Wilhelm II and Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz both fixed their eyes on the design blueprints Oscar had spread across the desk. When Oscar had first produced the plans for the Nassau-class Battleship, he had utterly stunned them. The blueprints for this new class of Battleship did not deliver quite the same shock, but they knew that it was undoubtedly an extremely powerful Battleship—one even stronger than the Nassau-class Battleship.
If the German Navy could possess such a Battleship, its strength would be further enhanced. If, as Oscar had said, the British Navy's future several classes of Battleships were merely minor modifications of the Dreadnought, then even if the British Navy held a numerical advantage, the German Navy would still possess the advantage in combat power with the Nassau-class Battleship and this new class of Battleship. This would undoubtedly allow the German Navy to further narrow the gap with the British Navy, perhaps even overtake it.
"Oskar, this Battleship is excellent. Its firepower is formidable, its defenses are exceptionally strong, and its advantage in speed is especially obvious. This is the Battleship the German Navy needs!" Wilhelm II nodded in satisfaction.
"Your Highness, may I ask how much this class of Battleship will cost?" Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz asked. This was what concerned him more. Although they had already obtained an enormous loan from Oscar, the Navy's budget still had to be spent sparingly. They had to use the least money possible to strengthen the Navy and spend every mark on the cutting edge of the blade.
"It should cost around sixty million," Oscar named a figure.
Wilhelm II and Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz immediately found it impossible to remain calm. The price was simply too expensive. One Battleship alone would cost that much—wouldn't building several of them require two or three hundred million marks?
"Your Highness, sixty million marks per ship is simply far too expensive. The Navy cannot possibly afford such costly Battleships!" Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz shook his head repeatedly.
"Count, although this new class of Battleship is more expensive than the Nassau-class Battleship, its combat power is far greater. Against British Battleships, it would possess an overwhelming advantage. Surely the Navy does not wish to imitate the British—spending vast sums only to build that kind of flashy but useless rubbish?" Oscar wore a smile.
Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz was instantly rendered speechless. Of course, he hoped that German Navy Battleships could crush those of the British Navy.
Wilhelm II spoke up then. "Your Excellency, say no more. I will find a way to deal with the money."
Wilhelm II was likewise flush with wealth now. As the German Welfare Lottery Company earned ever greater profits, the share received by the royal family also continued to rise. Although the royal family could only share in the profits the German Welfare Lottery Company earned within Germany, the sum was still substantial—more than a hundred million marks a year. This money was entirely a windfall, an additional source of income. Moreover, the royal family had its own estates and industries, which also generated considerable profits every year. If the royal family were willing to spend money strengthening the Navy, then the German Navy's rapid development would be impossible to stop.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz's face filled with delight. With Wilhelm II's assurance, what was left for him to worry about? For the first time, he felt that being the man at the helm of the German Navy was simply too blissful. Watching one cutting-edge Battleship after another slide into the water and enter service, watching the German Navy grow stronger bit by bit in his own hands—this gave Tirpitz an indescribable sense of achievement.
"Father Emperor, how many of this class of Battleship should we build? And what should they be called?" Oscar asked.
"How many should we build? Tirpitz, what do you think?" Wilhelm II looked toward Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz.
Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz furrowed his brow, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Your Highness, there is something I fear I must explain to you. The construction of the next class of capital ships cannot all be handed over to German Shipyard. The Nassau-class Battleships were all built by German Shipyard, and this has already caused great dissatisfaction among the major shipyards. Therefore, the next class of capital ships must take the interests of all the major shipyards into consideration. I hope Your Highness can understand."
Oscar had anticipated this long ago. After all, the German Navy's major shipyards all had deep roots, and the interests involved were simply too vast. The major shipyards watched German Shipyard continuously build new Battleships while they could only receive orders for small and medium warships. Naturally, this left them deeply dissatisfied. When the time came, German Shipyard would likely incur public wrath and become the industry's common enemy.
Even Wilhelm II, Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz, and the others did not dare do such a thing.
"Oskar, we are all fully aware of everything you have done for the German Navy and indeed for all of Germany. But many times, we have no choice but to consider the greater picture. Besides, the German Navy cannot grow strong through German Shipyard alone. If the other major shipyards receive no orders and suffer losses or even go bankrupt, the German Empire's shipbuilding capacity will suffer a heavy blow, thereby affecting our shipbuilding strength. That would severely harm the interests of the German Empire," Wilhelm II said as well.
Oscar nodded. "Father Emperor, I understand that. For Germany's interests, it is only right that German Shipyard yield some of its benefits. Of the next class of capital ships, German Shipyard only needs to build one. I will fund that ship myself, as fulfillment of my promise to Director Birkenhagen."
Seeing how reasonable Oscar was, Wilhelm II and Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz both breathed a sigh of relief. It also greatly improved Wilhelm II's impression of this son who had once been taciturn, withdrawn, and introverted. He even believed that Oscar was the best candidate for Crown Prince. But unfortunately, Crown Prince Wilhelm was his eldest son and held the first right of succession to the throne. That could not be changed.
"Your Majesty, since Your Highness understands, then we have nothing to worry about. In order to take the interests of all the major shipyards into account, let us build five capital ships of the next class!" Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz proposed.
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