navy. He preferred that the British would see the strength of the German navy and then take the initiative to compromise. In this case, it will be more beneficial for Germany. It is a pity that Wilhelm II underestimated the firm will of the British to maintain their hegemony. When the Germans threatened the hegemony of the British, the British took the strongest measure, which was to go to war directly.

"Your Excellency, Marshal. How is this possible? How can the design of those yellow-skinned monkeys be stronger than ours? Crown Prince William was even more dumbfounded. He has always looked down on the Chinese. However, Marshal Tirpitz's words were like a slap in the face.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, although I don't want to admit it. But. That's just the way it is. The battleship design drawings that the Chinese came up with this time are indeed classic. Marshal Tirpitz said. Although, admitting this fact seemed somewhat dishonorable for the German Navy. However, in the interests of the German Navy, if these design drawings can be used, the strength of the German Navy will certainly be further improved.

"Your Excellency, are you sure that these warships provided by the Chinese are better than ours and will enable us to catch up with the British?" The expression on Wilhelm II's face was also a little cloudy.

"Yes. Your Majesty. The design drawings of the 'Longteng-class' battleships produced by the Chinese are more advanced than our 'Nassau-class', and even stronger than the British's 'Dreadnought' and the 'Brerophon-class' battleships and 'St. Vincent-class' battleships that the British are building. The British had more money than we did, so they could build battleships in large numbers. Three of the 'Burle-Rophon-class' and 'St. Vincent' battleships were built, and with the addition of the 'Dreadnought' battleship, the British had seven 'Dreadnought' battleships. And our 'Nassau-class' battleships are planned for only four. If we can use the performance advantage of a single ship, this will help us to gain an advantage in the confrontation with the British. Of course. The cost of the Chinese' 'Longteng-class' battleships is higher than that of the 'Nassau-class' battleships. Tirpitz said.

Wilhelm II nodded. From the standpoint of the German Navy, if there is a more advanced design, why insist on the old and backward design? Of course, cost is also a big issue. The cost of the 'Nassau-class' battleships was 31.5 million marks each. If you want to build Chinese 'Longteng-class' battleships instead, you need to make additional funds.

"How much does the Chinese's 'Longteng-class' battleship cost?" Wilhelm II asked.

"Your Majesty. According to our budget, each 'Dragon-class' battleship will cost between 42 million and 43 million marks. Tirpitz said. Although the cost of the historical 'King-class' battleships was as high as 50 million marks. But now the price is relatively low, so the cost is also cheaper.

"The Chinese gave an offer of forty-five million marks each, so it was calculated. We're not going to lose out. Well, just agree to the Chinese's request. As for the 'Nassau-class' battleships to be built by the Navy, they are temporarily suspended. Use the design drawings of the Chinese' 'Longteng-class' battleships and modify them! Kaiser Wilhelm II said. If the Chinese's 'Longteng-class' battleships were completely copied, he would feel very ashamed. Where does this save his face?

"Yes, Your Majesty." Tirpitz nodded. In fact, the shipbuilding experts of the German Admiralty still have reservations about the new technologies adopted on the 'Longteng-class' battleships. Therefore, in the end, the German Navy redesigned the Nassau-class battleships based on the 'Longteng-class' battleships. The new 'Nassau-class' battleships and 'Dragon-class' battleships have undergone significant changes. First of all, the main gun did not use a 305-mm 50-caliber main gun, but a 280-mm 50-caliber main gun. 280 mm gun, a little more mature technology. Of course, this is already more powerful than the historical German Navy's 'Nassau-class' battleships equipped with 40 times the caliber of 280 mm guns and 35 times the caliber of 280 mm guns. In addition, the new 'Nassau-class' battleships did not use heavy oil boilers and steam turbines, but used coal-fired boilers and triple-expansion reciprocating steam engines, and even if the boilers were installed, the speed of the battleship was only 16 knots, and the endurance was only a pitiful 4,000 nautical miles 10 knots. Whether it is firepower, speed or endurance, it is far from being comparable to the 'Longteng-class' battleships. Of course, the armor is copied from the 'Dragon-class' battleships, which makes the new 'Nassau-class' battleships extremely impressive. In addition, the rangefinder is also the latest equipment, plus the five twin main guns for unified salvo fire, and the primary fire control system has begun to be installed. This makes the new 'Nassau-class' battleships much more powerful than the old 'Nassau-class' battleships.

