32: Chapter 32 Selling the First Battleship

Berlin's Decision

After General Stresemann's request telegram was sent back to Berlin, the high command of the German Empire immediately held an emergency meeting.

The meeting room was thick with smoke, and a group of high-ranking imperial officials in gorgeous military uniforms sat around a long table. Kaiser Wilhelm II sat at the head of the table, his face gloomy as he looked at the report in his hand.

"Does this young man from the Qingxia Kingdom actually have the capability to build a Battleship?" Kaiser Wilhelm II asked in disbelief.

Grand Admiral Tirpitz respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, according to General Stresemann's report, not only does Li Ling have the construction capability, but the technical level of the warships he builds is at least five years ahead of our current main battle ships."

"Five years?" Kaiser Wilhelm II's eyes lit up. "Are you saying his warships are more advanced than ours?"

"Not just more advanced, but far beyond," Grand Admiral Tirpitz took a deep breath. "General Stresemann has seen the rifles and artillery he sold to us with his own eyes; that technical level is indeed leading. Although he hasn't seen the Battleship with his own eyes, he infers that the warships in Li Ling's possession have reached at least the level of 1915."

The meeting room was in an uproar. 1915 level in 1898—that was a lead of a full seventeen years!

"Buy! We must buy!" Kaiser Wilhelm II slammed his hand on the table. "At all costs, we must get our hands on it!"

Grand Admiral Tirpitz nodded, "That is my intention as well. However, Li Ling is asking for a very high price and has explicitly stated that he will only sell a downgraded version."

"Even so, we must buy it!" A flash of cunning crossed Kaiser Wilhelm II's eyes. "Once we buy it back and dismantle it for research, our own technology will be able to advance by leaps and bounds."

Just like that, Berlin approved the deal with startling efficiency and authorized General Stresemann to accept any of Li Ling's conditions, as long as he could bring the warship back.

The Lion Opens Its Mouth Again

When General Stresemann returned to the Qingxia Kingdom with the authorization from Berlin, Li Ling was leading his Special Forces on an anti-piracy drill at sea.

After General Stresemann explained his purpose, Li Ling revealed a smile that showed he had expected this all along.

"Sell? Of course, I will sell," he said readily. "However, General Stresemann, the three conditions I mentioned earlier..."

"Berlin accepts them all," General Stresemann replied without hesitation.

Li Ling nodded. "Very well, let's talk about the specific price. The Battleship I intend to sell has a standard displacement of 25,000 tons, main guns with a caliber of 350mm, a speed of 21 knots, and armor thickness of 300mm. Its overall level is equivalent to a top-tier Battleship from 1915."

General Stresemann's eyes lit up. "How much?"

"120 million Marks," Li Ling quoted an astronomical figure.

Even though he had been prepared, General Stresemann was still shocked by this price. 120 million Marks for one Battleship—that was enough to build three ordinary Battleships!

"Mr. Li, this price..."

"Not a cent less," Li Ling interrupted him. "General Stresemann, you are not just buying a warship; you are buying a technological advantage for the next twenty years. Is this deal expensive?"

General Stresemann fell silent. He carefully weighed the pros and cons, and finally gritted his teeth. "Deal!"

Li Ling reached out with a smile. "Pleasure doing business with you."

Empress Su Wanqing's Worry

After the contract was signed, Li Ling held a grand banquet to host the visiting delegation. The atmosphere was lively, with wine flowing freely.

Empress Su Wanqing sat beside Li Ling, smiling as she entertained the guests, but a hint of worry lingered in her eyes. When the banquet ended and the guests dispersed, she finally couldn't help but pull Li Ling aside.

"Brother Ling, are you really going to sell such an advanced Battleship to the Germans?" she asked worriedly. "What if they master the technology and turn it against us in the future?"

Li Ling pulled her to sit down and explained earnestly, "Empress Su Wanqing, what I am selling them is a downgraded version. Its armor, firepower, and speed are all inferior to the ones I use myself. Furthermore, I have encrypted the core technologies, such as the propulsion and fire control systems, so they won't be able to research the key aspects even if they dismantle it."

"But..."

"No 'buts'," Li Ling held her hand. "Empress Su Wanqing, you must trust me. Everything I do is for our future."

Empress Su Wanqing looked into Li Ling's sincere eyes, and the unease in her heart gradually dissipated. She leaned gently against Li Ling's shoulder. "Brother Ling, I trust you. I have always trusted you."

[Tsk tsk tsk, this public display of affection is too much; even my system can't stand it.]

Li Ling retorted in his mind: You're a system, what are you jealous for?

