World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

Von Yage cleared his throat: "Your Majesty, if I may remind you, although Lanfang is our friend, they are not Germany after all. The presence of such a powerful navy in the Far East, in the long run…"

"In the long run, they were the best pawns to counterbalance the British Far East Fleet!" Wilhelm II interrupted him. "Yago, look at the map. The British have a base in Singapore, a fleet in India, and influence throughout the Far East. And now? Now the Lanfang people have used a naval battle to tell the world: the maritime hegemony in the Far East is about to change hands!"

He walked to the map, tracing his finger from the East China Sea to the South China Sea, then to the Strait of Malacca: "Lanfang has Borneo, Dubai, and now it's proven they have the ability to control the East China Sea. If one day they clash with the British... then the British will have to divert forces from their home fleet to the Far East. What does that mean for us?"

Moltke's eyes lit up: "That means the British will be weakened in the North Sea."

"Correct!" Wilhelm II nodded in satisfaction. "So this is not a threat, it is a golden opportunity! We need Lanfang, we need them to restrain Britain, we need their oil, and we also need... their technology."

This last sentence silenced the study. The three high-ranking officials exchanged glances, all understanding the meaning behind the emperor's words.

"Your Majesty," Tilpitz said cautiously, "do you mean we should propose technical cooperation to Lanfang?"

"Not just a suggestion, but a demand!" Wilhelm II walked back to his desk and sat down. "We are allies, aren't we? We provided Lanfang with shipbuilding, artillery, and armor technology. Now they have even better things; it's only right that they share them with their allies!"

Feng Yage frowned: "Your Majesty, this could be a diplomatic sensitive issue. The Lanfang people value technological independence highly, and Chen Feng, that man..."

"Chen Feng is a smart man," Wilhelm II waved his hand. "He knows who his true friends are. The British? The British will only try to restrict him. The French? The French are too busy to care about themselves. The Americans? The Americans are only concerned with doing business. Only Germany, only I, Wilhelm, have supported him from the very beginning, helping him build his navy and his industry!"

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the gardens of Sanssouci Palace. The morning mist was dissipating, and sunlight was shining on the meticulously manicured lawn.

"Yago, send a telegram to the ambassador in Dubai. No, I will dictate it myself."

He turned around and began to pace, saying as he went:

"To His Excellency Chen Feng, President of the Lanfang Republic: I am delighted to learn of the glorious victory your navy achieved in the East China Sea. On behalf of the German Empire and myself, I extend my warmest congratulations to Your Excellency and the officers and soldiers of your navy. This victory not only demonstrates the strength of your navy but also proves the preciousness of the German-Lanfang friendship. I look forward to continuing to deepen cooperation with Your Excellency in various fields such as military, technology, and economy, and jointly safeguarding peace and prosperity in the Far East and the world. May our friendship flow like the Rhine River."

He paused, thought for a moment, and then added: "Let me add one more thing: I have instructed the Imperial Navy to engage in comprehensive technical exchanges with your navy, share the latest achievements, and jointly address the maritime challenges of the new era."

Von Yage quickly took notes, but his brow furrowed deeper and deeper: "Your Majesty, aren't phrases like 'comprehensive technical exchange' and 'sharing the latest achievements' a bit too...direct?"

"Direct? No, this is called frankness!" Wilhelm II said dismissively. "Chen Feng will understand what I mean. And he knows that Germany is his most reliable ally. By the way, have the ambassador pass on another message privately: if Lanfang needs it, Germany is willing to provide more loans for the expansion of the navy and industry. The interest rate... can be preferential."

Moltke couldn't help but speak up: "Your Majesty, our finances are also very strained, the war expenses..."

"The war will be over soon!" Wilhelm II declared confidently. "The Russians won't last long, and neither will the French. Once we win, we'll have plenty of money! But investing in Lanfang now is for a longer-term future!"

He walked to the map, pointed to Europe, and then slowly moved eastward, passing through the Ottoman Empire, through Persia, and finally stopping in Dubai.

"Look, gentlemen. We've been planning the railway from Berlin to Baghdad for over a decade. Now Lanfang controls the Persian Gulf and the oil. If they're willing to cooperate... all the oil in the Middle East can be transported to Germany via this railway. At that point, will we still need to worry about the British blockade? Will we still need to worry about oil shortages?"

The eyes of the three high-ranking officials lit up. The prospect was too tempting—a land-based energy corridor from mainland Germany directly to the Persian Gulf, completely eliminating dependence on sea transport routes.

"Therefore," Wilhelm II concluded, "Lanfang's victory is Germany's victory. We must make them stronger, enable them to contain Britain in the Far East, and at the same time obtain the technology and resources we need from them. It's a win-win situation, gentlemen, a win-win!"

von Yage finally nodded: "I understand, Your Majesty. I will arrange to send a telegram immediately."

"Furthermore," Wilhelm II stopped him, "tell the ambassador to inquire privately whether Lanfang has any plans to expand oil production. If so, Germany is willing to buy up all the increased production at a preferential price."

"Yes."

The three high-ranking officials bowed and left. Only Wilhelm II remained in the study. He walked back to the map, looked at the location of the East China Sea, and a smug smile appeared on his lips.

"Well done, Chen. Well done."

Unbeknownst to him, at the same time, in the Admiralty building in London, another group of people were facing the same intelligence with grim expressions.

London, Admiralty Building, First Sea Lord's office, 9:00 AM

The atmosphere in the office was so heavy it could melt ice. First Sea Lord, Field Admiral Fisher, sat in the main seat, opposite him the Chief of Naval Intelligence, the Chief of Operations, the Chief of Armaments, and several senior naval officers. Each of them had a thick report laid out before them, the cover marked "Top Secret."

"Gentlemen," Fisher began, his voice hoarse. He was seventy-three years old, but his eyes were still sharp. "I think you've all read this report. So, please tell me your thoughts."

Silence. An unsettling silence.

Finally, Rear Admiral Oliver, the Chief of Naval Intelligence, spoke first: "Marshal, if the report is true—and I trust our intelligence personnel—then we must reassess the naval balance of power throughout the Far East and even globally."

"Be more specific." Fisher tapped his fingers on the table.

"To be specific," Oliver stood up and walked to the huge world map on the wall, "the Lanfang Navy used four battleships to annihilate four of Japan's most elite battlecruisers in one hour. And according to technical analysis, they accomplished this feat at a distance of at least 25,000 yards."

He pointed to the East China Sea with his pointer: "This distance exceeds the maximum effective range of all active capital ships of the Royal Navy. In other words, if a battle were to break out in the North Sea today, our warships would suffer devastating damage before they could even fire."