Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Advance Without Fear (1)
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"The Americans are sending warships to Venezuela?"
"Yes. I was quite taken aback when I first heard the news myself."
I asked again, utterly baffled.
But Edward VII's response was the same as before.
'Theodore Roosevelt... has this teddy bear of a man lost his mind?'
This hadn't happened in the original history.
Of course, ever since I showed up, history had been twisting bit by bit.
But even so, none of my actions up to now seemed like they could lead to the Americans supporting Venezuela with warships.
To begin with, the only time I'd gotten involved with America after landing in 20th-century Germany was once.
That was when I'd blown up the Wardenclyffe Tower to resolve the Tesla issue.
No matter how I thought about it, that butterfly effect wouldn't have snowballed into the U.S. sending warships to Venezuela.
There wasn't a shred of evidence linking me to that incident in the first place.
"Of course, America didn't openly hand it over to Venezuela. According to my informants' reports, they routed it through a third country in South America as 'aid.' But even that just looks like hiding an elephant in plain sight."
Edward VII said this while twirling his mustache.
He clearly didn't approve of America's—and President Roosevelt's—aggressive stance either.
And with good reason. Come year's end, Britain and Germany were set to impose a naval blockade on Venezuela together.
If America suddenly stuck its oar in like this, things would get extremely messy.
In the worst case, it could escalate to a military clash with the U.S.
And if that happened, Germany or Britain might end up removing a small wart like Venezuela only to sprout a massive one called America.
"Hmm. I thought this ship looked familiar—it's the USS Philadelphia."
"Billy?"
While Edward VII and I were lost in thought over America's intentions, Wilhelm II suddenly spoke up after scrutinizing the photo, prompting Edward VII to shoot him a surprised look, as if wondering how he knew.
'How the hell did this guy recognize it?'
Because he's a battleship nut?
In any case, unlike Edward VII or me, Wilhelm II seemed to know the warship in the photo quite well.
"What kind of ship is that?"
"An American protected cruiser, Hans. An old vessel commissioned in 1889. As far as I know, it's due for decommissioning soon, but it looks like America's handing it over to Venezuela."
Due for decommissioning soon, huh.
Well, the U.S. Navy's landmark first battleship, BB-01 USS Indiana, had only entered service seven years ago.
America, not yet evolved into a superpower, couldn't afford to squander a single ship.
They wouldn't give a still-active cruiser to a non-ally like Venezuela.
"By the way, Hans. Didn't you say last time that America wouldn't get actively involved in the Venezuela issue?"
I had said that.
And I'd genuinely believed it.
'But for some reason, Teddy's come out swinging all of a sudden.'
Was America really planning to dive headfirst into the Venezuela mess, ready for all-out war, contrary to my expectations?
No, that couldn't be.
If they were serious, they wouldn't toss Venezuela just one outdated cruiser on the verge of retirement.
"Your Majesty. Could America have sent anything else to Venezuela besides this?"
"Not that I know of."
"That's odd. If America was dead set on helping Venezuela against Britain and Germany, wouldn't even one cruiser be way too meager, no matter how you slice it?"
"Hmm. You're right."
Honestly, it was questionable if Venezuela's navy even had a proper ironclad, let alone a cruiser.
Telling them to face a combined Anglo-German fleet with just one rusty old protected cruiser was like Cao Cao sending an empty lunchbox to Xun Yu.
'There has to be some other motive.'
What could it be?
What had made America act so boldly?
Something flashed through my mind as I pondered.
"Friedrich der Große...?"
"Hans?"
"Friedrich der Große! Your Majesty, this is because of our German Empire's new battleship!"
"What are you talking about? America supported Venezuela because of Friedrich der Große?"
Wilhelm II stared at me blankly, clearly not getting it.
Edward VII, on the other hand, seemed to catch on and smacked his fist into his palm.
"Of course! The timing is awfully suspicious."
"Uncle?"
"Think about it, Billy. Right now, America's clashing with the British Empire and the German Empire over Venezuela."
And just then, the German Empire—right in the middle of the conflict—launches its cutting-edge new battleship?
And declares military action against Venezuela the moment it's launched?
'From America's perspective, that's bound to raise alarms.'
"Moreover, Your Majesty, rumors are rampant in America that Germany has designs on Venezuelan territory."
"Ha! That ridiculous nonsense is still floating around? We're just punishing Venezuela's insolence!"
'Who'd buy that?'
Americans didn't, and even the British—who were ostensibly on Germany's side—didn't.
Besides, no matter how much Wilhelm II fumed and denied it as slander, it was pointless.
The truth didn't matter here.
What mattered was that the narrative rang true to Americans, forcing the U.S. government—ever mindful of public opinion—to respond.
"This is a warning. A warning that America is serious about Venezuela and that we shouldn't try anything funny."
