Germany, Berlin, the Imperial Palace, in Emperor Qin Tian's office.
Tonight, Qin Tian had broken his usual routine of dining with his family, instead requesting his secretary to bring a simple meal to his office. Today marked the day of the decisive naval clash between the Imperial Navy and the Allied fleets. After finishing state affairs, he had been waiting in his office for updates on the naval battle, having instructed that any news from the navy be relayed to him immediately.
Although no concrete reports had arrived yet, Qin Tian remained confident in the German Navy's victory. While the combined forces of Britain, France, and Italy had assembled a formidable fleet, it was, in truth, an armada strong only in appearance. Compared to the mighty German Imperial Navy, the difference was profound. Furthermore, Germany's two aircraft carriers, equipped with new carrier-based aircraft, significantly strengthened their force—capable of tearing through any enemy fleet.
Yet, the inherent uncertainties of naval warfare meant that, despite his confidence, Qin Tian would not fully relax until the matter was settled.
After sipping a cup of coffee, he began contemplating the empire's future—something he frequently did during quiet moments. Once the Imperial Navy concluded this war, it would need to undergo a transformation. The number of battleships and battlecruisers would be scaled down further, with aircraft carriers becoming the core of the navy's main fleet.
Moreover, once the empire acquired vast colonial holdings from the British, maintaining these overseas territories would become a paramount duty for the navy. This would necessitate an increased number of cruisers, as both heavy and light cruisers had become areas where the German Navy lagged behind. Expanding the destroyer fleet would also be essential. With Germany now the world's leading navy, future adversaries might emulate Germany's former tactics, heavily developing submarine forces. When faced with a possible influx of enemy submarines, Germany would need a formidable anti-submarine fleet. If necessary, the navy might even design specialized anti-submarine escort ships, sacrificing other capabilities to focus on anti-submarine warfare. Such measures would significantly enhance the navy's ability to counter underwater threats in the future.
Submarines, too, would be a focus for the German Navy's development. German submarines were already leading in performance worldwide, but to Qin Tian, even their current capabilities fell short. The inability to stay submerged for long periods or engage underwater targets remained major limitations. Future naval submarines would evolve to address these issues.
Just as Qin Tian reviewed these plans in his mind, Grand Admiral Tirpitz, Count of the Navy, and Field Marshal Falkenhayn, Minister of the Army and Chief of the General Staff, arrived together to see him.
Seeing the smiles on their faces, Qin Tian immediately guessed the outcome of the battle, and he felt a long-held tension finally release.
"Gentlemen, it seems you bring me good news!" Qin Tian smiled.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Very good news indeed!" Grand Admiral Tirpitz's face was flushed with excitement.
"Then, I presume our victory was splendid. But tell me, what were our losses?" Qin Tian asked.
The question caught Tirpitz off guard, but he quickly replied, "Your Majesty, our losses were minimal. Among our main fleet, only the *Blücher* battlecruiser was lost. The rest of our capital ships remain intact, though some sustained considerable damage. Our losses among smaller vessels were also low. In short, the Imperial Navy secured victory with only light losses."
Qin Tian nodded. Minimal losses would mean that, after the war, the Imperial Navy would still hold sufficient strength to command the world's oceans, ensuring the protection of Germany's global interests. With Britain vanquished, Germany would undoubtedly assume control of British colonies, and a strong navy would be indispensable to safeguard these holdings.
"So, now tell me the full extent of our victory!" Qin Tian continued.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Navy has completely annihilated the Allied Fleet's primary ships. The French and Italians have each surrendered four and two battleships, respectively, while the rest of their capital ships were destroyed by our forces. The navy's two carriers alone accounted for the sinking of twelve enemy capital ships, and even the six battleships we captured owe their surrender to the carrier's aircraft. Both the French and Italians were utterly terrified of our air forces. When they saw our planes circling overhead, surrender became their natural choice," Tirpitz reported.
"Haha! I hadn't expected the aircraft carriers and their squadrons to perform so remarkably in this battle. It appears there can be no further doubt that carriers and aircraft will be the cornerstone of the navy's future," Qin Tian said.
"Indeed, Your Majesty. The entire navy wholeheartedly supports the development of carriers and air squadrons," replied Tirpitz, who now saw the Emperor's vision as unquestionably prescient.
Qin Tian nodded, shelving the topic for later. He intended to discuss the navy's development in detail with Tirpitz at a future time.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Navy has secured yet another resounding victory. The Allied navies of all three nations have been utterly annihilated. This battle's outcome is assured," Falkenhayn said.
"Indeed. With this defeat, the French and Italians have no other options left. I believe they will soon surrender. As for the British, they may surrender—or they may fight to the bitter end. If they surrender, we must impose such harsh terms on them that they will never rise again. If they choose to resist, then we must prepare for an invasion of Britain's mainland and see to its complete destruction," Qin Tian declared.