Qin Tian devoted considerable time to perfecting the design of his battleship, finally completing it just before Christmas Eve. The blueprint revealed a formidable battleship, distinct in style from existing vessels.
Prior to the commissioning of the British Royal Navy's 'Dreadnought,' battleships from various nations typically displaced just over ten thousand tons and featured a dual-caliber main armament, consisting of a primary large-caliber gun and a secondary smaller-caliber gun. The latter compensated for the former's firepower limitations through a higher rate of fire.
However, with the advent of the 'Dreadnought,' battleships entered the era of all-heavy artillery. This new design eliminated the secondary guns entirely, opting instead for a complete array of primary guns to further enhance the battleship's striking capability.
The battleship designed by Qin Tian embodied this all-heavy artillery principle. Its silhouette bore a resemblance to the future German Navy's 'Nassau-class' battleship, albeit with differences in the number and arrangement of main guns. The 'Nassau-class' featured six twin-mounted 280-mm guns—one on each deck, with the remaining four positioned along the sides of the ship, allowing for concentrated fire when engaging targets to the broadside.
In contrast, Qin Tian's battleship boasted three triple-mounted 305-mm guns, replacing the six twin-mounted 280-mm guns. Being well aware of the trends that emerged in later naval warfare, Qin Tian recognized that the triple-mounted guns represented the future. The principal battleships of World War II, such as Japan's 'Yamato-class' and America's 'Iowa-class,' all employed this configuration.
Moreover, the use of triple-mounted guns conserved space and reduced the overall length of the hull, thereby enhancing the ship's defensive capabilities.
Consequently, aside from the main armament's differences from the 'Nassau-class,' Qin Tian's battleship featured superior defensive attributes.
In terms of propulsion, Qin Tian opted for oil-fired boilers instead of coal, transitioning from a triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine to a steam turbine. This modification would allow for greater speed.
"I hope Wilhelm II will find favor with this battleship. If so, the German Navy can decisively overpower the British upon the introduction of the Dreadnought. Should conflict arise, the odds would be in favor of the German fleet," Qin Tian mused as he gazed at the ship's schematics.
Now that he had the means, Qin Tian was determined to fulfill his promise to donate a battleship to the German Navy, aspiring to provide them with a formidable vessel rather than the subpar pre-Dreadnought battleships that had been constructed in abundance.
In addition, Qin Tian sought this endeavor to gain the favor of Wilhelm II, an emperor with a profound appreciation for naval power. If he could earn Wilhelm's trust, it would grant Qin Tian greater influence in both royal and national affairs, potentially altering the fate of Germany.
He preferred not to witness the downfall of the German Empire. As a prince during its zenith, he enjoyed numerous privileges; a collapse would force him into exile, rendering his wealth futile against the backdrop of ruin.
As for the question of succession, Qin Tian had never entertained such thoughts. He understood that as long as Crown Prince Wilhelm lived, his own chances were nonexistent. Even if the Crown Prince were to perish, three elder brothers stood between him and the throne.
Time slipped away, and the German Welfare Lottery Company began to establish itself. The dual-color ball lottery had become exceedingly popular among German players, particularly with those fortunate enough to win the grand prize, motivating others to follow suit and invest their money into the lottery. Nonetheless, such winners were exceedingly rare, while the majority merely invested repeatedly, often reaping only minor rewards.
This success was steadily filling Qin Tian's coffers. With the royal family's backing, no one dared to encroach upon their interests. Qin Tian and Karl planned to expand into foreign markets starting the following year. With less than a decade until the outbreak of war, seizing wealth from other nations through lottery sales would inadvertently strengthen Germany's position. Should the opportunity arise, Qin Tian hoped to allocate these resources towards military expansion, elevating Germany's military prowess to new heights.
Christmas was a significant occasion for Westerners, and for the German royal family, it marked a day of reunion. To strengthen ties with various factions within the Empire, Emperor Wilhelm II hosted a banquet at the Palace of Potsdam on Christmas Eve, inviting royalty from the many kingdoms of the German Empire, dukes, high-ranking government officials, military leaders, social luminaries, and diplomats from foreign nations stationed in Germany.
Initially, Qin Tian believed he would miss this grand event. However, he was pleasantly surprised to learn from Karl that Wilhelm II had agreed to his return to the palace. This news was nothing short of a fortuitous blessing.
"Your Highness, I am all set. When shall we depart?" Karl inquired excitedly.
Although he had attended palace banquets in the past, this time his status was markedly different. Previously, he had been merely a servant; now, he was the general manager of the German Welfare Lottery Company, and his personal wealth had reached five million marks.
"Yes, I am ready. Let us go," Qin Tian replied with a nod, picking up a suitcase filled with gifts for his parents and siblings. As a wealthy individual, he was determined to make a generous impression during the festive season.
The two of them descended the stairs and climbed into the awaiting Mercedes-Benz, making their way towards Potsdam.
Despite the fact that the Mercedes had been on the market for many years, Qin Tian found the design and interior of contemporary automobiles to be rather rudimentary, lacking the sophistication of those in later eras.
"The lottery company is continuously generating revenue; keeping so much money in the bank feels like a waste. Perhaps it's time to consider our next investment direction. The automotive sector seems promising," Qin Tian contemplated silently.
If he could design automobiles with the aesthetic appeal of those from the future, they would undoubtedly sell like hotcakes—this he had no doubt about.