"Your Excellency, Dean, please listen to my explanation," Qin Tian said hastily.
If Dean Ludwig Birkenhagen really sent a telegram to Wilhelm II, then all of Qin Tian's efforts would be completely wasted.
Dean Birkenhagen looked at Qin Tian coldly. If not for Qin Tian, he would not have wanted to waste a single word on him and would have simply ordered him out of the Kiel Naval Academy.
"Your Excellency, perhaps in your view, spending four years at the Kiel Naval Academy is a great improvement for an individual. But in my opinion, it is a waste of four years. Is it really necessary for me to stay here for four years, only to graduate and serve as a mere second lieutenant?" Qin Tian said.
Dean Ludwig Birkenhagen trembled with anger at these words.
"Your Royal Highness, shut up!" he roared."If you do not wish to join the navy, I will not force you. But do not insult the navy! It is precisely those countless second lieutenants who graduate from the Kiel Naval Academy who support the German Navy!"
"I'm sorry, Your Excellency. I misspoke," Qin Tian quickly apologized.
"However, with all due respect, Dean," Qin Tian continued, "although the German Navy is catching up, the gap between us and the British Navy has not narrowed—in fact, it continues to widen. Britain controls most of the world's colonies. They can plunder vast wealth from them and invest it freely into naval construction.
"But Germany is different. Our geographical position forces us to invest heavily in the army. This means our naval funding can never compare to that of the British. If this continues, then challenging the Royal Navy is nothing more than wishful thinking."
Dean Birkenhagen fell silent.
As someone who had devoted decades of his life to the navy, he had personally witnessed the German Navy grow from nothing into a powerful force. Naturally, he also understood very well just how large the gap between the German Navy and the British Navy truly was. Wilhelm II's ambition to develop the navy was admirable, but limited by national strength and external realities, it was indeed extremely difficult for Germany to defeat Britain at sea.
"Even so," Dean Birkenhagen said stubbornly after a pause, "the German Navy will never surrender. We will grow stronger, and one day we will surely defeat the British."
Qin Tian nodded.
The officers and soldiers of the German Navy were worthy of respect. It was precisely because of their unrelenting efforts that the German Navy had grown into the world's second-largest navy in such a short time.
But so what?
In the end, the German Navy still failed to defeat the Royal Navy. After Germany's defeat, its warships were scuttled, and Germany lost its navy entirely.
"Yes, Dean. I believe that with everyone's efforts, the German Navy will continue to grow stronger," Qin Tian said."However, defeating the British Navy will still be extremely difficult. With Britain's financial strength, they can maintain at least a two-to-one advantage in capital ships. Under such circumstances, how can we defeat them? With naval warfare having developed to its current stage, luck now plays a smaller and smaller role in battle."
In the age of sail, luck could decide the outcome of a naval battle. But in the era of ironclad giants, relying on luck meant inevitable defeat.
Dean Birkenhagen nodded unconsciously. Though he did not wish to admit it, Qin Tian's analysis was precise.
"Your Royal Highness," Dean Birkenhagen asked slowly, "are you saying that you believe the German Navy has no chance of defeating the British?"
"Your Excellency," Qin Tian replied frankly,"if the navy continues to develop at its current pace, then it is impossible to defeat the British. In future wars, if our navy cannot defeat the Royal Navy, it will be an absolute disaster for Germany. Our coastline will be blockaded, overseas trade will be cut off, and we will be completely encircled. If the army cannot quickly defeat the enemy, the war will fall into a stalemate—and Germany will ultimately be dragged to death."
Dean Birkenhagen and Carl were both shocked.
What Qin Tian described was a terrifying but entirely realistic scenario.
"Your Highness… is there really no chance for Germany?" Carl asked, his voice trembling slightly.
"No," Qin Tian said firmly."Germany still has a chance. If we can build capital ships that can completely crush British warships in performance, then our navy can defeat them. As long as the navy wins, Germany will be invincible in future wars."
"But the empire does not have enough money to support such naval development," Dean Birkenhagen shook his head."Competing with Britain in the number of capital ships is simply unrealistic."
"That is true," Qin Tian nodded."In terms of performance, our warships are not inferior to the British. But in terms of numbers, we are far behind. And that is precisely why I do not want to waste four years at the Naval Academy."
"Your Highness," Dean Birkenhagen frowned,"what does this have to do with your refusal to study here? It is precisely because the gap is so large that people like you are needed in the navy!"
Without realizing it, much of Dean Birkenhagen's hostility toward Qin Tian had dissipated. In his view, someone capable of such insight could not be ignorant.
Qin Tian shook his head.
"Your Excellency, the most critical factor restricting the development of the German Navy is funding. If I can, through my own efforts, provide additional development funds for the navy, then that would be far more beneficial to Germany."
Dean Birkenhagen frowned deeply. Qin Tian's words sounded almost fanciful.
"Your Excellency," Qin Tian said calmly, meeting the dean's gaze,"if I can promise to donate one battleship to the German Navy within the next four years—would you then agree to my previous request?"