"Why should we dance to the tune of the Americans when the situation is in our favor?"
As Wilhelm II sipped his morning coffee, he addressed Edward VII, who was forcing a smile.
"What do you think, Hans?"
"Your Majesty is absolutely right."
"Right? But to be honest, Hans, your coffee-making skills leave much to be desired. Is this coffee or just water?"
"Your Majesty, this is how American coffee is usually served."
"American coffee? Hmph, it's nothing but swill that only those Yankees would drink."
Muttering to himself, Wilhelm II pushed the coffee cup aside.
Tsk, could it really be that bad?
It seems that it's still too early for him to appreciate my craftsmanship.
However, unlike Hans, Edward VII seemed to be completely oblivious to the taste of the coffee. With an anxious expression, he tried once again to persuade the Kaiser.
Edward VII, who was usually so laid-back, looked so impatient that it was truly surprising.
"Precisely because the situation is in our favor, this is the perfect opportunity to resolve the Venezuela issue. What a rare opportunity it is."
"Hey, Uncle, the more anxious they are, the more benefits we can reap from it, right?"
"But, this..."
Edward VII was momentarily at a loss for words and could only stare blankly at Hans, as if asking why Wilhelm II was behaving this way.
The reason was actually quite simple. Hans had told Wilhelm II not to accept the mediation, and that stalling for time would be more beneficial for the German Empire.
Of course, Wilhelm II readily adopted his suggestion, perhaps more because he wanted to see his Uncle Edward VII in a state of distress.
Look, the Kaiser was so satisfied with his uncle's contorted expression that, without being prompted, he naturally wore that annoying triumphant look.
If this expression were an act, then Wilhelm II might as well give up his throne and become an actor.
But Hans knew that it was a hundred percent a sincere expression.
"Damn it!"
Edward VII looked so angry that he was grinding his teeth, and seemed extremely aggrieved.)
However, the initiative in this negotiation was in the hands of Germany, not Britain.
At the moment, Britain was suddenly feeling nervous about the dreadnoughts that it had previously paid little attention to, and it was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
And that's exactly why Edward VII, who was usually so relaxed, was so fidgety.
As for Germany, it was immersed in a celebratory atmosphere because of the performance of the "Kaiser Friedrich der Grosse".
When the Venezuela incident became known, Admiral Tirpitz, who had been worried about the deployment of the "Kaiser Friedrich der Grosse" to the Caribbean Sea, was so excited that he wrote a large number of letters to Hans. And Wilhelm II was so filled with national pride that he danced joyfully in public.
Naturally, Hans' prestige also soared.
However, when he heard that the "Kaiser Friedrich der Grosse" had directly sunk a Venezuelan cruiser, he was still taken aback.
Although it was an accident, if it wasn't handled properly, there was a real danger of a world war breaking out at the end of 1902.
"Thank goodness Admiral Dewey and the US fleet retreated quickly."
Nevertheless, the outcome of this incident was a huge boon for both him and the German Empire.
Because it tilted the situation completely in Germany's favor.
"Britain must be itching to resolve the Venezuela issue immediately."
Germany was constantly building new dreadnoughts, and the Venezuela incident had made other powers covet the dreadnoughts as well.
But for Britain, the most pressing problem at the moment was that even if it went all out to introduce dreadnoughts, it was already far behind Germany. And now, it was tied up with the Venezuela issue and couldn't move freely.
Therefore, the more Germany stalled, the more anxious Britain became.
The German and British sides had reached an agreement when dealing with the Venezuela issue that they would not negotiate with Venezuela alone, and that's exactly what Hans was aiming at.
In this way, Britain had to do everything it could to appease and persuade Germany.
"Of course, Britain is also unlikely to violate the agreement first."
If it did, Britain's already damaged international reputation due to the Boer War would be further damaged, and it would also get into trouble for ruining its relationship with Germany, the only country that possessed dreadnoughts at that time.
That's why Edward VII personally stepped in and tried his best to persuade them to accept the mediation of the United States.
