178: Chapter 88 Tokuji Places Another Order

The news of the keel laying for the first Longxun-class ship, "Powang", spread like wildfire among naval intelligence agencies of various countries within a mere half month.

The first to lose their composure was the German Empire.

On the day Kaiser Wilhelm II received the intelligence, he convened an imperial military conference that lasted until late into the night; the firewood in the fireplace was replaced three times, the ashtray was piled high with cigar butts, and even the winter night in Berlin outside the window seemed warmed by the indoor lights.

He then dispatched a special envoy overnight—not the previous count, but Grand Admiral Tirpitz, the German Empire's Minister of the Navy, himself.

This veteran, known for his hawkishness, traveled on the German Navy's newest fast ocean liner, the "Prince Wilhelm", crossing the Atlantic and Indian Oceans at a speed exceeding twenty knots, arriving at Jinling Port in less than twenty days—a full five days earlier than expected.

When he disembarked, he didn't even wait for the gangway to be fully secured before striding down. His boots made rapid, sharp sounds against the stone slabs of the pier, and the sea breeze whipped his military coat, causing the hem to roll up and reveal the dark blue military trousers and sharp creases underneath.

Behind him followed four attendants, each carrying a heavy briefcase stuffed with documents, the handles of which were already slick with sweat.

"General Li—no, I should address you as Your Majesty."

Grand Admiral Tirpitz was a robust man in his sixties, with his graying short beard meticulously groomed, his back straighter than a warship's mast, and his blue-gray eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

When he met Li Ling in the Imperial Study, he made no effort to conceal his urgency, bypassing the usual diplomatic pleasantries and getting straight to the point, even skipping the opening remarks prepared by the protocol officer.

He wore a deep blue naval dress uniform, his chest covered in medals that clinked softly in the light, as if providing a soundtrack to his words—the Iron Cross, the Order of the Red Eagle, the Order of the Crown... each one representing a glorious past.

"His Majesty, our Emperor, greatly admires your country's new battlecruiser. We hope to discuss the procurement matters as soon as possible. His Majesty said that if these warships can be successfully negotiated, the German Empire is willing to provide more support to the Tang Country in future international affairs, including providing diplomatic backing for the Tang Country in Far East affairs."

Li Ling felt a surge of secret satisfaction but kept his face impassive. He slowly poured a cup of tea for Grand Admiral Tirpitz. The tea was Longjing, hand-fired by Empress Su Wanqing; after being brewed in a purple clay teapot, it emitted a delicate bean aroma, and the tea liquor was clear and bright, reflecting the daylight streaming in from the window.

"Grand Admiral Tirpitz, you have come at just the right time. I have just received the first batch of sea trial data for the Longxun-class, and its performance is indeed excellent. However, the construction cost for this class of ship is extremely high, and the production cycle is long. Has your country truly considered this?"

As he spoke, he pushed a printed performance summary toward Grand Admiral Tirpitz. It was a report just generated by the system, cautious in wording but staggering in data—a speed of thirty-five knots, 380mm main guns, and 260mm armor; every number silently spoke of the terrifying nature of this warship.

The paper made a soft sound as it slid across the table, and Grand Admiral Tirpitz's gaze was instantly and firmly drawn to it.

Grand Admiral Tirpitz was not at all intimidated by Li Ling's evasive words.

He took the report and glanced at it, his pupils visibly dilating. His finger paused on the line for "thirty-five knots" for a full five seconds, his fingertips gently stroking the paper as if feeling the texture of the numbers.

But he quickly regained his composure; the self-discipline of a soldier allowed him to quickly restrain his expression and return to being the calm negotiator.

He took a detailed letter of intent for procurement from his briefcase; the thick stack of documents was tied with a black ribbon, the cover stamped with the German Empire's eagle emblem and Kaiser Wilhelm II's signature, the edges of the paper still bearing the fresh, sharp angles of a recent cut: "This is a personal letter from our Emperor, authorizing me to represent the German Empire's Naval Ministry to negotiate with your country regarding the procurement of four Longxun-class ships, and to add a follow-up order for three Longhuang-class large Battleships. We have already prepared a preliminary quote for the total amount."

