The eyes of William II and Marshal Count Tirpitz were firmly fixed on the blueprint spread out on Qin Tian's desk. Qin Tian, who had previously astounded them with the innovative design of the "Nassau-class" battleship, was now unveiling a new battleship that promised even greater power.
The prospect of the German Navy acquiring such an advanced battleship was met with keen interest. Qin Tian's assertion that future British battleships would be mere iterations of the "Dreadnought" had strategic implications. With the combination of the "Nassau-class" battleship and the newly proposed vessel, the German Navy, even with potential numerical inferiority, could maintain a significant combat advantage over the British.
"Oscar, this battleship is excellent. It boasts formidable firepower, robust defense, and impressive speed. It's precisely the kind of battleship the German Navy needs!" praised Wilhelm II, nodding in satisfaction.
Marshal Earl Tirpitz, more concerned about costs, was quick to inquire, "Your Highness, I wonder how much this class of battleship costs?"
"The cost is about 60 million," reported Qin Tian.
Upon hearing this figure, both Wilhelm II and Marshal Count Tirpitz were momentarily taken aback. The potential cost of two to three billion marks for constructing several ships seemed exorbitant.
"Your Highness, 60 million marks a ship. This price is too expensive. The Navy simply cannot afford such an expensive battleship!" expressed Marshal Earl Tirpitz, shaking his head.
"Your Excellency, although this new class of battleship is pricier than the 'Nassau-class,' its combat effectiveness surpasses that of the 'Nassau-class.' When facing British battleships, it can even achieve overwhelming advantages. I don't think the navy wants to build ships similar to those of the British, spending colossal sums on sleek and ultimately useless vessels, right?" Qin Tian smiled.
His words left Marshal Earl Tirpitz momentarily speechless. Certainly, he wished for German battleships to outclass those of the British.
King William II intervened, "Your Excellency, Marshal, there's no need to say any more. I will find a way to solve the money problem."
With the increasing profits of the German welfare lottery company and the royal family's share, William II was confident in alleviating the financial constraints.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" responded Earl and Marshal Tirpitz, relieved and joyful. With the king's support, they felt unstoppable in advancing the rapid development of the German Navy.
"Father, how many battleships of this class will be built, and what names will they be named?" Qin Tian inquired.
"Number of builds? Tirpitz, what do you think?" William II turned to Marshal Count Tirpitz.
However, Marshal Earl Tirpitz hesitated, expressing a need to clarify a situation. Given the discontent of major shipyards with the "Deutschland" shipyard building all "Nassau-class" battleships, he proposed sharing the construction among these major shipyards. Qin Tian, anticipating this, had already suggested that only one ship of the new class be built by Deutsche Shipyard, fulfilling his promise to Dean Birkenhagen.
"Oscar, we understand what you've done for the German Navy and Germany as a whole. However, we need to consider the bigger picture. The German Navy cannot rely solely on Deutsche Shipyard to become strong. If other major shipyards suffer losses or go bankrupt, it would damage the shipbuilding capabilities of the German Empire, affecting our overall strength. Serious damage would be done to the interests of the German Empire," William II explained.
Acknowledging the point, Qin Tian proposed building only one of the next-level battleships at Deutschland Shipyard, stating, "Father, I can understand this point. For the benefit of Germany, Deutschland Shipyard can share some benefits, which is as it should be. Among the next-level battleships, Deutschland Shipyard only needs to build one ship. I will cover the cost, fulfilling my promise to Dean Birkenhagen."
Both William II and Marshal Count Tirpitz sighed in relief, appreciating Qin Tian's reasonableness. William II, despite his satisfaction, couldn't help but think that Qin Tian would have been the best candidate for crown prince, although the succession order could not be changed. The decision-making was settled: five next-level battleships would be built, taking into account the interests of major shipyards.