Long live Joachim

Chapter 126: Three Times of Confrontation At the height of floating clouds, the largest aircraft in history, the Zeppelin airship, flew at a faster speed than most birds. This type of rigid airship adopts a wooden or aluminum frame, covered with fabric skin, and equipped with several large airbags, usually filled with hydrogen gas. One or two pods are hung below the hull to carry personnel and supplies. In just over a decade since its invention, the Zeppelin airship has entered the practical stage. Not only in Germany, but also in many countries and regions around Europe and the world, people can see this colossal creature resembling a prehistoric beast slowly flying through the air. In the eyes of ordinary people, this airship seems to be just an enhanced and improved version of a hot air balloon, unaware that its technological content is more than an order of magnitude higher than that of a hot air balloon. By 1914, the largest and best airship had a length of 163 meters, a diameter of 18 meters, a capacity of 33000 cubic meters, an effective load of over ten tons, equipped with four gasoline engines with propeller blades, and a maximum speed of 140 kilometers per hour in windless conditions. It was an industrial machine with great potential for military warfare! For over a decade, the airships that people have seen have been growing bigger and bigger, and the relatively inconspicuous pods under the hull have quietly "evolved": at first, airship pods were basket shaped or boat shaped, with limited space and outdoor ventilation. The pods and engines were placed together, and the working environment was very harsh. However, after continuous improvement, the latest Zeppelin airships have integrated pods with the hull, and the thin tempered glass not only blocks cold winds and rain, but also blocks the mechanical noise emitted by external engines. In such a clear and peaceful airship pod, Xia Shu was half lying on a leather seat, holding "Gone with the Wind" in one hand and a simple steel cup in the other, with a leisurely and comfortable posture. At this time, it was already February 1914, and the major powers were openly and covertly preparing their armies for war. The mutual balance between the Allied and Allied powers made the situation in Europe generally stable, while the biggest destabilizing factor still came from the Balkans - the corrupt Ottoman Empire actively reorganized its army with the help of the Germans and made significant progress under the careful guidance of the German advisory team led by General von Sanders. The desire to regain lost territory was increasing day by day. At the same time, relying on the victories in the two Balkan Wars, Serbia's national strength grew stronger and it received support from Russia. Its ambition and motivation to establish the "Greater Yugoslavia" became increasingly strong, which directly threatened the stability of the Austro Hungarian Empire. Once Serbia became Greater Yugoslavia, a large number of Slavs within the Austro Hungarian Empire were likely to launch a separatist movement, which would put the Austro Hungarian Empire in a terrible situation of being surrounded by enemies from both sides. Therefore, starting from 1912, the number one hypothetical enemy of the Austro Hungarian General Staff changed from Tsarist Russia to Serbia, who also regarded the Austro Hungarian Empire, which forcibly annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908, as their number one enemy. The conflict between the two sharply intensified. Serbia, which has relatively weaker strength, not only actively expanded its military, but also condoned or even secretly supported various radical groups to confront and weaken the Austro Hungarian Empire through assassination and other means. After more than 6 hours of flight,LZ-39，This Zeppelin, which is nominally owned by Draeger Keesment Airlines, has arrived in Ireland for the 11th time - Xia Shu is the third time in his life to visit this "Emerald Green Island". Due to Charlotte's relationship, he has often dreamed of this land covered in wildflowers recently. Therefore, when its outline and colors are truly presented in front of him, Xia Shu puts down his book and cup and stares at the scenery outside the cabin for a long time. The towns that have not been polluted by industry seem to be mottled natural growth on the earth, without any sense of disharmony. The slender roads are like meridians on leaves, flowing back and forth, winding and communicating, without causing panic disorder patients. Soon, Dublin, the millennium capital of Ireland, a quaint and picturesque countryside city, appeared beneath the airship. Under the skilled control of German drivers, the LZ-39 equipped with multiple advanced technologies smoothly descended and then, like a ship docked, was moored to a more than 20 meter high aviation tower through ropes. The staff waiting here quickly set up a gangway between the tower top platform and the airship pod. Despite the huge airship drifting uncontrollably in the wind, Xia