The document pages he handed over spread out on the rosewood table; the paper was thick and the ink fresh, clearly prepared just on the way here.

At the end of the personal letter, Kaiser Wilhelm II's signature was bold and powerful, as if it would pierce through the paper, and next to it was the royal golden wax seal, glowing with a soft luster under the lights.

Li Ling lowered his head and glanced at the quoted figures on the document, his pupils contracting imperceptibly.

The quote Grand Admiral Tirpitz gave was nearly twenty percent higher than his minimum asking price—it was clear the German Empire was prepared to pay a premium, perhaps even having specially allocated this "special defense expenditure" in their budget.

It seemed the German Empire was indeed anxious—they had clearly learned through intelligence channels that Meijian Country was also negotiating for the purchase of the Longxun-class, and they were afraid of being beaten to the punch by a competitor; they might even already know that Ambassador Smith had secretly visited Jinling Port last week and held a nearly two-hour private talk with him.

"As for this price..." Li Ling feigned difficulty and frowned, his fingertips slowly stroking the rim of the teacup, feeling the smooth texture of the purple clay, a tactile sensation that gave him a sense of composure in controlling the overall situation. "Your Excellency, the Grand Admiral, you also know that the Longxun-class uses a large amount of new materials and processes, and the cost is much higher than the Longhuang-class. Furthermore, my shipyard schedule is already full until the second half of next year. If your country wants to cut in line for an urgent order, the price might need to be adjusted accordingly. Additionally, the current Production Base is fully engaged in building ships for our own use, and production capacity is indeed tight; I need to reallocate resources."

Grand Admiral Tirpitz gritted his teeth, the muscles on his cheeks twitching slightly; it was clear he had been repeatedly instructed by Kaiser Wilhelm II before coming that he must secure this order at any cost.

He took another supplementary document from his briefcase and spread it out on the table. It was a detailed equipment list, listing the models and technical parameters of dozens of precision machine tools, with detailed diagrams on the paper, each component clearly marked: "Your Majesty, we can increase the existing quote by another ten percent. At the same time, the German Empire is willing to transfer a batch of advanced metalworking machine tools and precision measurement equipment to your country at favorable terms as an additional cooperation clause for this procurement. The equipment on this list is all of the latest models from the factory of Krupp; among them, that large precision grinder is currently the most advanced in Europe, with a machining precision that can reach the micron level. If you agree, the first batch of equipment can be shipped within three months after the contract is signed, escorted by German Navy warships."

As he said this, his fingers tapped lightly on the list, as if emphasizing that this was the final bottom line; the rhythm was much faster than his usual speech, exposing his inner anxiety.

Metalworking machine tools. Precision measurement equipment. These were precisely the industrial equipment Li Ling most urgently needed—although his Production Base could materialize most equipment, the construction of an autonomous industrial system still could not do without these basic industrial machine tools.

The German Empire was indeed leading the world in this regard; their machine tool industry was the top in this era, especially those few large precision grinders, which were the essential equipment he needed to manufacture the barrels for his new naval guns. Without them, the precision of his 460mm main gun barrels could not be improved.

"Deal." Li Ling extended his hand, a satisfied smile appearing on his face, a smile that carried a cunning sense of accomplishment and the composure of someone who had achieved their goal. "As for the specific delivery schedule and payment terms, let the staff teams of both sides discuss them slowly. But I can give you a promise right now, Your Excellency—the German Empire's order will be scheduled with the highest priority, ensuring the first two ships are delivered within three years. Additionally, I can provide an extra set of simplified blueprints for shipborne fire-control Radar. Although not as advanced as the ones used by the Tang Country, it can still effectively improve gunnery accuracy in poor visibility sea conditions, allowing your country's warships to gain a significant advantage in night battles and fog battles, increasing the first-round hit rate from three percent to over six percent."

Grand Admiral Tirpitz grasped Li Ling's hand and shook it vigorously, the force making the bones in Li Ling's hand creak slightly, and the roughness of his palm came through the skin: "Your Majesty is truly straightforward. Our Emperor will be very pleased when he hears this. He specifically asked me to convey to you that the German Empire will always be the Tang Country's firmest ally in Europe. No matter what the international situation, this promise will not change. Additionally, His Majesty the Emperor asked me to tell you privately—if the Tang Country encounters conflict with any European country in the future, the German Empire will stand on your side and will not waver due to any external pressure."

