"Father, transferring the Royal Shipbuilding and Repair Yard to Oscar at such a low price seems rather inappropriate! This greatly impacts the interests of the royal family. Not to mention, you have agreed to lend him one hundred and twenty million marks, and even allowed him to pay for the construction of the battleship with that loan. There has never been a precedent for this in the history of the German Empire!" exclaimed the Crown Prince Wilhelm, his face flushed with anger and resentment.
Although Wilhelm II had not informed others about the transfer of the shipyard or the substantial loan to Qin Tian, the Crown Prince was able to learn of these developments through his own channels. This knowledge only deepened his frustration and dissatisfaction. In his view, Wilhelm II was clearly favoring Qin Tian. Should Qin Tian succeed in shipbuilding, particularly with a well-designed battleship, his prestige would soar, potentially garnering naval support and significantly jeopardizing Wilhelm's claim to the throne.
Wilhelm II cast a cold glance at the Crown Prince, growing increasingly discontented with him. However, this did not indicate any intention to replace the Crown Prince, as he was the heir apparent and could not be easily dismissed without significant cause, especially since Wilhelm II harbored great affection and expectations for his eldest son.
"Prince, as the Crown Prince of the Empire and Oscar's elder brother, is it so hard for you to be magnanimous? If you are so narrow-minded, how can you expect to lead this Empire?" Wilhelm II admonished, a look of disappointment etched across his face.
"Ah! Father, I am not jealous of Oscar; I am merely considering the royal family's interests," the Crown Prince quickly defended himself, astonished by Wilhelm II's firmness on this matter. This further fueled his resentment toward Qin Tian, for had it not been for him, he would not have faced such reproach from his father. He could hardly recall a time when he had been reprimanded so.
"Hmph! Prince, I have repeatedly told you that as the Crown Prince, you must possess a broad heart. A person's abilities are always limited. The growth and strength of the Empire rely on a multitude of elites and the populace. If you remain narrow-minded, how can you expect those elites to willingly serve you? How can you earn their respect? I urge you to reflect deeply and correct these flaws moving forward!" Wilhelm II spoke earnestly, wishing for his successor to lead the Empire to greater heights rather than into decline.
"Yes, Father, I understand!" the Crown Prince replied, lowering his head.
However, how much of Wilhelm II's counsel would truly resonate with him was uncertain. The Crown Prince had inherited his father's obstinacy and was not prone to heeding others' opinions, even when they came from Wilhelm II himself. Such individuals tend to center their worldview around their own desires, often shifting blame elsewhere instead of accepting responsibility.
Had he not been Wilhelm II's eldest son, luckier than his brothers, he might not have held the position of Crown Prince at all; his capabilities were hardly superior to those of his peers.
"Regarding the Royal Shipbuilding and Repair Yard, do not mention it again. Transferring a medium-sized shipyard that has been operating at a loss for years for fifty million marks is already a commendable outcome, better than continually needing to draw funds from royal interests for subsidies. As for the loan to Oscar, it will accrue interest. The condition for utilizing the battleships Oscar builds as the navy's next class of battleships is simple: they must genuinely be powerful vessels that meet the designed specifications. If they do not, I certainly will not permit them to serve in the navy. All expenditures must be borne by Oscar. Given the profitability of the German Lottery Company, this is hardly an insurmountable obstacle.
If the battleships constructed by Oscar indeed exhibit exceptional performance, it would significantly bolster the strength of the German navy. Our enemies are formidable; we must employ every means at our disposal to have any hope of defeating them. Oscar's battleships represent an opportunity we must seize. Moreover, even in failure, we risk nothing."
In an effort to assuage the Crown Prince's jealousy, Wilhelm II explained his reasoning.
The Crown Prince nodded, understanding that Wilhelm II's actions were for the sake of the German Empire. Yet, he could not suppress his dissatisfaction with Qin Tian's continued success, harboring an unshakable feeling that allowing Qin Tian to flourish would pose a direct threat to his claim to the throne. Before Wilhelm II, he dared not express these sentiments. Compared to Qin Tian, who had demonstrated remarkable talent in commerce and shipbuilding, his only advantage lay in his status as Crown Prince and his father's affection.
Should he lose Wilhelm II's favor, how could he compete with Qin Tian?
After being lectured by Wilhelm II for over an hour, the Crown Prince finally found an excuse to leave.
Once back in his chambers, his smile vanished, replaced by a fierce scowl that rendered his handsome features almost menacing.
"Damn it! Father is far too biased, supporting that wretched Oscar so wholeheartedly. I cannot allow Oscar to continue developing unchecked. Otherwise, the world will only recognize the brilliant Prince Oscar, forgetting me, the Crown Prince of the German Empire!" he seethed, a dark intensity radiating from him.
Qin Tian's ongoing successes had undeniably ignited a profound sense of crisis within the Crown Prince.