Shu did not feel like performing acrobatics when walking over the three meter long gangway. Of course, the technology of Zeppelin airships has not yet developed to the point of ignoring the influence of weather. If the wind exceeds level 6, the airship cannot dock smoothly. If it exceeds level 8, they must stay in the airship warehouse, otherwise there is a risk of damage at any time. The airship set sail directly from Germany, and the Draig Kaisemant Airlines was under the actual control of the Germans. Xia Shu did not bring a follower, and the car that would transport him to Limerick was waiting under the aviation tower. However, before he got into the car and left, two uniformed British officials blocked his way. Xia Shu looked around and saw that one was a British captain and the other was a customs inspector. The former wears a gun around their waist, while the latter is empty handed. There are two cars and a truck parked not far away, with no obvious signs on their appearance, but the drivers of both cars are wearing uniforms. Two soldiers are sitting in the driver's cab of the truck, and the carriage is covered with canvas. It is estimated that there is a team of soldiers waiting for orders at any time inside. Hello, sir. According to the laws of our country, we need to verify your identity and conduct necessary item inspections. Please understand and cooperate, "said the slightly overweight customs inspector politely in English and then in German Before Xia Shu could speak, the person who came to greet him hurriedly stepped forward and explained, "This is a royal guest from Germany who has applied for a special pass from the defense and customs departments. According to regulations, there is no need to undergo inspection The customs inspector still spoke politely and said, "Nevertheless, we still need to verify the identity of the personnel. In addition, we have just received orders that someone has identified dangerous explosives on this airship, so we are sorry, we must conduct necessary inspections The person in charge planned to continue arguing, but Xia Shu stopped him and said, "It's okay, this inspector is just a routine matter After speaking, Xia Shu took out his passport, special pass, and the book "Gone with the Wind" from his coat pocket. Under the cold gaze of the British captain, the customs inspector carefully checked the documents and flipped through the 90% new book several times. Do you still need a body search? "Xia Shu asked proactively. When he said this, he proudly straightened his chest, raised his chin, and looked down at the other person. Not only did the people who came to greet them, but the staff inside and outside the aviation tower also looked at this side with strange eyes. The customs inspector shrank his neck and said, "Your esteemed Prince Joachim, at the end of your duties, may I trouble you to take off your coat Xia Shu looked around and saw no familiar faces except for those on his side, but he knew that someone he knew must have intentionally made this arrangement. According to common sense, this request is a shame that the high-ranking members of the royal family cannot accept. However, people saw Xia Shu take off his windbreaker jacket as usual, with a clean and neat white shirt paired with black shoulder pants, showing his youthful and simple temperament. Xia Shu handed the windbreaker coat to the customs inspector and said fluently in English, "If you take a photo of me and your Excellency now and publish it in the newspaper, I wonder if it will cause a sensation in public opinion, and how should friends from all over the world evaluate this strange matter After all, the British customs inspector didn't dare to reach out to pick up Xia Shu's windbreaker and coat. He looked at the British captain next to him and said with a troubled expression, "Alright, Prince Joachim... Your Highness, thank you very much for your cooperation. Welcome to Ireland. We will inspect the other personnel on the airship later to ensure your reputation and personal safety Oh, then I should be extremely grateful for your work, right? "Xia Shu sneered coldly. The customs inspector smiled bitterly and cleared the way, while the British captain next to him still looked straight at Xia Shu coldly. However, he remained silent and did not make any obstruction until Xia Shu put on his clothes and got into the car. In a car slightly away, a British general with white beard hair stared intently at what was happening under the aviation tower. As the car carrying the protagonist of the incident left, his expression changed from icy winter to dark clouds. After a while, the British captain, who was inspecting with the customs inspector, came alone to report the detailed process just now. After listening to the report, the white haired British general snorted coldly, waved his hand to signal the captain to retreat, and then instructed the driver, "Go back to Limerick The journey from Dublin to Limerick is 96 miles, approximately 154 kilometers, and can be reached in just over an hour at the speed of an airship. Due to the lack of approval from the Irish authorities for the application of Draeger Keesment Airlines to open this east-west route across Ireland, people can still only travel between these two cities using traditional transportation. At the same year's French International Grand Prix, Mercedes Benz completed the 752. 