He released his hand and took an exquisite wooden box from his attendant. The lid was inlaid with a silver eagle emblem, and the eagle's eyes were two tiny rubies, gleaming with a deep luster under the lights: "This is a private gift from His Majesty the Emperor for you—a hunting knife meticulously forged by Solingen craftsmen, with gems inlaid on the hilt representing the friendship between our two countries. The steel of this knife has undergone a special folding and forging process, and the edge is extremely sharp; it is said that it can easily cut through an iron nail. The Solingen craftsmen spent two full months on this knife, and the gem inlay on the hilt alone was reworked three times."

Li Ling took the wooden box and opened it to take a look. The box was lined with dark blue velvet, and an elegantly styled hunting knife lay quietly inside. The blade shimmered with a dark blue luster under the light, and the body of the blade had fine, water-like patterns—the marks left by the folding and forging. The hilt was indeed inlaid with one red and one blue gem, polished as round as water droplets, refracting fine light in the illumination. He drew the blade and lightly traced his finger across the edge, feeling a sharpness that could almost slice through the air; his fingertips could even feel the faint, cold chill radiating from the blade. "Please convey to Kaiser Wilhelm II that I like this gift very much. As a return gift, I will personally select a newly launched Longxun-class, named the 'Berlin', to commemorate the friendship between our two countries. Its main turret will be engraved with the German Empire's eagle emblem and the Tang Country's dragon motif, as an eternal witness to our friendship. The day it sails into Wilhelmshaven, I hope Kaiser Wilhelm II can board the ship for inspection personally." He said this, closed the wooden box, and placed it on the corner of the table, making a slight wooden clatter.

That evening, Li Ling hosted a banquet for Grand Admiral Tirpitz and his party at the Naval Club outside Jinling City. The club was a three-story Gothic building, its outer walls built of gray granite, looking solemn and elegant in the twilight, and the warm yellow light shining through the windows was particularly cozy in the darkening sky. At the banquet, guests and hosts enjoyed themselves, the silver tableware gleaming with a gentle luster under the lights, and the red wine in the crystal glasses looking like flowing gems in the candlelight. Grand Admiral Tirpitz was a talkative man; after a few rounds of drinks, he began to talk at length about the future global strategy of the German Empire's navy. His voice became louder due to the alcohol, and his fingers traced various shipping routes on the table, revealing a strong hostility toward the British Royal Navy in his words. He even mentioned that Kaiser Wilhelm II believed the future decisive battle at sea would inevitably occur in the North Sea, and the German Empire must complete the modernization of its fleet before then, otherwise it would forever be suppressed by Britain and become a second-rate maritime power. During the meal, he also revealed a piece of key information: the German Empire was developing a new type of diesel engine using high-pressure common-rail technology. If successful, it would greatly enhance the endurance of Submarines and surface ships, increasing the range by at least fifty percent. He hinted that if Li Ling were willing to provide technical support in this regard, the German Empire would be willing to share some of the research results, and could even consider joint research and development.

Li Ling sat in the main seat, nodding in agreement while smiling, while calculating rapidly in his heart. Every word of Grand Admiral Tirpitz was recorded in his mind, especially the information about the diesel engine—that was exactly a blank spot on his current technology tree. If the German Empire really made a breakthrough, then cooperation would be extremely beneficial to him. His navy currently relied mainly on heavy oil boilers, which were bulky and inefficient. If he could have more efficient and fuel-saving diesel engine technology, it would greatly extend the endurance of his ships, raising his future oceanic combat capabilities to a new level. The German Empire's obsession with the Longxun-class further confirmed his judgment: the great powers were entering a frenzied period of a new round of naval arms race, and his shipyard happened to be at the center of this race. Whoever wanted to gain an advantage in this race had to go through his shipyard. As long as he could maintain a technological lead, he could continuously draw nutrients from the great powers' arms race to strengthen himself.

