In Berlin, the proposal of the British was likewise sent to the Kaiser.

In response to the British's proposal to reduce the scale of the shipbuilding, the Kaiser immediately convened a meeting of important ministers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a request from the British, let's see how we should respond?" In the small meeting room of the palace, Wilhelm II asked the important ministers in front of him.

Regarding the Kaiser's words, the important ministers had different thoughts.

Among them, Admiral Tirpitz is definitely the one who wants to see it the most. The reason is very simple, who wants to see the department under their jurisdiction being brought out for public discussion, let alone the topic of discussion and reduction, so this admiralty minister has the most thoughts.

So this one couldn't sit still, so he said immediately. "Your Majesty, ladies and gentlemen, the British side's proposal to reduce the size of the ship seems to be very good, but we need to give priority to the next move of the British. As long as the British are willing to remain neutral in a war in which Germany may be involved in the future, then our navy will be willing to accept that our navy will stop expanding further. ”

Tirpitz was a man of the Kaiser's trust, and he knew what the emperor was building the navy for. That's why the conditions of the navy were given priority to ensure the status of the navy in the Kaiser's heart.

And Tirpitz's words on behalf of the Navy immediately aroused the opposition of Prime Minister Bilo. "Marshal Tirpitz, this request of the Navy is too rude. I think that since the British are willing to talk, then we cannot let go. You know, if we continue to fight the British at sea under the land pressure of France and Russia, it will not only be a financial pressure, but also a political and military pressure. ”

This Bülow had always been committed to the peace between the British and German navies, and believed that it would be better for Germany to avoid provoking Britain when there was land pressure from France and Russia.

The Prime Minister's words still carried a lot of weight, and the people who wanted to speak fell into deep thought after Biloh spoke.

It is true that Germany is under a lot of pressure on land, and it is wise to continue to entangle the British Empire in the navy.

However, there are also those who stand up against the Prime Minister's proposal, and Home Secretary Holwig disagrees with the Prime Minister's words.

"I think there is some truth in what Marshal Tirpitz said, although our country faces pressure from both the east and the west on land, but it is not a pressure borne by us alone, and the allies Austria-Hungary and Italy have helped us share the pressure. And in terms of shipbuilding, we are not alone under the pressure of the British, our ally Italy is also building ships on a large scale, and Vienna is also building warships. So the proposal of the British, we need to consider the allies, it is better to ask about the attitude of Rome and Vienna. ”

Holwig's words forced others in the room to admit that Germany really needs to consider the attitude of its allies at the moment. The Russian pressure in the east required Austria-Hungary to act as the main force to contain Russia, and only after Germany had eliminated its rival France could it be freed. To the west, Italy could contain some of the French forces, and the Italian and Austro-Hungarian navies could contain the British and French navies in the Mediterranean, reducing the pressure on Germany's seas.

So for Germany at the moment, it is really necessary to take into account the attitude of the allies. And this ally, in fact, mainly refers to Italy.

In recent years, Italy's national power has grown, and it has become more and more important to Germany. After all, both the land and sea ends of Italy played a big role in Germany, and its monarch Carlo was also very assertive, so Germany had to consider their opinions.

After all, when it comes to Britain, Germany needs a navy-strong Italy even more, and Italy's superior geographical location also allows it to pose a more lethal threat to Britain and France.

"Let's ask our allies first, and if they support it, then we'll talk to the British."

After much consideration, in the end, it was the Kaiser's words that had the final effect, so let's ask the allies what they meant.

At a time when both Germany and Italy were planning to question each other, there was also considerable opposition to the proposal within the UK.

The "navy" faction, represented by Secretary of the Navy McKenna and First Sea Secretary Fisher, engaged in a fierce debate with conservatives.

McKenna sent a letter to Chancellor Asquith, asking him to be wary of developments in the German Navy: First, Germany and Italy are engaged in a large-scale shipbuilding program.

Second, its shipbuilding was carried out in secret, and it will take time to test whether it is possible to conceal it.

