"Excessive tolerance cannot guarantee the overseas interests of the empire. This is something that history has proved. Does the empire have no courage to fight hard?" Tirpitz asked.

"This is not a question of courage, but a question of strategy and tactics. Brave cannot solve my problem! The Empire is still a land-powered country. How to build an efficient navy while ensuring the army's advantages over both aspects is the most worthy of attention. One-sided pursuit of the strength of maritime power is not advisable. What else can you do besides asking Congress for money? Have you ever thought about how to use this fleet?" Bismarck did not give in, and the irony in his tone became more and more obvious.

"No, but according to the tradition of the British in history, they will try to block the nearshore blockade of enemy fleets. If we rely on torpedo boats, fleets and shore defense facilities, we can gradually consume the opponent. If our fleet's strength can be 70% of the opponent's strength at the beginning of war, then we will eventually gain a close situation through consumption. Finally, we will determine the destiny of the two countries through a decisive battle."

Tirpitz said hesitantly. After all, before the war began in history, Tirpitz himself expressed doubts about the plan formulated by the Navy General Staff. He also raised the question of "What if the British don't come?", and his last words came true. The British did not play near-shore blockade, which made the German Navy blind.

"What if the British don't come? Are you God? The British fleet will definitely block the German coast?" This time it was Bismarck who raised this fatal question!

"This is not the issue we should discuss at this meeting. You are off topic!" Frederick III said dissatisfiedly. After saying that, he also glanced at Prince William sitting aside. The latter looked at everything that was happening in front of him without expression.

"There is indeed a reason why Tirpitz was able to reign for 19 years. It is obviously a thug for Prince William. Unfortunately, Bismarck was alone in this meeting, Hoffmann was neutral, and the prime minister had no helper to go on the battlefield. After the meeting was scolded by the German Emperor, he was at a disadvantage. How to develop later depends on Prince William's opinion. William's move was indeed beautiful." Ruprecht said in his heart.

However, Frederick III was not a fuel-saving lamp. In order to prevent all parties from connecting at the beginning of the meeting, the meeting was held very suddenly. Hoffmann was recalled directly from the port of Kiel. Tirpitz had just returned from the Far East and had a meeting in less than two days after he arrived from Bavaria. He had not even had time to meet the prince. This was an unprepared battle for any party attending the meeting. The German Emperor seemed to understand that these people's original ideas were not the ideas under the influence of external forces.

The current situation makes the old emperor a little dissatisfied. The topic is off topic on the one hand, and on the other hand, His Majesty the Emperor wants to get a technical answer, such as how many warships are built, how many warships are built, what tasks are needed, and why is it built like this? However, after a long time, we can't get a solution! There is no one in the empire's navy who can do things?

Of course, we can't blame the people below for a sudden attack. No one is ready! How can we come up with a complete plan in this situation? Of course, Prince Ruprecht is an exception. This guy has been thinking about this for a long time!

"Ah? What does it mean?" Prince Ruprecht, who had been watching the fight, watched as the German Emperor and the Crown Prince had focused on him. He glanced at General Hoffmann, who was also silent next to him, finally realized that it was time for him to go!

"To formulate a fleet expansion plan, you must first choose a suitable imaginary enemy. At present, the most likely enemy of the Empire is France, so the Empire's battleship formation must be able to compete with the French battleship formation after the plan is completed."

"If France is the standard, then France has a total of 9 new battleships on the ship and completed in 1889, and we only have two Brandenburg-class battleships built on the ship. The French fleet is expected to be completed before 1900. Of course, from now until 1900, the French may start new battleships, but considering the empire's economic affordability, we cannot expect to tie the opponent in the field of simple battleships in just four years."

"Our new Caesar-class battleship has 6 12-inch l40 main guns with a higher rate of fire, which is stronger than the French battleships. However, in order to maintain a basic balance of power, by 1900, the number of battleships we served must be more than 6. In other words, in addition to the Brandenburg-class battleships, we also need at least 4 battleships. 6 are one upper limit."

"According to the fastest construction cycle of German shipyards, it will take about 30 months for us to complete one such warship. In order to ensure that the fleet can be put into service as soon as possible, we will start construction at least one by the end of this year, two in 1897, and at least one in 1898. In this way, we have the hope of obtaining four battleships in 1900. As for the number of construction started in 1899 and 1900, it depends on the situation."

"Well, a very good idea, reasonable and concise." Frederick III nodded with satisfaction. Choose an opponent, evaluate the needs, and then formulate a warship development plan that meets the domestic economy. This TM is science! This level is much better than a group of guys in the Navy.

Similarly, Prince William and Bismarck were also satisfied with this statement. For the prince, Ruprecht proposed only a minimum requirement, which means that the size of the fleet can be increased in time. Moreover, according to His Highness the Crown Prince's understanding of Ruprecht, in the latter's thinking, the main battleships include battleships and large cruisers, and the insufficient number of battleships can be completely compensated by cruisers.

For Bismarck, this is within an acceptable range. After all, the German Navy now has only two battleships, which is embarrassing to say it out. Even after the four new ships are completed, they can only maintain a general balance with France, not to the extent that they can arouse Britain's vigilance, and at the same time ensure the minimum deterrence.

"The Imperial Battleship Force pursues suppression and balance of French battleship formations. Then the Imperial cruiser formation also requires that it can suppress potential opponents except Britain in a certain range of seas." As the prince expected, the battleship plan was recognized by most people, so the next step is the maritime rights and interests that everyone is concerned about, how to ensure the security of the German colonies and how to ensure the interests of the sea. Who may be the German enemy? What should the ocean fleet do? This issue is ten times more complicated than the offshore defense issue!

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Chapter completed!