6 kilometer race at an average speed of 105 kilometers per hour, which means that the car technology at that time had reached a high level. However, due to road conditions, even the best cars could only travel on rugged rural roads at speeds of 40-50 kilometers per hour or even slower. After nearly three hours of turbulence, Xia Shu once again saw the square spire of Limerick Church. The biggest advantage of arranging the itinerary in this way is that it saves time, shortening the entire journey by at least 18 hours compared to taking a speedboat. For the idle nobles and nobles, 18 hours was nothing more than watching four or five plays, playing a few rounds of bridge, or fishing twice. However, in 1914, the vast majority of German officers were busy, and Xia Shu, who also served as the head of the Technical Department of the Naval Staff and the Director of Naval Shipbuilding, was undoubtedly the busiest among the busy German officers. All four King class battleships have completed their hull construction work and are currently undergoing intense outfitting work. Xia Shu is not only responsible for coordinating their construction progress and quality, but also must keep up with the development of technology, selecting and assembling the latest and best facilities and equipment for them;Four Bavarian class battleships have already started construction, and the research and development of Krupp's 15 inch naval gun has entered the final sprint stage. At the same time, Krupp's arsenal is also responsible for developing a new type of siege heavy gun for the army. In order to ensure the overall construction progress of the Bavarian class, efforts are being made to complete them all by 1916. Xia Shu uses his position as a member of the royal family to coordinate multiple aspects and is often busy. In addition to his job, Xia Shu often accompanies Emperor Wilhelm II or Navy Chief Tirpitz to observe the naval staff's war game simulations and tactical debates. With the commissioning of a total of 13 dreadnoughts in the Nassau, Helgoland, and Kaiser classes, the new all heavy artillery battleships proudly replaced the old battleships as the core force of the Second German Imperial Navy. Training, exercises, and tactical preparations must obviously keep up with this change. Senior generals and senior staff officers are unwilling to fall behind, and young officers also attach great importance to this opportunity to make a name for themselves. Therefore, whether in the process of tactical deduction or in naval academic newspapers and magazines, discussions and debates are everywhere. From a development perspective, this is certainly a good phenomenon where the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. However, as war approaches, it is highly beneficial for frontline officers and soldiers to grasp, apply, and utilize tactical systems earlier. In the German Navy, no one knows the design intentions and technical characteristics of dreadnoughts and battlecruisers at all levels better than Xia Shu, and no one can learn from historical lessons in advance like him. After observing for a period of time, Xia Shu combined his wisdom and hard work to refine the most suitable tactical ideas for the German Navy, supplemented by his eloquence and exquisite writing skills. He repeatedly impressed his new and old colleagues, especially among the more receptive young officers, and won an excellent reputation. Turning his gaze back to Limerick, Xia Shu arrived at this Irish port in the form of a member of the German royal family, and of course, what he did publicly could not be flirting with is to attend the free donation ceremony of medical supplies and equipment as a special envoy of the Swiss Red Cross International Committee, and the other is to participate in the opening ceremony of the Limerick Rowing School as an honorary member of the International Rowing Federation. Both of these are good deeds that benefit the local people. In recent years, anti German sentiment has risen among the British public. Due to the historical grievances between Ireland and Britain, many Irish people not only do not hate Germans, but also hope that they can bring new opportunities for Ireland's independence. Therefore, in Limerick, Xia Shu quickly won the favor of the people with his actions. Taking advantage of the few opportunities, he gave a speech in the awkward Irish language, implying his sympathy and support for the great cause of Irish people fighting for freedom and independence. The phrase 'the brave respect the brave' appeared on the pages of several Irish newspapers within a day, but then disappeared due to official bans, and power can never control people's inner thoughts. On