"Your Majesty, I must admit that Prince Oskar possesses an extraordinary gift for warship design. It now appears that every one of his predictions has come true. Although we wasted more than a year, if we chase hard after them, it is not impossible for us to catch up with the British," Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz said as well.
Wilhelm II nodded. Being able to make those stubborn fellows at the Naval Technical Committee bow their heads and admit their mistakes could be considered a vindication for Oscar. At the same time, he was very satisfied by their complete reversal in attitude. At the very least, from now on, those fellows at the Naval Technical Committee would no longer hold their heads so high, acting as though they alone represented authority.
"Since the Naval Technical Committee has recognized its errors, I will not pursue this matter any further. However, I hope you will take this as a warning and ensure that such a thing never happens again. After all, what has been harmed is the interests of the German Navy, and indeed of all Germany. It could leave us at a disadvantage in future wars!" Wilhelm II said sternly.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Count von Warren hurriedly replied, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief.
Wilhelm II had raised the matter high, only to set it down lightly. For the Naval Technical Committee, this was undoubtedly a good thing. At least it meant they would not suffer too severe a blow. Of course, after this incident, the Naval Technical Committee's prestige had already been greatly diminished. Those experts no longer dared to regard themselves as unquestionable authorities, deaf to all other opinions.
"Gentlemen, there is something I must inform you of. After his design was rejected, Oscar was unwilling to accept it and still decided to build the Battleships he had designed. Thus, he used his own funds to purchase the Imperial Shipyard from the royal family and expanded it into a large shipyard. Since last November, Oscar's German Shipyard has begun constructing the Battleships he designed. Four were laid down at once. Since he insisted on bearing every expense himself, I did not stop him over this matter. What are your thoughts?" Wilhelm II looked at everyone.
Naturally, none of the important German officials present were fools. They knew perfectly well that Oscar could never have accomplished this without Wilhelm II's support. Yet the several Battleships under construction in Oscar's shipyard had now become the hope of the German Navy—the hope that it could catch up with, or even surpass, the British Navy. At such a time, naturally no one would be foolish enough to dig into the matter.
"Your Majesty, it seems God has blessed the German Empire by sending us a genius warship designer such as Prince Oskar. It is also because of his persistence that our navy has not been left too far behind by the British. Since Prince Oskar's shipyard has already begun construction on four New-style Battleships, we might as well have the navy directly take them over as the next generation of Capital Ships. This would save the time needed for redesigning and commencing construction anew. Of course, the navy could pay Prince Oskar the appropriate price," Prince Heinrich proposed.
For the German Navy, this was undoubtedly the best possible outcome. Of course, it would probably not be so good for the Naval Technical Committee and the other large shipyards. Navy warship contracts, especially contracts for large Battleships, had always been the chief source of profit that those large shipyards fought over. If the navy took the Battleships under construction at Oscar's German Shipyard as its next generation of Capital Ships, it would undoubtedly be snatching meat straight from the bowls of the major shipyards.
Count von Warren opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing. Although the major shipyards had close ties with the Naval Technical Committee and provided it with considerable extra support every year, after committing such a grave error, they clearly no longer had the capital to bargain over this matter.
Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz frowned, having also considered the issue. However, since the German Shipyard had already begun constructing four New-style Battleships, there was naturally no possibility of having extra Battleships left for the other shipyards to build. Of course, the other shipyards still had previous Battleship orders. Though their profits would be somewhat reduced, the overall impact would not be too great.
"Your Majesty, the navy is willing to accept the Battleships being constructed by Prince Oskar's German Shipyard as the navy's next generation of advanced Capital Ships," Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz said.
Although the other ministers knew this would cause certain losses to the other shipyards, they also knew that the tide had already turned. Raising the matter again would only provoke Wilhelm II's displeasure. Besides, while they could forget about orders for the next generation of Capital Ships, there would still be orders for the generation after that. If the German Navy wished to contend with the British Navy for maritime supremacy, it would not build merely one generation of New-style Battleships. More New-style Battleships would certainly begin construction afterward.
"Since no one has any objections, then it is decided. Tirpitz, tomorrow I will have Oscar return and sign the contract with the navy!" Wilhelm II said.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz nodded. Naturally, he had no objections whatsoever. Moreover, in his view, the Battleships Oscar had designed and built had won the German Navy a great deal of time in its effort to surpass the British Navy. Even if their New-style Battleships entered service later than those of the British Navy, commissioning four at once—and with performance clearly superior to the British Navy's Dreadnought-class Battleships—would give the German Navy an even greater advantage.
As the leader of the German Navy, what Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz valued was the German Navy's interests. He hoped that in a future war, the German Navy could crush the British Navy in one stroke, drag the British down from their throne as masters of the seas, and fulfill his long-cherished wish. As for everything else, he could no longer concern himself with so much.
Although this matter spread only within a small circle, the news that the Naval Technical Committee had been reprimanded and that the navy would accept the New-style Battleships built by the German Shipyard as Capital Ships still caused a tremendous stir.
Naturally, this gave Oscar, Prince of the German Empire, another glorious title besides that of commercial genius: a genius shipbuilder.
Before you continue