Since the 1860s, Kil's Bay, adjacent to the Baltic Sea, has been the main naval base in Germany and the center of Germany's shipbuilding industry. The famous Hovaz Naval Shipyard is located here.

In a blue bay

The Horvaz Naval Shipyard occupies a large area, with the towering ridges of the factory building with a conspicuous rust red color, which is particularly conspicuous under the blue sky and white clouds.

Boats and boats are constantly coming and going on the sea, with white sails dotted, and large groups of seagulls circling in the sky near the sea, presenting a vibrant scene.

On the dock of the Hovaz Naval Shipyard, several large armored warships waiting to be repaired were docked. The towering masts pierced into the sky. The huge hull was shining with a cold steel luster. The huge rivets on the hull showed an indestructible momentum, which was daunting.

Docked on the inside is the armored battleship "Germany", with a displacement of 8,939 tons. It is mainly equipped with 8 254mm guns. It is a new warship launched in September 1874, with a single propeller, and it still uses an old horizontal single expansion engine.

The German is a powerful centrally arranged gunboat, with its main weapons concentrated in the armored box in the middle. The huge gun mount makes people feel numb and the heavy armor-piercing bombs fired can tear any enemy apart.

This time, when entering the Hovaz Naval Shipyard, the Germans will undergo a major modification, focusing on modifying the old-style main artillery, replacing the original sail equipment with a combat mast to adapt to the current era of iron-armored battleships to cancel the mast sail, and touching the Royal British Navy to cross the river, following the example.

The armored battleship "Flitjov" docked outside the German USS. is much smaller in size. Its displacement is only 3,750 tons. Its main weapon is three 239mm guns. It is a newly built ship that has just been launched and is carrying out the installation operation at the dock.

The main power uses the latest three-expansion engine, and the combustion efficiency has been greatly improved. In addition, the twin propeller configuration allows the "Flitjov" to rush to a high speed of 19 knots in the Mediterranean, with an extreme speed of 20.5 knots.

Parked behind these two battleships is the armored battleship "Friedrich de Grosse", with a displacement of 7,718 tons. Its main military equipment is: 4 259mm guns, with a slightly smaller hull than the Germans. It also has three tall sail masts in front, middle and rear, used to assist in power propeller navigation.

The Friedrich de Grosse was an old warship built by the Royal Navy shipyard in Kiel in 1859, and is one of the three turret ships of the same class.

The ship's two turrets are in the middle of the ship, behind a huge armored bulwark of 2 meters high. This is a major failure in the ship's design. The tall bulwark blocked the line of view and laid a great hidden danger.

At the Elbe Royal Navy home port, the ship collided heavily with the sister ship Grossel Kurfurst, who was sunk 26 days after serving.

The "Friedrich de Grosse" suffered heavy losses and was forced to enter the naval shipyard for mid-term overhaul and undergo modernization and upgrading at the same time. Therefore, the decks were demolished everywhere, as if they had been violently destroyed.

Accompanied by Count Halls, the owner of the Hovaz Naval Shipyard, Li Fushou visited three huge iron armored ships docked at the dock, and stroked the cold steel hull, which made him feel deeply moved.

This is the foundation of today's European naval power. Anyone who pulls out can completely crush the navies in other parts of the world, including the United States, and firmly occupy an absolute advantage.

After these days of investigation, he personally contacted all levels of European society, as well as industrial and agricultural production. What made him feel the deepest was that the gap was too big, so big that it made people feel desperate.

The tall chimneys, like forests, spewed black smoke, rendering half of the blue sky, representing the heavy industrial power in the steam industry era and taking the lead in national competition.

Britain was the first to enter the ranks of industrialized countries, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Denmark followed closely behind and had one foot to catch up.

Spain, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Belgium, Ottoman Empire, Greece, Tsarist Russia and other countries have begun the industrialization process, and the main body is still in the agricultural society stage. This competition for national strength among European power has been lagging behind.

The steam industrial revolution promoted social change, and then incubated explosive development in the fields of science and technology, culture and military, presenting a pattern of blooming flowers. This is also the foundation for Europe to dominate the world and colonize the world.

