With the issuance of Ernst's order, ultimately it was the East African Defense Army that bore everything. The armored troops, originally decided to be experimented with before 1900, were delayed into the next century, which in reality meant three years later.

For the army, the delay of the armored troops did not have a significant impact because the East African Army and the armies of Europe and America inherently had no generational gap.

Of course, in terms of military scale, East Africa could not compare to the great powers of Europe and America. This mainly refers to the combined forces of the navy and army. Although the East African Defense Army was confident that it could fight ten American soldiers with just one of its own, the rapid expansion of the American Navy in recent years had widened the gap between it and the East African forces.

"Ernst, why has the naval funding been cut again? According to what was agreed upon initially, it's fine if the navy doesn't expand, but you can't reduce its funding either!"

Soon, Archduke Ferdinand, full of momentum, sought out his son-in-law for an explanation. After the South African War, the navy entered a slow development phase. Although the East African Navy was still among the top ten in the world, other nations weren't idle and were expanding their naval scale madly.

East Africa was already unconventional enough, and now the naval budget was to be reduced, which made Archduke Ferdinand restless.

"After the South African War ended in 1892, the British built the world's first battleship with a fully steel hull—the Royal Monarch. Now is a period of naval change; how can you cut funding from the navy! I think it's better to let the army contribute more. Forget that non-existent armored force; just weaken the number of rapid response troops as well."

This was the main reason for Ferdinand's impatience. The Royal Monarch, also known as the new generation of main battle ships developed by the British, had already emerged in 1892.

These levels of warships were famously known in the previous world as pre-dreadnought battleships, of course, corresponding to the later dreadnoughts and the even more frenzied super-dreadnoughts.

And naturally, the East African Navy followed suit with other countries, rushing to develop or import pre-dreadnought battleships to fill its national navy. Currently, the first pre-dreadnought of the East African Navy—the Sea Wolf—was more than halfway completed at the Bajamojo Shipyard.

As the leader of the East African Navy, Archduke Ferdinand naturally wanted to increase construction efforts on this basis, hoping to fully usher the East African Navy into the battleship era. However, Ernst's budget-cutting blow this time directly hit the navy.

"Father-in-law, please don't be anxious. I naturally understand what you just mentioned. Moreover, this budget reduction isn't specifically targeting the navy; the army is affected as well. As for your suggestion to reduce the army's mobility, that's impossible. The biggest feature of the army's mobile units is the use of automobiles to replace mules and other animal power, and currently, the development of East Africa's automobile industry is inseparable from military orders." Ernst reassured.

Indeed, while East Africa's civilian automobile production was not low, military orders were equally important. In the early development of the German automobile industry in the previous world, it largely depended on military support.

"The automobile industry is indeed important, but our navy's new naval ships are no less significant—actually, more important. After all, East Africa's main military pressure now comes from the sea. Didn't we just acquire Mindanao Island not long ago? Adding the North Hawaii Kingdom, as well as the coasts of Mozambique and Angola, the East African Navy's scale has long been insufficient, and you still want to cut its funding. This is simply unreasonable!" Ferdinand argued loudly.

Given the expansion of East African territories, the defensive pressure on the East African Navy was certainly significant. Yet, after the South African War, no country dared to provoke the East African lion on its doorstep, unless the British made a comeback. However, the British evidently did not want another South African War, considering only seven years had passed since that conflict.

Following the British are the rapidly expanding German and American navies, making it even more unlikely for them to focus solely on East Africa. Hence, not expanding the East African Navy's scale was actually a good thing.

After all, Germany and the United States were enough to give the British headaches. If East Africa intervened, it would only make the situation more chaotic.

Of course, as the main branch of the military, the navy naturally couldn't fall behind too much. Ernst said: "You're right. Currently, our controlled sea areas extend to the Pacific Ocean range, and with the current naval scale, we're indeed lacking in strength. So, the new shipbuilding plan for the navy naturally can't be delayed. By 1905, we should add four new battleships, which should be sufficient."

"Four ships are too few! We need at least seven to be sufficient; otherwise, our number of battleships won't even reach half of other countries'." Constantine said.

Ernst's actual expectation was to build two or three ships by 1905, which was already enough. However, East Africa wasn't a small country; two or three ships indeed seemed a bit meager. So he reluctantly raised the number to four.

As for the future, after 1906, if nothing else, the dreadnoughts would be introduced. We'd naturally focus on increasing the number of ships then.

Of course, Constantine wasn't aware of these plans. He just knew that pre-dreadnoughts were powerful enough at present, and the naval plans of other nations were too frenzied. Even Japan, a small island nation in East Asia, harbored ambitions. If East Africa were overtaken by this tiny nation in the future, it would be too embarrassing.

"Isn't the navy also currently expediting the deployment of the submarine forces? So, while battleships are useful, we also have other options. Anyway, in two or three years, when East Africa's financial situation improves, I'll surely prioritize funding for naval development." Ernst opted for a delay strategy. After all, East Africa's government expenditures were enormous right now. Once this period passed, naturally, the East African military would be freed from financial constraints.

"Submarines are like turtles underwater and don't have the presence or deterrence of battleships. Deterrence is crucially important for the navy of a great power." Ferdinand commented.

However, Ernst did not see it that way. Compared to the currently popular ironclad ships and battleships, submarines had enormous potential. Even by the 21st century, they remained an important deterrent force in the navy. This was the reason Ernst began investing in the development and research of East African submarines as early as the '70s.

Moreover, submarines were cheaper to build. This was a significant reason Ernst wanted the navy to temporarily rely on submarines. Although submarines were relatively expensive now due to technology and other factors, they were still cheaper compared to the money-devouring monsters that were battleships. The cost of one battleship equaled that of twenty to thirty submarines.

"Rest assured, Father-in-law. Once the current economic difficulties pass and the financial situation improves, the navy's opportunity will come. In the first decade of the 20th century, our East African Navy is certain to undergo a great expansion." Ernst gave Constantine a reassuring promise.

Of course, this reassurance was full of pitfalls since Ernst didn't specify a concrete timeline. If history proceeded without unforeseen events and the time of World War I remained unchanged, East Africa would certainly need to be prepared before 1914.

Thus, after 1905, both the East African army and navy needed to prepare because Ernst couldn't predict if the war would start earlier or be delayed. After all, the gunfire in Serbia might not occur due to historical interferences. Currently, that kid Rudolph is still alive and kicking!

The previously assassinated Crown Prince Ferdinand of the Austria-Hungary Empire didn't even have the chance to become the empire's crown prince now, so the future was full of uncertainties, and Ernst was dancing on a tightrope, aiming to maximize East Africa's interests.