"Before long, the Kingdom of Britain will have a pile of useless toys!"

Jerome Bonaparte’s confident response brought an unusual smile to Minister Dico’s face, who had become somewhat disheartened due to the reduction of warships.

"Your Majesty, are you saying Prince Albert has already accepted that warship (’Surt’ ship)!" Dico inquired with a slight tremble in his voice.

"Yes!" Jerome Bonaparte confirmed, "I can be sure that Albert has regarded the ’Surt’ ship as the correct path for the next step of naval development!"

Speaking at this point, Jerome Bonaparte’s tone became serious, "As long as the Kingdom of Britain’s Navy still considers the French Empire Navy as a potential enemy, then the ’Surt’ ship is a vessel they must confront!

Under the immense naval pressure of the French Empire, the Kingdom of Britain doesn’t have time to think; building a ship comparable to the ’Surt’ ship will become Britain’s top priority."

In the field of shipbuilding, the Kingdom of Britain is undoubtedly the dominant power.

Jerome Bonaparte believes that as long as the British Navy wants, they can quickly build several ironclad ships with double-layered gun decks like the ’Surt’ ship.

Guiding the Kingdom of Britain down the dead-end path of building "double-layered gun deck" ironclad ships is Jerome Bonaparte’s goal.

History proves that the future path for ironclad fleets is not to have more cannons but to focus on open-air rotating turrets, supplemented by rapid-fire guns.

Of course, Jerome Bonaparte does not hope to trap the Kingdom of Britain on this dead-end road forever.

After all, there are many insightful people in Britain.

Over time, Jerome Bonaparte’s deception will naturally be exposed.

With this in mind, Jerome Bonaparte crossed his hands over his legs, wearing an unusually serious expression, and said, "Minister Dico, we must strive to maintain the advantage of the French Navy during the time Britain falls into this trap!

Since we cannot win by quantity, we must focus on quality!

I believe under your construction, the French Navy will certainly surpass Britain in terms of quality!"

"Your Majesty... you... haven’t... given up... on the Navy!" Dico shivered as he asked Jerome Bonaparte.

"My minister, when did I ever say I was giving up the Imperial Navy!" Jerome Bonaparte asked Dico with a puzzled expression, "I’m merely reducing the quantity of the Imperial Navy, not abandoning naval development!"

"Your Majesty, rest assured! I will definitely beat the Kingdom of Britain in terms of quality!" Minister Dico stood up, resolutely promised Jerome Bonaparte.

"I believe in you!" Jerome Bonaparte also replied with a nod and a smile.

The conversation between the monarch and minister ended in laughter. Minister Dico bid farewell to Jerome Bonaparte, who personally escorted Dico out of the Tuileries Palace.

Watching the wind lantern hung at the rear of the carriage move farther and farther away, until it completely disappeared into the night, Jerome Bonaparte rubbed his temples and mumbled to himself, "Ah! Finally calmed down this stubborn minister!" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Stubborn minister? Who?" A heavily accented French voice came from behind Jerome Bonaparte, the speaker was Empress Augusta.

"Who else! Of course, our Minister of Navy Dico!" Jerome Bonaparte turned and complained to Augusta with resignation, "I really don’t know why a Minister of Navy can be so stubborn, I just said we shouldn’t compete militarily with Britain in naval matters for the time being, and he thought I was going to give up the Imperial Navy!

To be honest, I’m really afraid he might commit suicide in the Ministry of the Navy one day!"

At this point, Jerome Bonaparte shook his head to himself, "However, I can also understand Dico’s feelings!

The Imperial Navy has grown to this size entirely because he built it single-handedly!

Every ship has poured a lot of his blood and sweat, just like his children!

What parent has a reason to send away their children!"

Augusta quietly listened to Jerome Bonaparte’s lamentations.

When Jerome Bonaparte finished, Augusta finally spoke to comfort, "Dico has his difficulties, and Your Majesty also has yours!"

"Indeed! I’m not Dico, I can’t only care about the Navy!" Jerome Bonaparte said emotionally, "The security of the Empire rests on whether the European Continent can maintain a relative balance; France is not yet prepared to let Europe fall out of balance!

In order not to let the balance of Europe completely tip over into imbalance, we must give up some interests!"

"Hmm!" Augusta empathetically nodded in agreement.

Afterward, Augusta and Jerome Bonaparte walked hand in hand back to the Tuileries Palace.

...

Meanwhile, in the Elysee Palace, located at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées, a meeting concerning the future development of a kingdom was also underway.

The participants were Prince Albert, the United Kingdom’s (First) Minister of the Navy Sir John Pakington, and Queen Victoria, who was responsible for adding atmosphere.

Albert first informed John Pakington of the number of ironclads he saw at Toulon Port, then told him the data about the ’Surt’ ironclad he heard from a French junior officer.

Upon hearing the data of the ’Surt’ ironclad, John Pakington immediately displayed a solemn expression.

After a brief thought, John Pakington slowly spoke, "Your Highness! If the data you heard from the junior officer is accurate, then the Kingdom of Britain is indeed far behind France in this field!

All our ships to date seem unable to effectively counter that giant entity.

If the Emperor wants to invade, with his fleet at hand, it also seems like something not impossible to accomplish."

"Mr. Pakington, that’s precisely what I’m worried about!" Albert lowered his voice and said to John Pakington, "Although the current France wants to gain our trust by reducing its fleet, I still don’t want to believe them.

Britain’s maritime safety should not be built on the enemy’s friendliness."

"Your Highness, you are right!" John Pakington echoed, "France inherently is a nation prone to aggression!

I have reason to believe that France’s show of weakness this time is merely for its next attack.

We must firmly hold the trident in our hands; only by doing so can we prevent erosion of our homeland while curbing this giant beast!

In summary, Britain needs more powerful warships than the ’Surt’!"

"You’ve said precisely what I intended to express!" Albert sincerely said to John Pakington, "I hope that after you return to Britain, you can use your exceptional eloquence and keen thinking to persuade the stubborn parliament!

However, rest assured, we will also provide you with certain assistance at the appropriate time!"

Albert paused, turned to look at Queen Victoria sitting on the red velvet sofa, "Isn’t that right! Victoria!"

"Hmm! Hmm!" Victoria echoed.

With the guarantee from Victoria and Albert, John Pakington was full of confidence; he immediately expressed to Albert and Victoria that he would do his utmost to serve the Kingdom of Britain, for Queen Victoria.