Sun Tzu's Art of War #5 - Dreadnought Dominoes
Sun Tzu's Art of War #5: Korea first approached a desperate Britain, where all the docks were burning the midnight oil, and demanded battleships at a friendly price. Naturally, Britain—starving for cash right then—shouted that they should at least meet to talk. And so the negotiations began.
Korea didn't go for the split-payment deal like with the Yi Sun-sin but demanded delivery followed by ten years of interest-free installments. In exchange, if they signed now, the down payment wouldn't be in pounds as stated in the contract but backed 100% by real gold. Britain, strapped for immediate gold and maxed out on shipbuilding capacity, had no choice but to grit their teeth and agree to this bombshell sale. After all, landing a solid deal with Korea was a win for their record, but letting it fall through was unthinkable at this point. In the end, though Korea was the one begging to buy battleships at first, Britain suddenly found themselves pleading for just a little more time to sell.
Thus, at a rock-bottom price—excluding only the gold payment—Korea ordered another top-tier dreadnought battleship from Britain. Armed with this friendly contract, Korea went knocking on other doors.
"Is this the America that promised to outdo Britain with an even friendlier price and a bigger ship?"
"Yes, that's us. No way—you're finally ready to order?"
"Yep."
"Which one?"
"This is the quote from Britain saying they're selling. See? They've signed it."
FUCK!
What the hell were these guys doing to Britain? At that price, even he wanted to order a battleship from them.
"This price is real?"
"Why would I lie about something that'll get exposed in a heartbeat?"
"This is an insane sale! Ten years interest-free installments to boot?!"
"How should I know? I've never built one. I'm just the customer."
Ah... right.
"If you really think it's a scam, how about a three-way meeting?"
No, that was... Anyone could see it was Korea pitting them against each other. But even so, selling a dreadnought cheaper than a pre-dreadnought? Had Britain finally lost their minds? The displacement alone was 1.5 times bigger.
America suspected Britain wasn't right in the head. Were these Anglo-Saxons like them? It felt like Korea had some leverage. But no, that couldn't be. If not, only one hypothesis fit: the battleship wasn't the whole story.
"They want a Pacific showdown with me."
Ridiculous. The Pacific had been America's lake for ages—a fact Korea had long acknowledged. Who planted them in the Philippines? Korea. When Korea negotiated over Taiwan and Japan, who did they talk to? Britain? No, America. To America, this fight's outcome was set in stone. Laughable.
Even if Britain now tried to use Korea as their champion, nothing changed. Who couldn't print money? America knew exactly what drove Korea. They were kindred spirits—economic beasts that devoured even their masters.
America sent Korea packing with two dreadnoughts at an even better economic deal. Britain might see Korea as their lackey, but to America, Korea was no India. That beast had slipped its chains long ago and was reveling in freedom. Britain, blind to it, was in for a rude awakening. America smirked, anticipating the bloodbath ahead.
"Korea is probing Britain for beef imports!"
"Britain's building a battleship yard in Ulsan! They say they can't meet the timeline, so if Korea orders three or more, they'll build them on-site?"
"Not three—four additional orders! Total four!"
Roosevelt spat out his drink.
There was good reason for shelling out precious pounds—even on installment—for British battleships. Italian? German? Russian? Cheap, balanced, sure. But sadly, I bought battleships purely for foreign showmanship, and those were fine for domestic scraps or fleet clashes but fell short for true international flexing.
Even the two extra American ones Roosevelt just pushed on me were the same. US battleships, built on black labor—decent value, honestly—but unproven for global posturing. I knew they'd soon need to lead a "Great White Fleet" to split the seas. Monroe Doctrine America ships? Need I say more?
France might've been second-best for show after Britain, but post-Franco-Prussian War, they couldn't afford it. They even begged me for iron. Pure agrarian state—forget circus acts with Orientals; they needed to rebuild their army first. Naturally, France's battleship capacity was in the gutter. Obvious.