Now this era of steam industry innovation

When talking about false words such as environmental pollution, they are all hooligans, when talking about equality, they are all foolish, and when talking about changing the power of secularity, they are just foolish, and their heads are scattered.

The only core and most important goal is development, development and development.

The heavy industry forces create strong steel bones, the light industry forces fill full and powerful muscles, and the military forces create a daunting iron fist. Queensland took the lead in developing it, which is the correct solution.

No one can run if he can't walk, and it is impossible to pass the steam industrial revolution and enter the electrical era directly.

Are you afraid of polluting the environment and not developing, just waiting for the beating?

"His Lord Queensland, are you still satisfied with everything here?" Earl of Hovas was wearing two carefully carved beards, which was typical Germanic style.

Li Fushou took a few steps on the deck of the warship, patted the huge steel cannon with his hand, and said with admiration in his eyes. "This place is really impressive. I have a higher evaluation of the German ship manufacturing industry. I hope that the Australian Hongshan Shipyard can cooperate with you to a deeper degree and invite some senior shipbuilding technicians to Australia. We will pay all the related fees."

"As far as I know, Mr. Lord has a vast territory in Australia, why don't you order a few big guys? We can sit down and talk. The best conditions can be given in terms of price, and the shipyard can also guarantee loans. You will feel the enthusiasm and friendship from Germany."

Earl of Hovaz kept selling warships because this was the most profitable military-industry transaction, and in this era, it was the field that all European naval powers were scrambling to enter.

In the world armored warship market

The British undoubtedly occupied the vast majority of the share, and they were even willing to sell powerful warships to enemy countries, such as the Ottoman Empire, Tsarist Russia, and Germany, which made the British almost swallow the lucrative iron-armored warship market.

With the back of the Royal British Navy fleet that dominates the seven seas, these greedy shipyard owners dare to sell warships to anyone, without fear of causing any storm.

The British knew that they could never buy advanced money, and they could never buy strong country.

Here, we have to mention the current world situation.

Based on the UK's "continental balance" policy over the past century, any strong man who emerges on the European continent will be suppressed, without exception.

When the French Emperor Napoleon swept across Europe with his powerful army, the British organized seven anti-French alliances from 1792 to 1815, and finally exiled the great French god of war twice overseas, and eventually died in Saint Helena.

At first, in order to fight against France, which was scattered across Europe, the three most powerful monarchs in Europe, Alexander I, the emperor of the Russian Empire, Franz II, the emperor of the Austrian Empire, and Frederick William III, the king of the Prussian Kingdom, formed an alliance, known in history as the "Three Emperors Alliance".

After defeating France

The "Three Emperors Alliance" influenced the situation in the continental region, and at the same time became a thorn in the eyes of the British, trying every means to provoke conflicts between all parties, which eventually led to the collapse of the "Three Emperors Alliance".

Tsarist Russia became famous because it defeated the expeditionary force led by French emperor Napoleon and was known as the "European steam roller". The endless army of gray animals made the whole of Europe tremble. After the collapse of the "Three Emperors Alliance", Tsarist Russia became the European gendarmerie that influenced the situation in Europe.

How could the British allow such a strong presence in Europe to influence the mainland's balance policy, and instead target Tsarist Russia and invade and expand the policy.

Therefore, in the several Russian-Turkish wars that followed, the British or Turkish wars secretly sent out their efforts, troops, weapons, and even joined forces with France to form an British and French coalition to intervene in person, resulting in Russia suffering one after another. Even if it made heavy sacrifices, it could not achieve its original goal.

The latest Russian-Turkish war just ended this year. Due to the strong interference of the British and French coalition forces, Tsarist Russia finally stopped on the banks of the Neva River. Looking at the warm Mediterranean Sea from afar, it could only sigh.

The successive heavy blows greatly reduced Tsarist Russia's reputation and could no longer play the role of European military police. Instead, it became a laughing stock of European powers.

This is not finished yet

The situation in Europe has always been the one you just finished singing and I’m going to be dazzled, even if you’re as cunning as a British man, you’ll be slow.