After the banquet dispersed, Li Ling stood alone on the balcony on the second floor of the club, looking at the shadowy silhouettes of ships in the distant harbor. The night wind blew his clothes, bringing the tipsiness of wine and the chill of an autumn night, making his cheeks feel a bit cool, and the intoxication gradually faded in the cold. Deep in the naval port, a few warships under construction in the docks emitted dim yellow lights, like a row of stars sleeping on the ground. Those lights swayed slightly in the night, like another starry sky on the earth, with hundreds of workers busy behind every light. His fingers tapped lightly on the railing; the iron railing was icy cold in the night wind. The words Grand Admiral Tirpitz said before leaving surfaced in his mind: "The British people's days will not last long." That was ambition, a declaration of war, and even more so, a spear that might one day turn back to stab him. The British were an established hegemon; they would not sit idly by and watch the German Empire rise, nor would they tolerate the Tang Country growing too strong in the Far East. The tension between these three parties would sooner or later erupt.

"System," he asked, his voice relaxed from the slight intoxication, his gaze still fixed on the sea shrouded in night. A few fishing boats were returning on the sea, the lights on their bows dragging long golden trails of light on the water. "You say, will the German Empire use the warships they bought to deal with me in the end? Kaiser Wilhelm II, the desire I see in his eyes is never satisfied; that desire is deeper and fiercer than his predecessors. Today he can call me brother, but tomorrow he might turn his back on me for profit. Just like his navy; today they are cooperating with me, but tomorrow they might turn their cannons toward my ports."

[Currently, their main opponent is still Britain. However, the global landscape within the next twenty years has many variables, and no one can guarantee it will never change. What the Host needs to do is not to prevent them from becoming stronger, but to ensure that you become faster and more stable than them. You have already tied their naval technology to yours. Once they want to turn against you, they will find that their core equipment relies on your supply chain. Their spare barrels for ship guns, precision parts for fire control systems, and even the formulas for special armor steel cannot do without the Tang Country's technical support. This is a double-edged sword; used well, it is an amulet, but used poorly, it is a death warrant. In addition, the System suggests that the Host also secretly establish some backup plans targeting the German Empire, such as design redundancies that can maintain combat capability when they cannot obtain parts from the Tang Country—although it is not needed now, it may be useful in the future. Once the situation changes, these contingency plans will become your trump cards.] The system replied as calmly as ever, every word like a precisely calculated chess piece.

"You are right." Li Ling nodded, his gaze looking toward the more distant horizon, where faint fishing lights were flickering, like the eyes of the sea watching this world under the night. "Then let them buy. The more they sell, the deeper my foundation becomes. When they discover that every shell and every drop of fuel used by their proud fleet must be supplied through my hands, the initiative will always be in my hands. Kaiser Wilhelm II may not realize this yet, but by the time he does, it will be too late. By then, even if he wants to turn against me, he will have to weigh whether his supplies can last more than three months."

He turned around and walked back to the banquet hall with big strides, his figure flashing in the light and disappearing behind the door. From the banquet hall came the hearty laughter of Grand Admiral Tirpitz and the crisp sound of glasses clinking, the laughter carrying a kind of satisfied ambition. And deep in the naval shipyard not far away, the glimmer of welding sparks continued to flicker in the darkness, like the new power being nurtured on this ancient land, silent and firm, like a pulse, like breath, like some unstoppable tide rising. The keel of the third Longxun-class was being laid, and amidst the flying sparks, a new giant ship was being born. Its future was not yet known, but its very existence was a declaration.

After the banquet ended, Li Ling sent Grand Admiral Tirpitz to his carriage. The old Grand Admiral suddenly stopped before boarding the carriage, turned to look at Li Ling, his eyes shining exceptionally bright in the night like two burning coals. He said: "Your Majesty, one day, perhaps we will become opponents. But in any case, I hope that day comes a little later." After speaking, he did not wait for Li Ling to answer and got into the carriage. The wheels of the carriage rolled over the cobblestone road, making a rumbling sound, gradually disappearing into the night. Li Ling stood in place, watching the receding shadow of the carriage, and remained silent for a long time.