Iron Germany

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, gentlemen, Germany, the life-and-death enemy of the empire, has become even stronger after defeating the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Now, their Pacific Fleet has officially entered the Lion City, and the warships have begun to cruise in the Western Pacific. There are even traces of German warships on the coast of the empire, which is definitely a great threat to the empire." Admiral Tomosaburo Kato said at a cabinet meeting.

Prime Minister Terauchi Masaki and a group of high-ranking officials from the island's cabinet all looked serious. All of them still remember the attack Germany launched against the island nation before. This is undoubtedly inseparable from the downfall of the previous Okuma Shigenobu's cabinet.

"The Germans are now the hegemons of the world. We all know how powerful they are. The empire wants revenge, but I don't know when it will wait!" Masaki Masahiro sighed.

The other cabinet ministers nodded repeatedly. The mighty Germany is like a big mountain, pressing on their heads, making them almost breathless.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, gentlemen, Germany is very powerful. However, Germany's main enemy is not the Empire, but the United States on the other side of the ocean. Therefore, even if we go to war with Germany, we will not be able to face the main force of the Germans. What we have to deal with should be Germany's Pacific Fleet, and at most the Indian Ocean Fleet. If we work harder, we will not have the strength to deal with them." Admiral Yusaburo Kato continued. He did not mention the Mediterranean Fleet, otherwise, it would definitely make these senior cabinet officials even more desperate.

"Kato-kun, the German Pacific Fleet and Indian Ocean Fleet alone may not be easy to deal with!" Terauchi Masaki said.

"Yes, Your Excellency Prime Minister. However, we must have the courage and confidence to catch up. As long as we continue to increase investment in armaments, we will one day surpass them. In the future, defeating the Germans It is not impossible for these two large fleets." Admiral Yusaburo Kato continued.

This time, General Kato Yusaburo's intentions were undoubtedly revealed. The other cabinet ministers also knew about it. Obviously, Admiral Yusaburo Kato hopes to further increase the navy's budget.

Terauchi Masaki thought for a while, and then asked: "Kato-kun, if the navy is to have the strength to fight against the German Pacific Fleet and Indian Ocean Fleet, how much do we need to continue to invest?"

"Your Excellency, the Navy's 'Fuso-class' battleships have already entered service, and the 'Ise-class' battleships have also started construction. However, there are only four battleships of these two classes, which is only half of the German Navy's Pacific Fleet. Not enough. In addition, in terms of single-ship performance, our 'Fuso-class' and 'Ise-class' are far behind the German Navy's battleships of the same class. Therefore, we urgently need more powerful capital ships. The design of the next-level "Nagato-class" battleship has been completed. It will be a battleship with a displacement of more than 30,000 tons and equipped with four double-mounted 45-caliber 410mm main guns. Its performance is already comparable to that of Germany. The Navy's advanced battleships have confronted. The Navy hopes that the construction of the 'Nagato-class' battleships can start as soon as possible, preferably next year. The follow-up design work for more powerful capital ships also needs to start as soon as possible. In the next ten years During the year, the Imperial Navy must have more than 16 powerful capital ships. Only in this way can the Imperial Navy be able to ensure that it can confront the German Navy. If you want to defeat the German Navy’s Pacific Fleet and Indian Ocean Fleet, it is best to add four more One battleship, bringing the number of battleships in the Imperial Navy to 20!" Admiral Yusaburo Kato spoke eloquently.

However, after several other cabinet ministers listened to his point of view, their complexions have become unsightly. After all, there are 16 or even 20 battleships! The cost of each capital ship is very high, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it was piled up with money.

Deducting the "Fuso-class" battleships already in service and the "Ise-class" battleships that have already been budgeted and started construction, there are still 12 to 16 ships needed. This is undoubtedly a lot of money.

"Kato-kun, the plan for 20 battleships is too huge. The empire simply doesn't have that much money. If it's 16 battleships, maybe we can consider it." Terauchi Masaki said.

Kato Yusaburo nodded, and the island nation's navy is already very satisfied with getting 16 battleships. After all, their battleships can be regarded as newly built cutting-edge battleships. The capital ships of the German Navy, after ten years, can only be regarded as old warships. At that time, the strength of the island nation's navy will undoubtedly stabilize the German Navy's Pacific Fleet and Indian Ocean Fleet. If there is a fight, the navy of the island country will undoubtedly have an advantage.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I'm afraid it will be difficult for us to gather such a large amount of funds." Minister Fujita poured cold water on them.

The current economy of the island country is simply not as good as in another time and space. In the First World War, not only did they not get much benefit, but they suffered huge losses. The war was over, and Germany also acquired the British colonies, which further squeezed the overseas market of the island country.

"In terms of funds, find a way to get another loan from the United States! Don't the Americans want us to fight against the Germans? It is only natural that they provide part of the funds to the Empire!" said Terauchi Masaki.

"Hi, Your Excellency the Prime Minister." Foreign Minister Ichiro Motono nodded.

"In addition, find a way to raise more funds from the country. For example, further increase the price of rice!" Terauchi Masaki continued.

The price of food in the island country is undoubtedly very high. Because most of the citizens of the island country buy food. This allows the island government to exploit the wealth in the hands of the people by manipulating the price of rice. As long as the price of rice is raised, all the hard-earned money of the people can be collected and scraped away. The island government can use the money to develop armaments.

Although, the ministers of the island's cabinet believe that if the price of rice is further raised, it may cause resistance from the people. However, this is their only way.

"Gentlemen, for the future of the empire, not only the navy must be strengthened, but also the strength of the army must also be strengthened. In the next ten years, the imperial army must have forty standing divisions and be ready for war!" Masahide Temple Said.

This is undoubtedly preparing for war.