Thanks to Emperor Napoleon's advanced military establishment strategy, France had a powerful army force that scared the entire Europe even after the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty, and its deep foundation should not be underestimated.

Shortly after that, Napoleon III overthrew the Bourbon rule and restored it again, leading France to rise in southern and central Europe.

This is great. The rise of the Third Reich broke the European equilibrium policy and became the new target of the British, and followed by constant blows from both sides and secrets.

This time

The British supported the ambitious ambitions of the German Emperor William I. They faced the fierce and traditional enemy France. They defeated Napoleon III in the French-Prussian War, forcing him to go into exile to Britain. The Third Reich of France was completely collapsed. William I of Germany was crowned the German emperor at the Palace of Versailles in France, and since then the five continental powers compete for hegemony.

These five strongholds are Germany, France, Tsarist Russia, Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire.

Some people say that Germany's rise originated from William I's talented strategy, from the amazing alliance between the iron-blooded prime minister Bismarck, from the outstanding talents of the German military leaders, and from the outstanding performance of the traditional Germanic Junker military aristocrats.

That's true, but this is just a superficial phenomenon.

In order to gain the support of the British and complete the great cause of German reunification, German Emperor William I married Princess Victoria the British for Crown Princess Frederick William Nicholas Carr. The relationship between Britain and Germany has since entered a honeymoon period.

The result of the victory of the Franco-Prussian War was destined in 1859.

How could the poor Napoleon III withstand the joint beating between the British and Germans, not to mention that the British took advantage of Europe's fear of the glorious era of the Napoleon Dynasty and attracted a large number of brothers to cheer for help.

The indulgence and support of the British Empire hidden behind the scenes is the biggest decisive factor. The clever way to achieve a great deal of force has led to the European situation where France and Germany are incompatible, and achieved the desired result of the mainland's balance policy.

Time enters the late 19th century

German Emperor William I unified some of Germany's traditional territory, and his attempt to expand again was ruthlessly interrupted.

Why?

Because the British disagree, the increasingly powerful Germany has become a new target for the British to beat. The nickname of "European shit stick" is not a joke. No one dares to ignore the opinions of the British, and even the German Emperor William I can do it.

The order of the world and Europe was dominated by the British. If you cannot deeply understand this, you will not be able to fully understand the pattern after the French-Prussian War in Europe and can only be superficial.

Therefore, the decisions made are often in the opposite direction and cause fatal mistakes.

The nineteenth century was an era that belonged to the British, and after the end of the century, no one dared to question this point.

Seeing the great ideal of completely unifying the traditional German territory, the depression and resentment of German Emperor William I can imagine, and it is natural to cause trouble for the British everywhere in Europe, causing the current situation of war everywhere in the continent.

While the British were busy putting out fires, they began to hit Germany in various small actions, which quickly cooled down the relationship between the two countries and also allowed Germany to completely unify the German-speaking region to remain in the dream stage.

At this time, you can see that the Germans are revealed, the great William I was helpless, and the iron-blooded prime minister Bismarck could only sigh, and the warlike Junker military nobles could no longer occupy even a mile of land.

The British have begun to support the French, Dutch, Danes, and even Tsarist Russia, who had just been beaten by Britain, posed a huge threat to the new German Empire.

Looking around, there were all enemies with solemn hostility. Faced with possible beatings, even though Germany was covered in iron, how many nails could it be able to hit?

The message from Great Britain is very clear;

If you dare to move a little, you will be unable to take care of yourself.

This is also the real reason why Germany has never launched a foreign war since the Franco-Prussian War. Even if the chaotic Balkans are within reach, they have extensive support in the German-speaking Austria-Speaking Region and can easily cut off a large piece of meat from the decadent Austro-Hungarian Empire, Germany is still honestly guarding its existing territory.

Because German Emperor William I and Prime Minister Bismarck both knew clearly that the path of the rise and rejuvenation of the German nation would be completely interrupted, and they could not afford to bet or lose, and they would not dare to try.

Li Fushou's trip to Europe deeply felt this. The Sun-Don't Setting Empire, which accounts for one-third of the world's land area, is at its peak of glory.
Chapter completed!