My daughter has just been in forty days and she has a lot of work at home. The update speed has been affected, so everyone can forgive me!

*******

Seeing that Prince Joachim, who had always been full of confidence and had a clear view, showed the posture of a lost lamb, Tirpitz seemed a little confused. He asked the Prince of Prussia to sit down at his generous and simple desk, lit a square cigar, and slowly walked to the open window:

"The intelligence officers are trying their best to explore the intelligence of the British Navy, but the British will inevitably strictly guard their technical secrets. For the sake of prudence, I personally tend to design and build our new class battleships at the established pace."

"I fully agree with the teacher." Xia Shu said in a gentle tone.

"I have a latest report on the Japanese-Russian Naval War on my desk, which is first-hand information obtained from the Russians. Please read it."

Tirpitz did not turn around, and Natsuki was very familiar with his habit of placing documents. Next, the Navy Minister was smoking silently in front of the window, and Natsuki was silently reading this intelligence document mainly based on Russian military communication documents at the table. After a long time, this silence was broken.

"This is an important turning point in the history of naval warfare, just like the Dadonggou naval battle in the Qing Dynasty ten years ago." Xia Shu commented.

"How can I see it?" Tirpitz asked behind his back.

"The real effective distance between the artillery battle between the two sides is 4,000 meters away. The fierce and concentrated main artillery fire of the Japanese main battleship quickly made the Russian main battleship lose its combat effectiveness. The rapid-fire guns with small and medium caliber only played some auxiliary roles, which should be the most significant difference from the Qing and Japanese naval battle ten years ago."

Xia Shu's words were objective evaluations made by later generations in combination with history to make a difference in the Ma Hai Zhan. Although the information in front of him was a bit messy, some corresponding key information was extracted from the description of the Russian surviving crew.

Tirpitz returned to his desk and pressed the cigarette butt into the black pottery ashtray in the shape of a warship. He lowered his head, and his posture was exactly the same as when Natsuki first came in: "I thought His Highness would attribute the main reason for the victory of the Japanese fleet to the command ability of the Japanese officers and the training quality of the sailors. After listening to what Your Highness said just now, I realized that I was really old and my thinking was no longer as sensitive as before."

Tirpitz is not pretending to be an old man. Xia Shu hurriedly brought him a small stool to the steps: "The teacher wants to make a comprehensive consideration for the construction of the German naval. No matter what, I am just a naval student now, and I can make random guesses and think irresponsible things, which really cannot be compared."

"Your Highness doesn't have to be so humble." Tirpitz sat down and said, "Now, thinking about your highness's large cruiser modification plan 8 months ago, the reason why he insists on reducing the number of second-class artillery should have seen this technological development trend!"

Whether it is work or business, it is beneficial to show off some mystery at the right time. Xia Shu smiled slightly: "I did have a strong intuition at that time, but there was no sufficient realistic example. Fortunately, the teacher has a long-term vision and without your support, my thoughts are just fantasies."

Tirpitz's usual steady and stubborn eyes finally shook and gave in. He picked up the cold cup of tea and took a sip, put it down, and then picked up the second sip, put it down, reached out to get the cigar box, but as soon as his finger touched the cigar, he smoked it back, and his eyes, which had been dark for a while, suddenly returned to their luster.

"I heard that His Highness's Friedrich's shipyard is expanding its scale, not only receiving support from Deutsche Bank, but also getting some funds from the British. I wonder if it is to simply expand the production of high-speed torpedo boats, or to intend to develop higher-level warships?"

Xia Shu heard a little bit of accusation from this sentence. Nowadays, the relationship between Britain and Germany is not very optimistic this year. The two navies are competing in various fields. In this case, they sell the speedboat with a record speed to the British. In the least, they are obsessed with money, and in the worst, they are suspected of selling the country.

"I personally feel very honored to have the savvy and cautious British people pay a lot of money to buy a high-speed boat that is not suitable for use as a torpedo boat."

"Oh?" Tirpitz was quite surprised by this answer.

"That's just a trap." Natsuki intentionally showed the winner's smile.

"Your Highness said..."

"We gave the British a big gift. As long as they spend money to build two hundred torpedo boats, they will reduce the investment of a main battleship accordingly. When a war breaks out, they will realize that these torpedo boats are just beautiful decorations."

"Oh?" Tirpitz said he didn't quite understand.

