"This time, I'd really offended those guys to the bone. But so what? I've got money now, so naturally I can indulge myself for once!" Oscar thought somewhat speechlessly as he walked out of the Naval Technical Committee building. He had not expected things to escalate to this extent. Still, he did not regret it. Rather than let those fossilized old fogeys hold back the German Navy, he might as well give them a good scolding. Perhaps he could even scold them awake.
Of course, Oscar had no confidence at all that it would work. Germans were famously rigid.
Just then, a Mercedes-Benz car pulled up in front of Oscar.
"Oscar, get in!" Prince Heinrich said from inside.
"Yes, Your Highness!" Oscar nodded and got into Prince Heinrich's car.
"Oscar, honestly, you've surprised me greatly. Among all the Princes of the royal family, you were originally quite unremarkable. Yet who would have thought that you would now rise to fame with a single dazzling feat?" Prince Heinrich sighed.
The previous Oscar had been taciturn and had not enjoyed Wilhelm II's favor. Within the royal family, he had been like an invisible man. But now, Oscar had first established the German Welfare Lottery Company with his own hands and turned it into an extraordinarily profitable company. Its monthly earnings had stunned everyone.
And now, Oscar had actually designed an advanced Battleship. Although it had not been accepted by the Naval Technical Committee, Prince Heinrich believed that once it was truly built, it would certainly astonish the world.
"You flatter me, Your Highness. Still, my design was not accepted by the Naval Technical Committee." Oscar appeared somewhat dejected. If it could have passed, Germany's next-class Capital Ships would undergo earth-shaking changes. Perhaps the German Navy really could overtake the British Navy on a bend and surpass it.
"Oscar, so what if it wasn't accepted by the Naval Technical Committee? I've always thought those people were far too old-fashioned. Personally, I think very highly of the Battleship you designed. Since you aren't short of funds, just build the warship yourself. Then we'll see what expressions those people make." Prince Heinrich encouraged him.
Oscar nodded. He, too, looked forward to that day.
"However, Your Highness, after being rejected by the Naval Technical Committee, I'm afraid no shipyard will help me build it. They still want to keep receiving orders from the navy." Oscar was somewhat worried. Although Germany had quite a few shipyards, only a handful were capable of building Battleships. These shipyards all had very close ties with the Naval Technical Committee. After he had thoroughly offended the Committee, even if Oscar placed orders with them, they would probably refuse to accept them.
"That is indeed a major problem. But I believe there will always be a way. Oscar, you're still young. I believe your future will shine brilliantly, and I think very highly of you." Prince Heinrich patted Oscar on the shoulder.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Oscar also knew that he could not give up so easily now. After all, he was only sixteen and still had a great deal of life ahead of him. Experiencing a few setbacks was nothing much.
Prince Heinrich sent Oscar back to the palace before leaving. After all, today was Christmas, a day for families to reunite.
That evening, Oscar's family gathered together for a lavish Christmas dinner. During the meal, Wilhelm II did not mention what had happened at the Naval Technical Committee that afternoon. However, Oscar saw the gloating in Crown Prince Wilhelm's eyes. He knew that Crown Prince Wilhelm must have spoken ill of him before Wilhelm II. Yet there was nothing he could do about it. The other man was the Crown Prince, noble in status and more favored in Wilhelm II's heart. Compared with him, Oscar was at an inherent disadvantage.
After dinner, Wilhelm II went as usual to handle official business. Normally, the Empress would stay with the children, chatting and talking to foster affection within the royal family. As the saying went, there was no family affection within the imperial house. Although Western royal families did not fight as fiercely as those in the East, the struggles among the Princes were still quite obvious. As parents, Wilhelm II and the Empress naturally wanted to ease this tense atmosphere.
"Oscar, come to the study with me," Wilhelm II said as he was leaving.
"Yes, Father Emperor." Oscar nodded. What was coming could not be avoided. If Wilhelm II intended to reprimand him, he would not be able to escape even if he tried.
"Hmph! He offended those experts at the Naval Technical Committee. Now he'll have a hard time of it." Crown Prince Wilhelm wore a gloating expression.
Seeing this, the Empress could not help but sigh.
"Sit down, Oscar." After entering Wilhelm II's study, Oscar was like a child who had made a mistake, waiting for Wilhelm II to deal with him. Yet to his surprise, Wilhelm II was not angry.
"Yes!" Oscar immediately sat down.
"Oscar, what you did at the Naval Technical Committee this afternoon was too reckless. Even if they rejected your design, you should not have argued with them and mocked them. This will have a very unfavorable impact on your reputation," Wilhelm II said.
"Yes, Father Emperor. I was impulsive today." Oscar lowered his head and admitted his mistake. He knew Wilhelm II's temperament. If he argued back, it would only make Wilhelm II even angrier. Taking the initiative to admit fault, on the other hand, would keep Wilhelm II from pursuing the matter.
Seeing Oscar's attitude, much of Wilhelm II's anger dissipated. After all, this was his son, and a son who had displayed outstanding talent at that.
"Forget it. Who hasn't been young? You're at an age when you're young and hot-blooded. Having a bit of temper is perfectly normal." Wilhelm II waved his hand, and the matter was thus put to rest.
"Father Emperor, I simply cannot stand the sight of them using so-called experience as an excuse, causing our navy to lose a golden opportunity for development," Oscar said bitterly.
"Oscar, you are very confident in your design."
"Yes, Father Emperor. I guarantee that once the Battleship I designed is built, it will absolutely be the most powerful Battleship. It will be even more powerful than the next-class Battleship the British are secretly designing. At that time, we will be able to suppress the British." Oscar spoke confidently.
Wilhelm II frowned without speaking, as if considering the matter. Only after quite some time did he finally open his mouth.
"Oscar, as your father and also as the Emperor of the German Empire, I am willing to support you. I hope you will not disappoint me. Since you declared at the Naval Technical Committee that you would build the Battleship, then go ahead and do it." Wilhelm II made up his mind.
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