In Qin Tian's view, if every infantry squad in the German army were equipped with an MG10 squad automatic weapon, a grenade launcher, and a sniper rifle, with the remaining soldiers armed with M1 semi-automatic rifles, the firepower of the German army would reach a level reminiscent of the World War II era—an elite standard.
In this scenario, the German army would possess an even greater advantage in the impending First World War. Even if the conflict devolved into trench warfare once more, they would have sufficient firepower to dismantle the entrenched positions of the Anglo-French forces.
Thus, Qin Tian was eager to expedite the development of these weapons, hoping to equip the German army as soon as possible. With several years remaining before the outbreak of war, he believed there was ample time for the army to transition to these new arms.
"Your Majesty, esteemed generals, I trust you are well aware of the capabilities of these weapons developed by the Deutsche Waffen company. In order for the German Empire to dominate in future conflicts against nations like England, France, and Russia, I propose that the army replace its current armaments with those crafted by the Deutsche Waffen company, thereby enhancing the combat effectiveness of our forces," Qin Tian stated, surveying the assembly of military leaders. He assumed that, following this demonstration, the transition to new equipment would be a foregone conclusion.
However, it soon became clear to Qin Tian that his expectations were misguided; achieving his objectives would prove to be a formidable challenge.
"Gentlemen, what are your thoughts on the Crown Prince's proposal?" Wilhelm II inquired, looking to the generals. Even as Emperor, he found it difficult to compel the army to accept his directives on this matter.
"Your Majesty, Crown Prince. The weapons developed by the Deutsche Waffen company are indeed outstanding. If budget allows, I believe we should proceed with the transition," responded Army Minister von Falkenhayn, the first to voice his support.
While it was true that the weapons were exceptional and would further bolster the German army's capabilities, von Falkenhayn was also aligning himself with Qin Tian. Long overshadowed by Moltke, he had now wholly embraced Qin Tian's cause, becoming his representative within the army.
Other generals chimed in, with most supporting Qin Tian. However, a faction remained silent—those aligned with Moltke and closely associated with Mauser and Rheinmetall.
Despite having witnessed the impressive performance of the Deutsche Waffen company's weapons, their financial ties to Mauser and Rheinmetall compelled them to advocate for the status quo.
"Your Majesty, if we were to implement a large-scale transition, it would require a substantial sum. Crown Prince, while the performance of these weapons is commendable, I suspect their cost may be prohibitive," remarked General Waldsee, the Deputy Chief of Staff, furrowing his brow.
Qin Tian nodded, "The M1 semi-automatic rifle retails at roughly twice the price of the Mauser 1898."
"Then how much would a large-scale transition cost?" the generals began to murmur amongst themselves.
Even Wilhelm II frowned at this. Although the standing army numbered only in the hundreds of thousands, that figure would swell to three million or more once war commenced. This implied they would need to procure sufficient weaponry for stockpiling before hostilities began—a daunting financial burden for a Germany already grappling with significant debt.
"While the weapons developed by the Deutsche Waffen company are indeed commendable, their exorbitant prices pose a significant challenge. Therefore, I recommend that the army initially procure them in small quantities, waiting until the budget improves before making a larger transition. After all, the current combat capability of the German army remains unparalleled. The advantage in weaponry is not as critical for us," Moltke countered.
Qin Tian's expression soured. In his push to expand and prepare for war, Germany's finances were already strained, with ongoing deficits. Even with the onset of war, fiscal conditions were unlikely to improve—any relief would only come after a decisive victory. He could not afford to wait until then to procure the Deutsche Waffen company's arms. His intent in urging the company to expedite their development was to ensure the German army could minimize casualties in future conflicts. After all, the German population was limited, and each able-bodied man represented invaluable labor.
"Your Majesty, while the weapons designed by the Crown Prince's company are undoubtedly impressive, they present a critical flaw: they will significantly increase our logistical burden," remarked one of the German generals.
Indeed, the rapid-fire capabilities and powerful munitions of these weapons would lead to a corresponding spike in ammunition consumption, greatly taxing the logistics corps.
However, Qin Tian did not perceive this as a significant issue; if the combat effectiveness of the troops could be enhanced, the increased logistical strain would be a worthwhile trade-off.
"We can address the logistical concerns by augmenting our support personnel and employing alternative solutions. For instance, we could equip the logistics corps with more trucks, alleviating potential issues," von Falkenhayn suggested.
"Both machine guns developed by the Deutsche Waffen company are air-cooled. While this reduces weight and increases firing rate compared to water-cooled models, I've observed that their barrels turn red after prolonged firing. This likely prevents sustained fire, doesn't it?" another general interjected.
"This is not a problem. When the barrel wears out, we can swiftly replace it with a spare. A trained gunner can change the barrel in a matter of seconds," Gustav Krupp asserted.
"Yet, this would introduce a delay in firing, providing an opportunity for the advancing enemy. Additionally, carrying spare barrels would increase the soldiers' load, further complicating our cost considerations," the army general retorted.