[I'm envious, okay? Do you understand what envy is?]

Li Ling was speechless. This system was becoming more and more human-like; he didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

The System's Lucky Draw

In the middle of the night, the system popped up a notification again:

[Detected that the host has achieved a major milestone: "First Sale of a Main Capital Ship." You have earned one advanced lucky draw. Would you like to draw now?]

"Draw, draw, draw. Why not?" Li Ling rubbed his hands in excitement.

[Lucky draw starting...]

The wheel spun wildly.

[Congratulations to the host for drawing: Talent Card x 1 (Top-tier German shipbuilding engineering team, 10 people, including experts in ship design, marine engineering, armor metallurgy, etc.)]

Li Ling was so excited he almost jumped up. "Holy crap! Talent! This is exactly what I'm lacking!"

[Don't get excited. These talents will appear before you as 'immigrants.' The system will implant memories into them, making them believe they volunteered to come to the Qingxia Kingdom to work.]

Li Ling gave a thumbs up. "Reliable! This is a real system!"

[Stop flattering me. Go to sleep; there's big work to do tomorrow.]

"Got it!"

The Engineering Team

Three days later, a passenger ship from Germany docked at the port of the Qingxia Kingdom. Ten Germans walked off the ship, led by an elderly engineer in his fifties named Fritz Krupp—yes, that member of a branch of the Krupp family.

Li Ling went to the pier to welcome them personally and greeted them warmly in German, "Krupp, welcome, welcome!"

Krupp pushed up his glasses and said seriously, "Mr. Li, we have reviewed the technical data you provided, and it is very shocking. If you truly have such shipbuilding capability, we are willing to stay and serve."

Li Ling smiled. "Krupp, talk is cheap. Let me take you to see my shipyard."

He took the German engineers to tour his "hidden" shipyard—which was actually a modified underground Production Base manifested by the system. When Krupp saw the three Dreadnoughts under construction, he was completely stunned.

"This... this is..." His lips trembled, and his voice was quivering. "A Dreadnought? No, even more advanced than a Dreadnought!"

Li Ling said proudly, "How about it, Krupp? Are you willing to stay?"

Krupp took a deep breath and bowed deeply. "Mr. Li, I am willing to serve you!"

The other nine engineers also bowed one after another, their eyes filled with reverence and fanaticism. For an engineer, being able to participate in the construction of the world's most advanced warship was the honor of a lifetime.

Li Ling patted Krupp's shoulder. "Work hard, and I won't treat you unfairly. And I guarantee that what you learn here will be ten times more than what you would learn in Germany!"

The German engineers looked at each other, seeing the anticipation in each other's eyes.

That evening, Li Ling held a welcome banquet for the engineering team. During the meal, after Krupp had a few drinks, he suddenly sighed with emotion, "Mr. Li, I worked at the Krupp factory in Germany for most of my life and thought I had seen the best. Only after seeing your shipyard today did I realize how much of a frog in a well I was."

Li Ling laughed, "Krupp, you flatter me. I'm just a middleman; the technology was all provided by others."

[You're being modest again? It was clearly provided by me!]

"Shut up!" Li Ling roared in his mind.

Krupp did not notice Li Ling's anomaly and continued, "Mr. Li, I have a presumptuous request."

"Please speak."

"I would like to have my son come here to work as well. He also studied shipbuilding in Germany; although he is young, he is very talented."

Li Ling couldn't ask for more. "Welcome, you are warmly welcome! Krupp, as long as they are truly capable people, I will take as many as you can bring!"

Krupp was moved to tears and drank three cups in a row.

Empress Su Wanqing watched from the side as Li Ling spoke eloquently with the Germans, and a sense of pride surged in her heart. This was the man she loved—capable in both civil and military affairs, able to make the arrogant Germans convinced and compliant.

After the banquet, Li Ling had a private conversation with Krupp. He handed Krupp a thick document, "Krupp, this is my shipbuilding plan for the next three years. Please help me look at the feasibility."

Krupp took it and looked, his hands starting to shake again. "Six Dreadnoughts? Mr. Li, are you planning to..."

A cold glint flashed in Li Ling's eyes. "I want to make it so that in this sea area, no one dares to look down on the Qingxia Kingdom."

Krupp fell silent. He was German, but his nationality was Prussian, not the German Empire. For a technician like him, being able to participate in such a grand plan was more important than anything else.

"Mr. Li, I guarantee you, within three years, you will possess a world-class fleet!" Krupp promised solemnly.

Li Ling smiled and patted his shoulder. "Good, I will hold you to that!"