"Mr. Moritz, there is something I think I must tell you in advance. The vast quantities of crude oil we are stockpiling are not entirely for our own consumption. A large portion of it must be reserved for the government," Oscar said with a grave expression.
"Reserved for the government?" Moritz was utterly baffled. Germany's current oil consumption was not high, so there was simply no need for the government to stockpile so much oil! After all, building oil-storage facilities and purchasing crude oil both required a considerable amount of money.
"Mr. Moritz, what I am about to tell you concerns the Empire's military secrets. Therefore, I hope you will keep it confidential and absolutely not leak a single word," Oscar said solemnly.
"Your Highness, I swear in God's name that I will keep the secret!" Moritz said, equally grave.
"Mr. Moritz, the Capital Ships currently being built by the Imperial Navy, as well as many subsequent warships, all use oil-fired boilers. Therefore, the Imperial Navy's oil consumption will grow explosively. Yet the Empire is a nation desperately lacking in oil, so we must stockpile sufficient oil before the war begins. Otherwise, once war breaks out and the Empire's maritime trade routes are severed, if we can no longer obtain oil from overseas, the consequences will be extremely grave. The Capital Ships we spent enormous sums building will all become scrap iron lying in port, unable to sail out to sea. Thus, before war breaks out, we must store as much oil as possible!" Oscar said with utmost seriousness.
Moritz was stunned upon hearing this. Clearly, he had never expected Oscar's demand for greater oil reserves to be for this reason. Of course, he also knew this was absolutely a military secret. Oscar's willingness to speak openly with him was