Qin Tian conversed with Kaiser Wilhelm II and Admiral Count Tirpitz until the early hours of the morning. Although both Wilhelm II and Admiral Tirpitz acknowledged Qin Tian's design proposal, it was still somewhat unlikely that they would immediately resolve to construct the battleship based on his plans.
The construction of a battleship is no trifling matter; each vessel requires two to three years to complete. Of course, the British Navy's *Dreadnought* took a year from inception to launch. When factoring in outfitting and sea trials, it took two years before it was ready for service.
Thus, prior to commencing construction, there must be thorough deliberations to ensure that everything is flawless, avoiding various problems that might arise once the project is underway. Should issues occur, resolving them would undoubtedly be extremely troublesome.
Particularly given that Germany's naval budget is already quite limited, any problems that arise would deal a heavy blow to the German Navy. Such setbacks would only widen the gap between it and the British Navy. Therefore, both Wilhelm II and Admiral Tirpitz had to exercise great caution.
"It seems tomorrow afternoon's symposium will not go well. I wonder how the relics of the Naval Technical Committee will decide," Qin Tian murmured before sinking into a deep slumber.
Indeed, Wilhelm II had decided that the Naval Technical Committee would evaluate Qin Tian's design proposal to determine whether to proceed with the construction of his battleship. However, the members of the committee were notorious for their rigidity, making it exceedingly difficult to persuade them to accept a novel concept—especially one crafted by a mere sixteen-year-old boy. Accepting Qin Tian's design would imply that the naval experts had failed in their judgment, a humiliation they could ill afford.
Even though the following day was Christmas, the decision regarding the next-generation battleship was of immense importance to the German Navy. Consequently, senior officials of the Naval Technical Committee were summoned and gathered in the committee's conference room by two o'clock in the afternoon. The fate of Qin Tian's battleship design hung in the balance, contingent upon their decision. Naturally, as the designer, Qin Tian would also attend the symposium to articulate his design philosophy and persuade the experts.
Sitting in the chair of honor was Count von Warren, the chairman of the Naval Technical Committee. Among the attendees were Sir Dietrich, the Director of Naval Shipbuilding; Brigadier General Gusard, a naval weapons expert; Chief Engineer Bruckner; naval ship designer Erich Dawson; and Admiral Müller, the Secretary of the Navy.
"Mr. Chairman, why are His Majesty and the Admiral being so hasty as to have us assess a battleship designed by a mere boy? Since when can a child design a battleship? What purpose do we serve if that is the case?" Sir Dietrich complained. As the longest-serving shipbuilding director in the German Navy and a distinguished engineer, he held a sense of pride and deemed this symposium to be sheer folly. Moreover, given that today was Christmas, he resented the time wasted away from his family.
"Indeed, Mr. Chairman. Prince Oscar is but sixteen years old; such an age is meant for academic pursuits, not for designing battleships. Is this not laughable? Furthermore, I have heard that this prince is quite unruly and has tried every conceivable method to evade attending the Kiel Naval Academy. What remarkable battleship could such a person design? I remain skeptical," added Chief Engineer Bruckner, his expression one of disdain.
"Enough, gentlemen. Prince Oscar might just be a genius," Count von Warren interjected. As the chairman, he had always adhered to a philosophy of caution and diligence in the development of the German Navy, aware that a misguided decision could lead to tremendous losses. Now, with Wilhelm II and Admiral Tirpitz demanding an evaluation of Qin Tian's design, Count von Warren was resolute in maintaining stringent standards, ensuring that the design would not be passed lightly.
"Mr. Chairman, Prince Oscar is indeed a genius, but his talents lie in commerce, not shipbuilding," remarked naval ship designer Erich Dawson, his tone laced with sarcasm. In the eyes of these technical experts, Qin Tian's lottery company seemed merely a venture of opportunism; even substantial profits were insignificant in their view.
"Enough chatter; the symposium begins in five minutes," Admiral Müller reminded them. Although Qin Tian had not yet arrived, speaking ill of a royal was ill-advised.
Two minutes later, a group entered the conference room, led by none other than Crown Prince Wilhelm. Kaiser Wilhelm II, burdened with affairs of state, had not personally attended the symposium, but to demonstrate the importance he placed on this deliberation, he sent his son as his representative.
Following closely behind was Admiral Count Tirpitz, the head of the German Navy, whose attendance was essential given the significance of determining the next major vessel for the fleet.
Prince Heinrich, commander of the High Seas Fleet and Kaiser Wilhelm II's younger brother, was also present. He had long served in the German Navy and wielded considerable influence. Most battleships built by the German Navy were assigned to the High Seas Fleet, thus granting him a voice in decisions regarding the next principal vessel.
Bringing up the rear was Qin Tian, who had not anticipated such an elaborate gathering. Initially, he thought that once Wilhelm II and Admiral Tirpitz gave their approval, everything would be set in stone. However, it became apparent that the process was far from straightforward. Convincing those antiquated experts filled him with immense pressure; after all, he was incredibly young and merely a nominal student at the naval academy. Gaining their trust would be a formidable challenge.
Nonetheless, Qin Tian had resolved that even if the proposal failed to pass, he would persist in constructing the battleship. If necessary, he would finance the entire endeavor himself; after all, he was not lacking in resources!