However, Hans didn't intend to agree with him for the time being.
"We can deal with the troublesome matters later. How about going hunting together, Your Majesty? It's said that it's the fox hunting season now, and I've never tried it before."
"Oh, fox hunting. Sounds good. Let's ask George to come along."
"Er, well..."
When Edward VII heard Hans and Wilhelm II openly suggesting going hunting, he looked embarrassed and scratched his head.
Then, he approached Hans and whispered:
"Hans, can't you be more accommodating?"
"Your Majesty, as the saying goes, 'Don't make preparations only when in trouble.' It's the party in need that should take the initiative, isn't it?"
"... What exactly do you want?"
"We can figure that out through gradual negotiation, can't we?"
After hearing this, Edward VII frowned and pondered for a while, then slowly said:
"I'll talk to you in detail later."
With that, he left.
But the king's summons came much faster than Hans had expected.
"Your Excellency, His Majesty requests your presence."
That night, at midnight.
Edward VII's attendant knocked on Hans' door and said.
Hans woke up from his sleep at the sound, rubbed his eyes, and slowly got up.
"Can't it wait until tomorrow?"
Why summon someone in the middle of the room? Is he a vampire?
Children need their sleep.
"Please follow me."
However, out of courtesy, Hans naturally couldn't refuse the king's summons just because he was sleepy.
So, relying on the light of a candle, he followed the attendant through one dark corridor after another.
"You may go in directly."
Finally, they arrived at a door.
Hans nodded slightly to the attendant in thanks and then pushed the door open without hesitation.
"Ah, if it isn't Baron Hans von Joe, who has finally arrived."
However, Edward VII wasn't alone in the room.
...
"Your Majesty, with all this commotion, others might think you're throwing a party tonight."
"A party? It's too late for that. It's even past the time when children should be resting."
"Since you know that, why did you call me here in the middle of the night?"
Hearing what Hans said, Edward VII couldn't help but chuckle.
But the others clearly didn't find the atmosphere amusing and just coughed a few times to hide their embarrassment.
"Let me introduce. Prime Minister Balfour and the Marquess of Lansdowne. You should know them, right?"
"Yes, they visited Sandringham not long ago. But this is the first time to meet them face to face."
As Hans spoke, he greeted Arthur Balfour, who looked a bit nervous due to the situation, and the Marquess of Lansdowne, the Foreign Secretary, with his hands behind his back.
"This is the Colonial Secretary, Joseph Chamberlain."
Joseph Chamberlain.
Just hearing his surname, it's a familiar name. He is the father of Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister known for "Peace in Our Time."
Moreover, until recently, he had been promoting the Anglo-German alliance—although everyone knew that the plan ultimately failed.
"This is the First Sea Lord, Admiral John Fisher."
"What?"
"Admiral Fisher has become the First Sea Lord?"
Admiral John Fisher.
A legendary figure in the British Navy, who witnessed the birth of the dreadnought and the appearance of the first aircraft carrier.
But in theory, at this moment, Admiral Fisher should still be the Second Sea Lord, not the First.
Fisher should have become the First Sea Lord after 1904.
"Isn't Admiral Kerr the First Sea Lord?"
"Admiral Kerr has resigned."
"Ah..."
It must be because of the "Kaiser Friedrich der Grosse."
Now Hans understood.
Perhaps the British Navy underestimated the dreadnought that appeared a few years ago because they lacked a summary of the experience of the Battle of Tsushima, simply thinking that it was huge in size but mediocre in performance.
"Obviously, that's not the case, right?"
The so-called resignation is actually more like being dismissed.
So Admiral Fisher was promoted as the successor to the First Sea Lord.
"Anyway, it's a pleasure to meet you, Admiral Fisher."
"I have something I want to ask you, Baron."
"Something you want to ask...?"
Hans couldn't help but tilt his head when Fisher suddenly said this.
What exactly does he want to ask?
"Did you come up with the idea of the dreadnought?"
"!"
When he heard Admiral Fisher's question, the muscles on his face twitched involuntarily.
Calm down, don't panic.
