Chapter 13

Although he did not know what William II was up to, from his tone, it did not seem to be a bad thing. Qing Ying hung his small windbreaker back on the hanger and turned to walk up to William II.

"Father, is there anything else you need?" Qing Ying met William II's eyes and asked.

William II looked at the child before him, his eyes revealing a complex expression—hesitation, confusion, embarrassment, and relief... After a while, he finally spoke in a low voice, "Eitel, thank you."

Qing Ying was greatly surprised. Could it be that William II had already seen through something? His face turned pale, and he forced a laugh, "Father, what are you talking about? I don't understand at all."

William II noticed Qing Ying's expression and said with a chuckle, "That day, when I handed this design to Schliegel for review, you were right beside me. How could you not recognize the warship I designed? The only reason you acted that way was to avoid Alfred's resentment, fearing he would use his position as a teacher to make things difficult for you in the future. Actually, you don't need to do that; Alfred is a broad-minded person and wouldn't hold a grudge over such a small matter!"

Ah? So William II hadn't figured out that he was from another time! Thinking this, Qing Ying felt much more at ease, and his expression softened. He pondered over William II's words and suddenly realized that in Eitel's memory, he had indeed witnessed the birth of the "lead duck," but this memory was buried in his subconscious, and Qing Ying had never recalled it before!

Well, this was a mistake on my part, but I didn't expect you to fill in so many gaps... Qing Ying was slightly taken aback but had no intention of correcting William II. Doing so would be both exhausting and unnecessary. Since William II's assumption was not only harmless but beneficial, why not go along with it?

Seeing Qing Ying's expression gradually return to normal, William II thought his words had enlightened Qing Ying. He smiled and continued, "Schliegel, that old fool, dismissed the feasibility of the warship I designed after just a glance. I spent nearly half a month on it and was not willing to give up so easily. So, I pretended to be calm and, after he left, sought opinions from several other designers. Ha, these guys are as timid as mice when it comes to warship design; they are used to solving problems with tonnage. When they saw me fitting 8 120mm guns on a 2650-ton ship, they were scared out of their wits. After some discussion, they even called it a 'lead duck,' worse than Schliegel!"

"When I saw my hard work being so belittled, I was both embarrassed and furious. Although I love the navy, I am only a beginner in ship design. I couldn't do much against these people. At that moment, you were also there, covering your mouth and laughing. I was in a terrible mood and couldn't help but find a reason to scold you harshly."

As William II spoke, scenes from Eitel's memory flashed through Qing Ying's mind. The messy desk, scattered documents, and angry roars... and a child crying and sobbing. Recalling his own past, when he was often used as a scapegoat by heartless teachers, Qing Ying felt a deep connection and was overwhelmed with emotion, unable to speak.

William II suddenly sighed deeply and said softly, "A knight's loyalty remains steadfast even in the face of a lord's anger, which is seen as a favor. Judas' betrayal, even with Jesus' love, cannot change his evil heart. Those people, who live off my salary, mocked my design as an afternoon joke, spreading it far and wide, tarnishing my reputation. But you, after being scolded by me, had no resentment and even bought the 'Jane's Fighting Ships' before leaving the hospital, searching for similar warships to help me save face. Even when I had given up, you continued to seek answers from history. To have a son like you, I am truly fortunate!"

Qing Ying was stunned. His original intention for buying the magazine was to catch up on the naval knowledge of this era and to use it as a shield if he said something out of place. He had never thought about helping William II clear his name or searching for objective evidence of the "lead duck"!

But since William II had said so much, Qing Ying could only continue along this line of thought. He avoided William II's gaze and said insincerely, "Eitel didn't think much about it. I just knew that as a son, I couldn't let my father be mocked by others, so I did it."

"As a son, you can't let your father be mocked... Ha, well said, well said. This seems simple, but how many people truly understand it?" William II laughed, his face showing clear relief, "I see, you have grown up a lot."

Qing Ying felt a chill and then answered subtly, "A few days ago, Eitel truly experienced the feeling of death. After waking up, I realized how shameful my past actions were. As a son and a subject, I have not fulfilled my duties. Now, I just want to do something to make up for my past mistakes."

William II laughed heartily and did not say more. He patted Qing Ying's head and said, "You found similar examples in the 'Jane's Fighting Ships' to clear my name, allowing me to regain my dignity before my subjects. This is a great deed. Additionally, you discovered the weak firepower and wasted tonnage of the German navy, which is extremely beneficial to the country! Therefore, you can ask for three requests from me. As long as they are not too excessive, I will grant them. These three requests are my thanks to you as a father, an emperor, and a nation!"

