novelAbuy Chapter 91 Major General Müller
Chapter 91 Major General Müller
"for example?"
"For example, the 'light-recovery' level oil-fired boiler technology," Tirpitz said, staring at him. "Not all of it, just the basic principles and a few key parameters. That will allow us to begin our own research."
Wang Wenwu remained silent for a long time.
Finally, he said, "General, I have no authority to decide this matter. But I can pass on a message to Mr. Chen."
"That's enough." Tirpitz straightened up. "At least you're willing to relay the message, which means there's still room for negotiation."
He was about to leave, but then stopped:
"There's one more thing... Fisher from the UK asked you for the 'Cheetah-class' design, right?"
Wang Wenwu's heart tightened, but he remained outwardly calm: "General, you are very well-informed."
“I have my own channels,” Tirpitz said. “Just a heads-up: Fisher will do anything for technology. The British have spies in Lanfang; I know of at least three. Be careful.”
"Thanks for reminding me."
"You're welcome." Tirpitz turned and walked back into the hall. "After all, we're partners now."
The atmosphere was somewhat delicate the next day at the Kiel naval base.
William enthusiastically led Wang Wenwu to observe a fleet exercise—six Westphalian-class battleships lined up in a column, conducting artillery firing drills in Kiel Bay. The sound of their 305mm main guns firing in unison made the glass of the reviewing stand vibrate.
"How was it?" William asked smugly.
"It's spectacular," Wang Wenwu said politely. "The formation is very neat."
"But it can't compare to the 'Revival' class, I know," William said, quite clearly. "That's why we need the 'Kaiser-class.' Mr. Wang, I thought about it for a long time yesterday..."
He gestured for his entourage to step back, then lowered his voice:
"Two 'Kaiser-class' ships aren't enough. The German Navy needs a true trump card—a warship capable of crushing the 'Dreadnought,' or even contending with the 'Revuet.' Do you... have anything more advanced?"
Wang Wenwu sighed inwardly. What was bound to happen had finally happened.
"What does Your Majesty mean?"
"The Liberation Warship in your hands," William's eyes gleamed. "I know it's the foundation of your nation, and you won't sell it. But what if... what if we offer three times the price? Four times?"
"Your Majesty," Wang Wenwu shook his head, "this is not a matter of money."
"What's the problem?"
"Strategic balance," Wang Wenwu said sincerely. "The 'Guangfu-class' is already a disruptive force in the region. If Germany possesses a warship of the same class, Britain will see it as a direct challenge, which could trigger an arms race or even conflict. This would not benefit Germany or Lanfang."
William's face darkened: "Are you saying that Germany doesn't deserve the best warships?"
"No, I mean the time isn't right yet." Wang Wenwu quickly adjusted his words. "Once the 'Kaiser-class' ships enter service, the German Navy will already have an advantage in the North Sea. At that time, if the situation requires it, we can discuss more advanced cooperation. But now... taking too big a step could easily backfire."
This statement is partly true and partly false. The true part is that he genuinely fears provoking Britain too much; the false part is that Chen Feng has no intention of selling the "Kuangfu-class" destroyer—it's a guarantee of technological superiority, and he wouldn't sell it for any price. (Not for the time being.)
William stared at him for a long time, finally letting out a cold snort: "That's what you said to the British too, isn't it?"
"No," Wang Wenwu said frankly, "what we told the British was: the 'Cheetah-class' is superior to the 'Dreadnought' but inferior to the 'Caesar-class'."
This is a clever trick, but it works.
William paused, then suddenly laughed: "So Germany got the better one?"
"Yes."
"Do the British know?"
"We'll find out sooner or later," Wang Wenwu smiled, "when the 'Caesar-class' begins construction."
William laughed and patted Wang Wenwu on the back: "Good! I like this! Let that old geezer Fisher guess!"
His mood had clearly improved, and he was back to his excited state: "Then let's order two 'Kaiser-class' ships first. Let the people below discuss the contract details, but the principle will remain the same as what we discussed yesterday—Germany will help you build the steel mill, and you will provide the gun steel technology. Also…"
He leaned closer: "I know Tirpitz wants oil-fired boiler technology. Give him some, not too much, just enough for him to study for a year or two. Keep him occupied, so he doesn't keep nagging about developing it himself."
Wang Wenwu understood. William wanted immediate combat power, while Tirpitz wanted long-term gains. The Emperor was striking a balance.
"I will pass on the message to Mr. Chen."
"Good!" William put his arm around his shoulder, looking at the warship turning in the bay. "Mr. Wang, do you know? My grandfather unified Germany, my father built the Imperial Fleet. And I... I want to make the German Navy truly go global. Not just in the North Sea near our home, but all over the world—the Pacific, the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic. I want the German Imperial Navy flag to always be alongside the Union Jack!"
He spoke with great emotion, waving his hands in the air:
"But the British are in the way. They have three hundred years of maritime dominance, bases all over the world, and the world's best fleet. For Germany to rise, it must break these shackles. And you... you have already broken them. With just one ship, you forced the British to sit down and talk."
He turned to Wang Wenwu, his eyes filled with a kind of fanaticism:
"So we are natural allies. You want to go back to Southeast Asia, we want our land under the sun. Together, we can change the world."
The sea breeze swept across the viewing platform, bringing with it a salty, fishy smell and the stench of gunpowder.
Looking at one of the most powerful emperors in Europe, at the ambition and fanaticism in his eyes, Wang Wenwu suddenly recalled a sentence from Chen Feng's telegram:
"The Germans want to use us to break British hegemony, but we can turn the tables and use their ambitions to gain room for development. But remember—we are not anyone's pawn; we are the players."
"Your Majesty," Wang Wenwu began, "Lanfang is willing to help her friend realize his legitimate ambitions."
He used the word "reasonable".
William understood, but didn't care: "Whether it's reasonable or not, history will tell. Let's go, lunch is ready. We'll sign the letter of intent this afternoon, and I'll personally take you to the train station tonight—aren't you going to Paris?"
In the last hour before his departure, Tirpitz came to Wang Wenwu's hotel room.
Without exchanging pleasantries, he simply handed me a folder.
"This is Major General Müller's file," he said. "His Majesty has appointed him as the head of the consular military mission to Dubai, departing next month. This man... is very capable."
Wang Wenwu opened the file. The photo showed a man in his forties, blond, blue-eyed, with a serious expression. His resume was impressive: a graduate of Kiel Naval Academy, he had served in the Eight-Nation Alliance—at the time in the East Asia Fleet—and could speak some Chinese. Later, he worked in the Naval Technical Bureau, specializing in propulsion systems.
"A very suitable candidate." Wang Wenwu closed the file.
"Too much of a stretch, isn't it?" Tirpitz sat down and poured himself a glass of water. "He's an expert in steam turbines and boilers, can communicate in everyday Chinese, and has experience in the Far East. Mr. Wang, let's be frank—I sent him there to learn the technology. Learn as much as he can."
Being so direct actually makes it impossible for people to get angry.