At the same time, it was a threat: if Britain and Germany kept pushing hard, America would intervene in the Venezuela affair.
And if that made Anglo-German military action hesitate, America could step in to mediate—sweet-talking or bullying Venezuela as needed.
That way, America saved face and boosted its international prestige.
A very Theodore Roosevelt move.
But what he hadn't anticipated was how much Wilhelm II hated anything bruising his pride.
"Those Yankees are making a fool of me and the German Empire...!"
Wilhelm II growled, grinding his teeth.
To Europeans at the time, America was still just a rich second-rate power.
And it was.
So when America acted like it was looking down on Germany, Wilhelm II couldn't help but get pissed.
"If those bastards fear the German Empire's new battleship that much, I'll make it real."
"Uh... Your Majesty?"
But what Wilhelm II said next caught not just Edward VII but even me off guard.
Billy, you don't mean...
"Friedrich der Große. I'm dispatching SMS Friedrich der Große to Venezuela."
"Pardon? Your Majesty, isn't it too soon for Friedrich der Große to commission?"
Warships aren't deployed on missions right after launching—that is, commissioning.
They first undergo trial voyages for months or even years to check for issues.
The original HMS Dreadnought had commissioned just 10 months after launch, but Friedrich der Große had only been launched 6 months ago.
This was too rushed.
"If you're set on sending a battleship, wouldn't it be better to send a different one instead of Friedrich der Große?"
I said carefully, but Wilhelm II—furious at America's hardline stance—wouldn't budge.
He even dropped another bombshell that floored me again.
"Nothing beats real combat for training. Venezuela's the perfect opponent, don't you think? Uncle, any objections from Britain?"
"None. Do as you like, Billy."
Edward VII muttered that it might be a chance to properly test the Dreadnought's performance and nodded readily to the Kaiser.
Ah, damn it.
Why was this spiraling like this?
'Britain was finally treating the Dreadnought dismissively.'
Now its value would be laid bare for all to see.
Not that we could hide it forever.
'Especially since Britain has Admiral Fisher, the true creator of the Dreadnought.'
Besides, design limitations aside, nations like Japan with its Satsuma-class or America with its South Carolina-class—potential first Dreadnoughts—would eventually develop their own even without Britain.
That was the tide of the era.
'Wait, flip it around... this could actually be a golden opportunity.'
Venezuela crisis, Dreadnought...
If I played these right, I might score a solid hit—or even a jackpot.
It'd help my plans immensely too.
With that in mind, I switched gears and told Wilhelm II:
"On second thought, from the standpoint of gaining experience and making a debut, dispatching Friedrich der Große to Venezuela sounds better than I expected, Your Majesty."
"Hmm?"
"Venezuela's navy isn't even worth calling a threat, and America isn't seriously planning to fight us anyway."
America might send a fleet just in case, but actual combat was unlikely.
Germany, Britain, and America—all talked tough but had no real desire for war.
"Hahaha! I knew you'd see it my way, Hans."
Wilhelm II beamed, pleased with my turnaround.
Whatever. The Kaiser's mood was the least of my concerns.
'Looks like I'll have to stick around Britain for a while.'
I'd have plenty to discuss with Edward VII when the time came.
Good or bad.
A short while later. German Kiel naval base.
"You're including Friedrich der Große in the Venezuela dispatch fleet?"
"Yes, Executive Officer."
"Commissioning already? Isn't this way too fast?"
Friedrich der Große had only been launched six months ago.
Not only commissioning now, but joining an expedition right away?
"Admiral Tirpitz or navy high command wouldn't issue such an order."
Friedrich der Große's performance during trials far exceeded the Imperial German Navy's initial estimates.
Thus, the navy's view of her was akin to Gollum's obsession with the One Ring—nothing like it.
In that atmosphere, high command suddenly deciding to send her to Venezuela?
It made no sense.
'Then...'
"Is this His Majesty's command?"
"It is."
Just as I thought.
The executive officer mulled it over gravely.
His orders read: "Dispatch to Venezuela expedition for combat training."
Of course, he and Friedrich der Große could feed the entire Venezuelan navy to Poseidon if needed.
The issue was the crew.
Though mostly seasoned veterans—befitting the attention—they weren't fully acclimated to the tech-laden latest battleship.
'We'd handle any mission, but...'
Voyages always carried unpredictable risks.
Frankly, he didn't want to take unnecessary ones.
"Orders are orders, though."
But he was a German noble who never fled before the enemy, a proud member of the Kaiserliche Marine.
No matter who issued them, he followed.
"I need to inform Captain Hoff right away. We'll be busy crossing the Atlantic."
Maximilian von Spee, appointed executive officer of the German Empire's new battleship SMS Friedrich der Große after fierce competition and jealous glares from peers, adjusted his cap as he issued the order.
It was time for battle.