Even if I fronted cash, no guarantee it'd turn into pre-WWI battleships.
"You really gonna buy?"
"Buy."
They're even building the yard. No real alternatives to those pricey British ones. Britain seemed to read ulterior motives into it, but honestly, no options fit better. If I aimed for true fleet battles, I'd go cheap Japanese to build capacity—but that's not me. So, buy British and done.
In short, Britain's shipyard gambit in Korea wildly misread my needs. Or they knew and did it anyway—more likely, since refusing would've made me look insane. I took it, but it left a sour taste. Communication breakdown.
"Truly exasperating."
That alone wasn't the issue. The real problem: buying British cheap on friendly terms would saddle me with massive diplomatic debt. Screw the yard—I warily eyed that debt. What if they suddenly demand help selling Hong Kong? Why ask me for aid on China's Hong Kong? No clue, but Brits? Totally their style.
So I dialed back the discount but maxed installments. Beef imports? Just seasoning. When World War breaks out, do I really need to repay? Nah. With battleships in hand, a no-payback world was coming soon.
News of Korea's British battleship spree set Europe ablaze. Not one like before, but four—that changed everything. A full fleet. Once commissioned, Korea could dispatch a "fleet" to Europe. It peaked when word spread that America, fretting over beef sales, had sold Korea four more.
Europeans back then ignored "hick" politics. American rural votes? Who cared—four American battleships to Korea felt more threatening. Britain 4, America 4: total eight. More than original great power France.
German papers blasted Britain (and France?) for carving Asia with it rather than against Germany. Milder on Britain, whom the Kaiser courted, but France was raw meat—pimped by Britain to Orientals. Sold Hong Kong? Why not French Indochina? Venom included.
Weirdly silent on battleship-selling America, but France had bigger woes. Face hit while crying. Prestige in tatters, they needed a fill-up.
"We must build battleships."
"No money."
"Borrow."
"No iron."
"Buy."
"Haven't built proper ones in ages—design hurdles for dreadnought-level."
"Ugh, just do it!"
France scrambled to build. Couldn't lag behind Orientals. But lacks? Iron shortage. So they bought.
Britain, inwardly irked by French naval rise, couldn't gripe about iron buys—guns and turrets needed it too.
"Iron? Rails unfinished, but load it on camels if you must."
"...Yes."
Iron ended up with that Oriental anyway, but French public stayed ignorant—fine.
"France is building a fleet."
"Pathetic."
Italy, Mediterranean overlord. Britain's Atlantic? Italy's Med. France? Loser of Atlantic hegemony—not Italy's worry. Problem: Italy now trailed the Oriental in battleships. Navy eclipsed even briefly? Unbearable.
"We build three. Total 3-3-3 guards east-west-south."
"No money?"
"Borrow."
"Already maxed."
"..."
"Berlin and Vienna."
"Yes."
Korea starts ordering—France-Italy domino. Shipbuilding race triggered, spreading. Britain thought selling ships would drag Korea down at home; instead, Korea mixed British-American for a 1:1 bomb cocktail. As planned, Korea's naval push ignited great powers' race—red alert for Britain.
Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Pacific, then Med, North Sea, Red Sea, British seas—too many to defend. This race meant British contraction. Britain hadn't foreseen ironless France or cashless Italy building. Insane? Germany not scary? Only fearing Britain now?
Germany dwarfed Russia. Italy aside, France too? Unacceptable. Needed a move—like a naval arms limitation treaty...!
Hm?
America's Hague Peace Conference loomed. Korea dismissed as regional power uninterested in "world peace," but most nations attended—even non-sovereigns sent envoys. Universal.
Could Britain propose a "Hague Naval Arms Limitation Treaty" here? Would shipbuilding Korea ignore? Britain grinned, reserving a seat for their ally.
Later, hikikomori Korea balked—had to drag them by the collar. But only Britain and Korea knew, so all good.