Thirdly, according to the information they received, by 1912 Germany and Italy would have at least 23 large new warships, and Italy would have 15 large new warships. Germany and Italy will have 38 new warships, and given the relationship between the two allies and Italy's critical position, the British Empire will need at least 40 or more new warships to ensure that sea supremacy does not fall into their hands.

Fourth, the ability of Germany and Italy to build "dreadnought" ships has caught up with Britain, and the British Admiralty led by McKenna proposed to increase the speed of warship manufacturing and build two more "dreadnought" ships, that is, starting from the 1909 fiscal year, the British Empire will build eight "dreadnought" ships per year. In the face of the Navy's demands, the Cabinet members, headed by Prime Minister Asquith, Chancellor of the Exchequer Lloyd George, and Business Secretary Winston Churchill, still insisted on agreeing to build only four Dreadnought.

In the face of the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Business, Admiralty Secretary McKenna not only fought at the government level, but also fully mobilized public anti-German sentiment to exert public pressure on the Asquith government.

The Telegraph declared: "We demand the construction of eight [dreadnought' ships, and we will not sit idly by" and "we will not allow Nelson's honour to be tarnished." ”

The Observer called on all Britons to insist on the construction of 8 "dreadnought" ships: "8, a complete 8, nothing else but 8." ”

In addition, pro-Conservative media outlets, such as The Times, have also spoken out in various radical terms, demanding that the government meet the requirements for the expansion of the navy.

Social groups such as the Naval Alliance and the Essay Fan Wen Maritime League also held various activities to support McKenna and others' naval expansion plan.

Under the huge political and social pressure, the three fierce men from the sky also felt unbearable. They were forced to make a compromise and promised to arrange for the construction of 8 Dreadnoughts at once in the naval budget of 1909.

In addition, on June 16, 1908, the budget for the construction of eight "dreadnought" ships was passed in parliament by a vote of 322 in favor and 83 against.

And thus the British Empire put its own proposal to an end in such a dramatic way.

At this time, Germany and Italy had not yet discussed the outcome of a response plan.

Faced with such an outcome, Carlo knew that the short-lived suppression of the arms race at sea would end without a hitch, and Europe was surging towards a major war.

"Brother Shen!"

"Hmm!"

Shen Changqing walked on the road, and when he met someone he knew well, he would say hello to each other or nod his head.

But it doesn't matter who it is.

There was no superfluous expression on everyone's face, as if they were very indifferent to everything.

on this.

Shen Changqing is used to it.

Because this is the Demon Suppression Division, it is an institution that maintains the stability of Great Qin, and its main responsibility is to kill demons and monsters, and of course there are some other side jobs.

Arguably.

In the Demon Suppression Division, everyone has a lot of blood on their hands.

When a person is accustomed to seeing life and death, then he will become indifferent to many things.

When he first came to this world, Shen Changqing was a little uncomfortable, but over time he got used to it.

The Demon Suppression Division is huge.

The people who can stay in the Demon Suppression Division are all powerful masters, or people who have the potential to become masters.

Shen Changqing belongs to the latter.

Among them, the Demon Suppression Division is divided into two professions, one is the town guard and the other is the demon exterminator.

Anyone who enters the Demon Suppression Division starts with the lowest level of demon slayer.

Then step by step, he is expected to become a town guard.

Shen Changqing's predecessor was a trainee demon slayer in the Demon Suppression Division, and he was also the lowest level of the demon slayer envoys.

Have memories of the predecessor.

He is also very familiar with the environment of the Demon Suppression Division.

It didn't take long for Shen Changqing to stop in front of an attic.

Unlike other places full of slaughter, the attic here seems to stand out from the crowd, and in the bloody Demon Suppression Division, it presents a different tranquility.

At this time, the attic door is open, and there are occasional people entering and exiting.

Shen Changqing only hesitated for a moment, and then stepped in.

Access to the attic.

The environment has changed in vain.

A burst of ink fragrance mixed with the faint smell of blood came to his face, making his brow furrow instinctively, but quickly stretched.

The smell of blood on everyone's body in the Demon Suppression Division is almost impossible to clean.