Krupp (Please Bookmark)

"Your Highness, it seems you have forgotten another important country," Karl said with a smile.

"Oh?" Oscar was taken aback.

"The United States across the ocean. Its industrial output has already surpassed ours, making it the world's largest. That country has a population of more than ninety million, nearly one hundred million. Once we enter that market and achieve strong sales, the profits will surely be astonishing." Karl's expression was grave.

Oscar nodded. "Indeed, the United States is an extremely important market. If we can succeed there, we can certainly reap enormous profits."

Of course, Oscar had not forgotten the United States. Its industrial strength was already the greatest in the world. Although in many advanced technologies, it still could not compare with Europe, its terrifying industrial capacity had already revealed itself beyond doubt. Few other countries could rival it.

The future United States would be a superpower that dominated the world alone. This chosen land enjoyed an excellent geographical position, shielded by two great oceans and surrounded by small countries that could pose no threat at all. At the same time, its vast territory, abundant resources, and huge population gave the United States every condition needed to become an industrial powerhouse. Then World War I and World War II would batter all of Europe to ruins, naturally giving the Americans—who made a fortune from war—the opportunity to rise in one leap and become a superpower.

If Oscar could help Germany reverse its fate of defeat in World War I, then it was foreseeable that the United States would become Germany's great enemy. That filled Oscar with vigilance toward that country.

"Karl, begin the first round of expansion as soon as possible. Include the United States among the countries in the first round. I hope that by the second half of this year, we can successfully enter these countries. The second round of expansion will begin in the first half of next year, and the third round in the second half. Strive to turn our lottery company into a giant of the lottery industry within three years. By then, all of us will earn considerable profits." Oscar was full of expectations for the development of the German Welfare Lottery Company. It would become a gold mine that could never be exhausted. Every one of his development plans required the German Welfare Lottery Company to provide enormous financial support.

"Understood, Your Highness." Karl was likewise drawn in by the blueprint of the future Oscar had painted. Once every expansion target was achieved, the German Welfare Lottery Company would grow into a colossal entity. As the company's general manager, he would attain tremendous accomplishments—and, naturally, enormous profits as well.

The German market alone could bring Karl tens of millions in profits every year. If they expanded across all of Europe and even brought the Americas into their fold, those profits would likely multiply several times over! It was easy to foresee that this field would be one of staggering profits.

"Right, Karl. When entering foreign markets, to avoid unnecessary trouble, it would be best to bring some local strongmen into our ranks. As for profit distribution, we can reduce local welfare spending and allocate to them the portion of profits that originally belonged to the royal family. Only by tying those local strongmen to our war chariot can our development there be guaranteed," Oscar instructed.

Although this would mean giving up part of the profits, Oscar believed it was worthwhile. With the support of local strongmen, every task would be easier to carry out and less likely to meet resistance. Oscar's title as Prince of the German Empire might carry some weight in Germany and the United States, but in Britain, France, and the United States, it would probably hold little deterrent power.

"Yes, Your Highness." Karl nodded.

After entrusting Karl with the heavy responsibility of expanding the Welfare Lottery Company, Oscar focused most of his energy on the German Shipyard. The Nassau-class battleship was the first step in strengthening the German Navy and Germany's military power as a whole. This step had to succeed. Once it did, influencing the future development of Germany's military strength would become far easier for him. After all, with a precedent, he would naturally have much greater persuasive power.

After Brutt became general manager of the German Shipyard, he fully launched the shipyard's expansion. Vast sums of money were poured in, and new slipways began construction. Recruitment for workers had also begun. Brutt started poaching talent like mad from several other shipyards. Germaniawerft, where he had previously worked, became the hardest-hit area of all.

Such actions naturally made the other shipyards deeply dissatisfied. However, with Oscar's support, Brutt had nothing to fear. Backed by ample funds and with Oscar standing behind him, the German Shipyard was changing with each passing day. Before long, it would likely possess the capability to build battleships. The Nassau-class battleship would serve as the German Shipyard's trial run. Of course, even for a trial run, building four ships at once was a grand undertaking.

Once the German Shipyard succeeded, it would likely be a disaster for the other shipyards. It would mean they would find it difficult to secure the Navy's orders for large battleships. Orders for only small and medium-sized warships were simply not enough to fill their stomachs.

Of course, for the Nassau-class battleship to be successfully built and achieve its design specifications on paper, many problems still had to be resolved.

As for the steam turbine, Oscar had already had Brutt send people to the United States. The American engineer Curtis's single-stage steam turbine was highly suitable. As for the Parsons steam turbine designed by a British engineer, there was no need to even think about it—the British would certainly not sell Germany such technology. The American Curtis steam turbine had become Germany's only route to obtain this technology.

Beyond propulsion, the main guns and armor were likewise difficult problems troubling Oscar. The Triple 305mm Main Gun should preferably have a caliber length of fifty, which would give the battleship's main guns more powerful armor-piercing capability. In addition, the battleship's armor also needed much stronger defensive power. In Germany, it seemed that only the Krupp Company could solve these two problems.

"Karl, help me contact the Krupp Company. I will pay them a visit tomorrow!" Oscar ordered.

The Krupp Company was a colossal corporate group in Germany. It not only had Arms Company, but also steel companies, shipyards, and more, spanning multiple fields. It was unquestionably one of Germany's foremost industrial conglomerates.