the the fourth day of the Limerick event, Xia Shu publicly attended the entrepreneur dinner hosted by Sir Casement, and some German businessmen and Irish local entrepreneurs who invested and operated in Ireland were invited to attend. The dinner party had just begun when the British Admiral, Duke Hill, who held the position of military governor of Munster, came uninvited. He was dressed in white and, accompanied by two armed officers, strode up to the Prince of Prussia with a cold and stern expression, saying: The British government has always only prevented those who are 'unwelcome' from entering the country, and you are currently not among them. However, if you continue to deliberately disrupt the stability of Ireland and incite radical elements, we cannot rule out the possibility of forcing you to leave the country. For a member of the royal family like you, this treatment will probably be a lifelong shame that cannot be erased The Duke spoke 'Your Excellency' one by one, as if lowering the corresponding treatment of Xia Shu's identity by one level. From the gaze of the other party, Xia Shu could clearly feel the anger that had been lingering for a long time. In fact, before he met Charlotte, the situation did not develop in a good direction during his first meeting with Duke Hill. Some people are born to be opponents. Xia Shu deliberately responded with a gentle and refined attitude, saying, "If I understand correctly, there is no provision in British law that prohibits foreigners from donating medical and daily necessities to the public, setting up technical schools, or restricting foreigners from making good faith statements in public. So, may I ask Your Excellency the Duke to inform me which law and regulation I have violated Having become an archenemy, the Duke was not surprised by Xia Shu's eloquent rebuttal. He snorted coldly, "Your Excellency has always acted cleverly, and of course, you will not easily leave any evidence. Therefore, I am only here to remind you, not to use coercive means Xia Shu originally intended to sneer and mock, but thinking that the person in front of him was Charlotte's biological grandfather after all, he smiled with a tolerant heart. Duke Hill didn't appreciate it, he scanned the people around him with a cold and icy gaze, then turned around and left. After his disturbance, the atmosphere of the dinner party was completely gone. Xia Shu walked up to Sir Keith Gate, whose face was full of helplessness, and loudly said to the guests present, "I'm sorry, everyone, for ruining everyone's kindness because of me. It should be noted that there are indeed some personal differences between me and the Duke of Hill, which have nothing to do with the political positions of England and Germany Saying it is vague and ambiguous, those who know will understand, while those who do not know are meaningless. On the same night, a similarly sized banquet was also held at Buckingham Palace in London, but of course, the level of identity of the attendees was not comparable to that of small and medium-sized enterprises. During the banquet, the stern faced Navy Secretary Winston Churchill leaned against the spirited King George V, and their whispered conversation revolved around a strange code name,Shipofthe Line“T”。 The conversation didn't last long, and George V's expression changed from sunny to gloomy. Churchill spoke quickly, sometimes shaking his head and sometimes nodding, which made others curious. Finally, George V instructed, "It is necessary to clarify the exact situation as soon as possible, just like mastering the recipe of a dish, which includes ingredients, heat, and seasoning Churchill then said, "There happens to be an absolute key figure in England, and as long as His Majesty agrees, I will arrange for action to safeguard the most essential secrets they have obtained from him George V pondered for a moment and asked, 'Is it him?' It's him, "Churchill replied," right in Ireland, Limerick, where the Duke of Hill holds office George V frowned and said, "No wonder If Your Majesty does not object, I will take responsibility for this matter and assume all responsibility. "The spirit of adventure is evident in the middle-aged Churchill. George V hesitated, however. This is an opportunity that cannot be sought after, "Churchill advised." Our overall technological advantage over the German Navy is already very weak, and they may have surpassed us in many key technological fields. This person is the key to determining the situation. If we can find a breakthrough from him, we will widen the gap again, and we are more likely to achieve peace in the next decade George V looked at Churchill with surprised eyes and said, 'This despicable and despicable act... has Britain really reached the point where it must be done?' Churchill replied, "When it comes to the lives of the British fleet and thousands of naval officers and soldiers, there is no need to be bound by formalities. Once on the battlefield, our enemies may not necessarily speak of chivalry George V remained silent.