"Your Majesty, in addition, the 'Northern Seven Provinces' light cruisers and 'A-class' destroyers that the Chinese have come up with are also more powerful than the 'Dresden-class' light cruisers and large torpedo boats that we are building now, and the Admiralty hopes to be able to build our own light cruisers and destroyers based on this." Marshal Tirpitz continued.

"Okay, the Admiralty comes up with a detailed plan, and I'll be in charge of convincing the council." Wilhelm II said. Apparently, for the sake of the strength of the German Navy, he already intends to approve a new construction program.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Field Marshal Tirpitz nodded, looking excited. After all, this would make the German Navy even stronger.

"Your Majesty, the loan made by the Chinese for 500 million marks is 500 million marks per annum at an annual interest rate of 5 percent and is to be repaid after fifteen years. The Chinese promised that the loan, in addition to paying for the purchase of fortress guns and battleships, would also buy all of our industrial equipment. The Cabinet believes that we should agree to this loan to the Chinese. Prime Minister Bilow said.

"Fifteen years of repayment, that's too long, isn't it?" Crown Prince William whispered.

"The economic foundation of the Chinese is too weak, even if they vigorously develop industry, they will initially have the ability to repay after 15 years." Prime Minister Bilow said. For a strong Germany, these five billion marks were nothing.

"Well, then approve the loan for the Chinese. Those bankers will not let go of such an opportunity. Kaiser Wilhelm II said.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Prime Minister Bilow nodded.

"Father, I don't think that among the industrial equipment we export to the Chinese, we can't export our most advanced equipment. It is only necessary to export some obsolete equipment to them. Crown Prince William proposed.

"Well, that's a good proposition. With the industrial strength of the Chinese, even those outdated technologies and equipment are enough for them. Wilhelm II nodded. He was equally resistant to exporting Germany's most advanced technology and equipment to the Chinese.

In fact, Wu Haoxuan never thought of getting the most advanced technology and equipment in Germany. On the one hand, he knew that the Germans would not do that. On the other hand, even if China is given the most advanced technology and equipment, China will not be able to absorb it. On the contrary, it is relatively less difficult to absorb the technology and equipment that are already obsolete in Germany. China can gradually become scarce, and then find ways to gradually improve its industrial strength in the future.

"Tell the government in the north that if they can get the whole of China, we can give them greater assistance." Wilhelm II said. Obviously, a government that unites the whole of China is suitable to be a friend of Germany. As for whether it can become an ally of Germany, it will depend on whether China has the strength at that time.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Foreign Secretary Holwig nodded.

On May 3, 1907, Wu Haoxuan, on behalf of the Northern Government and the German Minister to China, Hahausen, formally signed his name at the peace treaty. This meant that the northern government had successfully hooked up with the Germans. In addition to the United States, the government of the North has once again added an arm. Of course, in order to avoid opposition from the other powers, neither the northern government nor Germany made this peace public, but existed in the form of a secret treaty. (To be continued......)

PS: The second update arrives, asking for subscriptions, monthly passes and recommended tickets! Thank you for the book friends European and American, Lonely, Happy Party, Yuan YH1234567, Gao Shu, a little drunk, the next stop ★, the wind and snow in the sky for the reward! Thank you for the monthly passes of Book Friends Haiyan, Devil No. 11, Nan Yufeng, Half Knife ZSZ, Taiwan Emperor, Humanistic Loneliness, Book Friend 140417161516503, and Garysi1!