Qing Ying was startled and looked up to see William II smiling at him, his distinctive mustache curling up. After a brief moment of shock, Qing Ying began to think rapidly. William II did not urge him and simply watched his most handsome son, his coffee cup gently swaying in his hand.

"Dear, I must say, your fondness for Eitel is not without reason..."

The clock ticked, the fire flickered, and a night breeze brought the coolness of winter.

The events of this night were far beyond Qing Ying's expectations. First, the discovery of the redundancy in German warship tonnage, then the resolution of the "lead duck" incident, which triggered a series of butterfly effects. The naval design bureau would experience a 12-level earthquake, and all large warship designs would be halted. As the instigator, Qing Ying received three personal promises from William II. The sudden happiness was almost overwhelming, and after careful thought, he finally made some decisions.

First, aiding the Qing Dynasty was necessary. Although Qing Ying despised the corrupt and traitorous Qing government, they were still the rulers of China and, to some extent, represented the interests of the Han people. From a national perspective, he had to help the old witch through this crisis. Second, to ensure that German warship design could break free from the shadows of the past, establishing a new shipyard to lead the trend was essential. With this in mind, Qing Ying lifted his head, his gaze intense.

Sensing the change in the person before him, William II chuckled, "Have you made up your mind? I must warn you, if I find your request particularly inappropriate, it will be considered invalid." Qing Ying nodded and expressed his ambition, "My first request is to go on a world tour. Is that not too much to ask?"

William II looked at his second son with surprise and a hint of admiration, "To propose such a request is truly unexpected. As a young man, it's good to go out and see the world. As a father, I grant you this first request." Seeing Qing Ying's joy, William II smiled slyly and said, "However, a world tour is not a quick affair. What about your studies during this time? If you can complete 10 months of coursework in the next 5 months, I will allow you to travel for half a year!"

Calculating, Qing Ying realized that the First Sino-Japanese War would break out in 9 months, leaving 6 months for the journey. With his knowledge from the future, completing elementary school coursework was no problem. With this in mind, Qing Ying nodded firmly and continued, "My second request is to own a shipyard, preferably one capable of designing and building warships over 4000 tons!"

Upon hearing this, William II was taken aback, his blue eyes nearly popping out, "What did you say? A shipyard? And one capable of building 4000-ton warships? God, Eitel, what would a child like you do with such a thing?"

"Mr. Tirpitz, you are generous and won't mind helping me carry this burden. Amen." Qing Ying silently confessed, his face showing embarrassment, "Colonel Alfred told me that the German Empire has a huge demand for maritime shipping, but the current merchant fleet is quite small. In the next few decades, shipbuilding will be the most profitable and in-demand industry. He said that if I had a shipyard, I could become extremely wealthy in no time."

William II nodded, "That's true. Alfred is right. Not only will the empire develop maritime trade, but shipyard owners will not go out of business as long as they don't dissolve their shipyards. However..." Looking at his son, who was now focused on wealth, William II said with a sigh, "Even if you want to build ships for profit, why do you need to build warships over 4000 tons? You must know that military standards are much higher than civilian ones. Without a few strong designers and a highly skilled workforce, you won't get any military contracts!"

"Um... While reading those British magazines, I suddenly became fascinated with warships. I always dream of building a fleet to compete for the oceans for Germany! As for designers and workers, others might not be able to help, but you certainly can!" Qing Ying said.

After the "lead duck" incident was cleared, William II was in a good mood and, surprisingly, did not say no to Qing Ying's unusual request. He looked at Qing Ying from head to toe, as if discovering something interesting, "Alright, Germany does need more shipyards! Since you want one, I will invest in building a shipyard in Neuhagen, near Rostock, with the scale and capabilities you mentioned. However, construction will take about 2 years, so it will be some time before you make your first fortune." As the emperor, building a small shipyard was no big deal for William II, especially with his personal wealth of over 2 billion marks. Moreover, this was a surefire investment.

Having obtained what he wanted, Qing Ying decided to stop while ahead. Since he had no more immediate desires, he would leave himself a backup plan. With this in mind, he said, "As for the third request, I haven't decided yet. I'll let you know when I do."

William II was taken aback, then his eyes sparkled. The child before him had already given him enough surprises today, and he nodded in agreement to the delayed third request. He stood up, took the windbreaker from the hanger, and, to Qing Ying's surprise, draped it over his shoulders. He fastened the buttons and smiled warmly, as a father would.

"It's getting late. I'll see you back to your room."

This chapter is 4000 words. I originally planned to split it, but I decided to post it all at once. I hope you enjoy it. Please click, recommend, and collect!

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