A faint smile of contentment appeared on Wilhelm II's face. Indeed, although the enemies of the German Empire were formidable, they possessed the world's most powerful army and a rapidly developing navy. Even in the face of numerous great powers, the future war was not without hope for victory.
"It is truly ideal that everyone has confidence. I believe that God will bless the German nation. In the forthcoming war, even when confronted by the assaults of multiple strong nations, victory will ultimately be ours!" Wilhelm II proclaimed.
QinTian observed the expressions of those around him and nodded to himself. Thanks to his efforts, the German navy had embarked on a completely different path of development. Battleships more powerful than those of the British navy were swiftly being launched. This advancement would offer Germany the opportunity to catch up to, or even surpass, the British fleet. While their numbers might not yet rival those of the British, the performance of individual ships could indeed overwhelm them. Therefore, if war were to erupt in the future, the German navy still held considerable prospects for success.
If the German navy could defeat the British fleet and secure victory in naval engagements, would Germany be condemned to the same fate as it had experienced historically, dragged down by the Entente? It seemed unlikely that such history would repeat itself. As long as Germany could continuously acquire the necessary resources for war through overseas trade, it could sustain the conflict. Even if the outcome were a mutually destructive stalemate, it would be preferable to outright defeat. Moreover, QinTian was diligently working to amass sufficient war supplies for Germany before the outbreak of hostilities, ensuring the nation would not be caught off guard. Additionally, his plans to equip Germany with various new weapons would further bolster its military strength, enhancing the odds of victory in the upcoming war.
"If Germany can vanquish the British navy at the onset of the war and deliver a severe blow to the French on land, that would be ideal. Germany would then swiftly defeat England and France, rendering Russia and Italy inconsequential," QinTian mused silently.
Altering the fate of Germany in World War I and securing a victory was QinTian's ultimate goal. He had always worked towards this objective. Although achieving it would be exceedingly difficult, they were steadily moving closer to their aim. QinTian believed that if all his plans succeeded before war broke out, Germany would undoubtedly emerge victorious.
"Gentlemen, faced with the alliance of England, France, and Russia, the Empire cannot prevent it. Our only course of action is to prepare diligently, further enhancing our military strength, so that when war begins, we can defeat our enemies with overwhelming force and secure victory. I am confident that as long as we unite and strive toward this goal, the future will belong to us," Wilhelm II asserted with unwavering conviction.
"Victory belongs to the German Empire; the Empire shall prevail!" the ministers echoed with optimism for the future.
At the German shipyard, despite being relatively new as a large shipbuilding facility for the Empire, it had undertaken the construction of most of the navy's capital ships. Four Nassau-class battleships, the lead ship of the Helgoland-class battleships, and three Blücher-class battlecruisers were in various stages of construction. The four Nassau-class battleships and the three Blücher-class battlecruisers had already begun their outfitting. The fastest among them, the Nassau-class battleship, was expected to be completed and delivered to the German navy by the end of the year, marking the entry of the navy into the dreadnought era.
QinTian also planned to commence the construction of the next generation of capital ships once the current slipways were cleared and the workers became available. Following the Blücher-class battlecruisers, the German navy required an even more powerful battlecruiser and a new class of capital ship following the Helgoland-class.
These continuously constructed and launched capital ships would become the backbone of the German navy, a formidable assurance in its endeavor to defeat the British fleet.
The British navy paid close attention to Germany's shipbuilding plans. Even in the pre-dreadnought era, the large-scale construction of battleships by the German navy had exerted immense pressure on their British counterparts. Despite the British navy maintaining a numerical superiority, no one could guarantee that Germany's increasing shipbuilding pace wouldn't soon surpass them.
Fortunately, the deployment of the British dreadnought rendered older pre-dreadnought ships obsolete overnight. The British navy's advantages not only remained intact but began to expand. It appeared that the British navy was once again at the forefront of naval development worldwide.
Just as the British believed they could rest easy, the German navy continued its relentless pursuit. They were actively competing with the British navy in the realm of new capital ships. Although the German navy had yet to commission a new capital ship, the number of those under construction was substantial. Once they began to enter service in bulk, they would pose an even greater threat to the British navy.
In September 1907, a report landed on the desk of British naval minister Sir John Fisher. Accompanying the intelligence were several photographs, clearly showing massive capital ships undergoing outfitting, even featuring installed main guns.
"My God! Is this the new capital ship of the Germans? Its displacement surpasses that of our navy's capital ships, and the main gun caliber is also 305 millimeters. Three triple turrets arranged along the centerline is undoubtedly a pioneering design; such a layout seems superior to that of the Royal Navy's capital ships. Have they resolved the accuracy issues with the triple turrets? It's unimaginable that such a design comes from German hands. More importantly, it seems their new capital ships are on the verge of entering service," Sir John Fisher exclaimed, astonished.
"Get me a carriage; I need to head to the Prime Minister's office immediately!" Sir John Fisher commanded.