Xia Shu pretended to be mysteriously explained: "When assembling torpedoes, although the speedboat can maintain a speed of about 50 knots, its hull structure is thin and fragile, and it cannot withstand the storm and bumps, nor can it withstand the impact of shells. The superposition of the two will have a catastrophic impact on them. The British cannot use real shells to test the torpedo boats in high-speed navigation, so... they have to wait until the war breaks out before they wake up."

Tirpitz seemed to feel that he was really old.

"You think, how could His Majesty the Emperor allow me to sell technology that harms Germany's interests to our competitors? Of course, in order to convince the British that I was leaving for money, the transaction price was set at a high of 600,000 pounds."

"Six hundred thousand pounds?" Because of surprise, Tirpitz not only widened his eyes, but even his black nostrils magnified unconsciously.

"No one ever said I am a business genius?" Xia Shu shrugged and smiled.

At this time, Tirpitz finally showed a long-lost smile. Although it was very shallow, it showed that his attitude towards Xia Shu had improved.

"These incredible things are only thought of and put into practice."

In front of the Navy Minister, showing off must be done, Natsuki said: "After that being said, Friedrich's shipyard is indeed preparing to expand its construction range. In addition to various types of torpedo boats, it is also preparing to expand its business scope to the construction and production of small cruisers and submarines."

"Oh... I think your highness is interested in the 3,600-ton fast cruiser and the third batch of 500-ton submarines that the navy's shipbuilding plan is scheduled to start construction next year?" Tirpitz's tone was significantly relieved.

Xia Shu deliberately made the Navy minister feel that he was making a profit in the shipyard: "Yes, Friedrich's shipyard has advantages in designers and skilled technicians, and has also begun to purchase a batch of new equipment. In order to accumulate enough practical experience, we are preparing to obtain repair orders for one or two steam cruisers at a relatively attractive low price in the second half of the year, and the test submarine project will also enter the substantive stage in recent months."

Some people are unrestrained and unrestrained, while others are not. Although Tirpitz is disgusted with the royal family's involvement in naval affairs, he has to rely on the support of the royal family to maintain his absolute leadership over the navy. Therefore, improving the relationship with Prince Joachim is beneficial to both. So he said in a very sensible way: "Our cruiser Giffion has been in service for 10 years and just needs a comprehensive overhaul. As long as the price is right and the technology is in place, the logistics department will not object. As for the submarine, as long as the Friedrich shipyard proves that it has sufficient technical strength, I can say a few irrelevant words in private and ensure that you can get at least two orders."

Natsuki concealed his true appetite with a satisfied expression: within ten years, Friedrich's shipyard will become a truly super shipyard, with top torpedo boats, submarines and small and medium cruiser construction technology, and then relying on its own strength to achieve a historic breakthrough in the field of aircraft carriers. The Americans' carrier-based aircraft take-off and landing test was successful in 1911, and the first real aircraft carrier will appear in the combat sequence of the British Royal Navy in 1917. Its name is the "Raging".

“Hold football leagues in the Navy?”

When he said this, Tirpitz touched his gray beard with his left hand. Soccer in Germany was no longer a new thing at this time, but the national competition was only the first time last year, and it was not named "League". However, the name was just a code name after all, and it was not a football match of 11-on-11 people after all.

Natsuki explained: "From my personal experience, there are three benefits to football matches: exercise, promote friendship, and cultivate tacit understanding. These three are qualities that naval personnel should possess. Usually, many officers and soldiers will also spontaneously organize football matches and weigh all aspects of consideration. I think organizing such joint events is of great benefit to the navy."

The previous official talk was quite satisfactory, and Tirpitz was in a good mood, and no matter how much football was, it was just that. He promised: "I heard that the football match you organized at the Kiel Naval Academy is very popular. As long as it does not hinder the normal training of the Navy, I personally have no opinions, and the funds can be considered appropriately."

"That's great!" Xia Shu said happily, "I initially consider that each team will play two rounds of competitions with each other, with the teams with the most winning matches and the teams scoring the most. Here, I sincerely invite you to serve as the honorary chairman of the football league."

"Ha!" Tirpitz smiled, "I don't know anything about football."

"With your understanding ability, you will know everything you need to watch the half game." Xia Shu gave a small compliment.

"Well, Your Highness, the matter of organizing the football match will be fully handed over to you." Tirpitz obviously did not want to waste more time on the irrelevant off-topic football. Before finishing the conversation, he reminded: "The design discussion on the new battleship will be held at 9:00 next Monday morning, in the fourth-floor conference hall of the Navy Office. I hope your highness will attend on time."

"No problem." Natsuki teased, "I promise not to whistle this time."
Chapter completed!