"Oskar, how many of the British Navy's Invincible-class battlecruisers will the British build?" Wilhelm II suddenly asked.
"Father Emperor, according to the intelligence we have received, the British will build three Invincible-class battlecruisers: the lead ship HMS Invincible, the second ship Indomitable, and the third ship Indefatigable," Oscar said.
"Since the British are going to build three Invincible-class battlecruisers, then our battlecruisers cannot number fewer than theirs. We will build three as well." Wilhelm II swept out his hand grandly, looking exceptionally bold.
Of course, in Oscar's eyes, this was plainly the face of a nouveau riche. The German Welfare Lottery Company provided the royal family with no small amount of funds every year, and together with the loans Oscar had promised the navy, naval funding was no longer quite so tight. This naturally gave Wilhelm II enough confidence to engage the British in a naval arms race. After all, battleships and battlecruisers were not so easily built. Not only did they require a long construction period, but they also consumed enormous sums of money. Apart from a few top-tier world powers, the other nations simply lacked the financial resources and technology to build these colossal behemoths.
"Three? This is truly wonderful!" Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz nearly cheered. Four Nassau-class battleships, five Helgoland-class battleships, and three battlecruisers—this meant that the German Navy would suddenly possess twelve new Capital Ships. Moreover, they were all the finest dreadnoughts. This would undoubtedly bring the German Navy's strength nearly level with that of the British Navy. In terms of combat power, it might even surpass it. This was something the German Navy had never achieved in all these years!
Oscar was smiling broadly as well. If three battlecruisers were built, the three remaining large slipways at the German Shipyard would undoubtedly be put to perfect use. Several of the previous Helgoland-class battleships had been allocated to other shipyards. Then, no matter what, they had to swallow these three battlecruisers in one bite.
"Your Majesty, building three battlecruisers at once will place even greater pressure on our finances." Even amid his delight, Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz did not forget to offer a reminder. After all, aside from constructing Capital Ships, the navy also had a large number of small and medium-sized warships to build.
"I will find a way to handle the funding. Like Oskar, the royal family will provide the navy with a loan. Let us set it at one hundred million Mark per year for now. Once the war is over, it can be repaid using the dividends of war," Wilhelm II said.
Wilhelm II had thought it through very clearly. No matter how much wealth one possessed now, it did not mean it could last forever. To truly endure, they still had to find a way to win the future war. Only by winning the war could he remain Emperor. If they lost, then he would be nothing more than the ruler of a fallen nation.
Besides, Oscar's German Welfare Lottery Company provided the royal family with immense wealth every year, leaving Wilhelm II with far more money at hand. He now had the funds to support the navy's development.
"Thank you, Your Majesty! With the support of Your Majesty and Your Highness, the navy will certainly develop at high speed. In the future war, we will definitely win!" Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz declared with complete confidence. With so much support at their disposal, if the German Navy still lost in the future, they would truly have no face left to show anyone.
"Father Emperor, what shall this class of battlecruisers be named?" Oscar asked.
Wilhelm II thought for a moment before saying, "I recall that the navy intended to build a large cruiser named after Marshal Blücher, correct?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz nodded.
"Then, in that case, this class of battlecruisers shall be called the Blücher-class battlecruisers!" Wilhelm II made the decision.
Neither Oscar nor Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz had any objection to this.
Thus, this class of battlecruisers was officially named. The lead ship would be Blücher, the second ship Von der Tann, and the third ship Lothringen.
"Father Emperor, let the Blücher-class battlecruisers be built at my shipyard. We happen to have three large slipways remaining, enough to build these three battlecruisers." Oscar wore a smile on his face.
Wilhelm II considered it, then looked toward Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz.
"Of course there is no problem. Our three classes of new Capital Ships were all designed by Your Highness. The navy has also received substantial loans from Your Highness. Entrusting the construction of the Blücher-class battlecruisers to Your Highness's shipyard is only natural." Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz gave his wholehearted approval. It could be said that Oscar had now completely become the navy's great benefactor. To the navy, it made little difference which shipyard received these battleships, so they might as well give Oscar this favor.
"Very well, Oskar. The Blücher-class battlecruisers will be built by the German Shipyard. However, the future warships will not be given to the German Shipyard in such great numbers. The German Shipyard must still strive for more civilian vessel orders in order to turn a profit. It cannot rely solely on military orders," Wilhelm II reminded him.
"Yes, Father Emperor." Oscar nodded.
Building civilian vessels was inevitable. Once this batch of warships had been completed, some slipways would be freed up to build large merchant ships and ocean liners, making further preparations for the war.
The discussion between Wilhelm II, Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz, and Oscar lasted an entire day. They even ate dinner directly in the office. This naturally aroused the surprise, and even speculation, of others.
Crown Prince Wilhelm in particular was deeply dissatisfied. In his view, as the Crown Prince of the German Empire, was there anything that still needed to be hidden from him? He guessed that Oscar and the others were certainly discussing the construction of the navy's next class of Capital Ships. The British Navy's commissioning of HMS Dreadnought had caught the German Navy somewhat off guard. At the same time, those experts from the Naval Technical Committee had also been slapped in the face.
Naturally, Crown Prince Wilhelm had lost a great deal of face because of this as well. When Oscar's design had been rejected, he had worn an expression of gloating delight. Now, he too had been slapped hard across the face. This naturally made the ever narrow-minded Crown Prince Wilhelm fly into a rage from humiliation.
"Bastards! I am the Crown Prince of the German Empire! Are they trying to ignore my very existence?" Crown Prince Wilhelm roared furiously.
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