You already knew this occasion wouldn't be simple, didn't you?
Hans composed himself and nodded with a cheeky attitude.
"That's right."
"Did you really design that battleship?"
"Strictly speaking, it was built by the German Navy and the shipbuilders. I just provided the ideas and concepts."
"That's the same thing, isn't it? Ha! I've been outmaneuvered!"
Edward VII looked at Hans with an incredulous expression. It seemed that he had no idea about this before.
The others had a similar reaction, except Admiral Fisher, who nodded as if he had expected it.
"Since Edward VII didn't know about this, how did Admiral Fisher find out?"
This question was answered by what Fisher said next.
"Sure enough, the inspiration came from General Qi's tactics, right?"
"... What?"
Why was that name mentioned here?
"The baron is the author of 'The Great Ming Sea King' and knows General Qi's tactics very well, right? Especially the battles described in the recent serialization, the tactics shown by General Qi..."
"Oh, yes, yes. You're quite right, Admiral Fisher."
Hans interrupted Fisher in a hurry to avoid getting even more confused. Fisher clenched his fists, looking confident.
"I see. General Qi. I overlooked that."
"It seems I have to read it carefully when I get back."
The others nodded in agreement with Fisher's statement.
Hiss, is it really okay for Britain to continue like this?
For some reason, Hans suddenly felt like he had done something bad.
"Alright, enough with the pleasantries. Let's get to the main point."
"Alright, let's start. First, about the Venezuela issue..."
Edward VII and the four British people all turned their eyes to Hans.
"How should we accept the mediation of the United States?"
"Shouldn't you ask Chancellor Bülow in Berlin about this?"
"Hah! Baron, you're deliberately stalling for time. His Majesty has already told me!"
"Anyway, it's not me or the German Empire who's in a hurry."
Balfour frowned and shouted, but Hans replied indifferently.
At the moment, it's Theodore Roosevelt, who was criticized by American public opinion for sending the fleet back without achieving anything, and Arthur Balfour, who was sweating nervously in front of him, who were in a hurry.
"The recent newspapers show that you seem to be in a difficult situation, Prime Minister."
"Cough! That, that's..."
In fact, it's not just difficult; it's on the verge of collapse.
Balfour's political career is like a candle in the wind.
"The German new battleship SMS Kaiser Friedrich der Grosse, which defeated the Venezuelan fleet and made the American fleet flee in embarrassment, has redefined the global naval power."
"The ultimate battleship born in Germany. Is Britain's maritime hegemony at risk?"
"Does the new German battleship pose no threat to Britain's maritime hegemony? The past remarks of the Admiralty have sparked controversy, and angry citizens have reprimanded the government and the Royal Navy for their incompetence!"
The feat of the Kaiser Friedrich der Grosse spread through the media and shocked the whole of Britain.
The British people were in a panic due to the fear of losing their maritime hegemony, and the Balfour cabinet and the Royal Navy, who had previously ignored the dreadnoughts, became the target of public criticism.
"However, Britain is now tied up because of the Venezuela issue."
And during this time, Germany has been constantly producing dreadnoughts.
"Tsk!"
Admiral Fisher, who knew exactly what this meant, clenched his teeth and looked furious.
If Germany continues to lead in the dreadnought competition, Britain's maritime hegemony may be lost.
Britain without the sea is no longer the British Empire.
Not to mention the latecomers who are trying to overtake Britain.
I hope Admiral Fisher can stomach this situation.
"However, you don't have to worry too much. I'd rather be a friend of Britain than an enemy."
"Friend? But Chancellor Bülow and other Germans don't seem to think so."
"Just like everyone here can't be in complete agreement. And what we need to do is to find the best solution among all the opinions, isn't it?"
Hearing Chamberlain's words, Hans crossed his fingers and leaned forward.
"We should think widely. Germany and Britain don't necessarily have to be in direct confrontation. After all, we have a common enemy."
"A common enemy?"
"The Russian Empire."
Hans said as he smiled.
It's time to launch the third stage of the plan.