Empire Rising: Spain - Chapter 279 - 173: Timid Portugal

In March 1875, after careful consideration, the Ministry of Defense finally decided to order an ironclad battleship named the Rejuvenation-class from the Royal Guanizuo Shipyard.

Yes, it is the latest model of ironclad battleship previously designed by the Royal Guanizuo Shipyard, and from the design data, it is absolutely world-class and even top-notch in terms of ironclad design.

The main issue was that the shipyard searched throughout America and Asia, but indeed could not find any customers to purchase warships.

With the economic crisis looming, there were even fewer willing buyers.

This ironclad battleship cost as much as 500,000 pounds, with a selling price between 550,000 and 600,000 pounds, which ordinary countries simply could not afford.

For the development of the Royal Guanizuo Shipyard, the Spanish Navy could only place the first order.

Of course, this was also the result of comprehensive consideration by the Defense Department.

If Spain could not afford the expenditure for warships, or if there was simply no need to build new ironclad battleships, the Ministry of Defense would not have placed this order.

The Royal Guanizuo Shipyard was naturally aware of the importance of this order.

Only by producing the finished Rejuvenation-class ironclad battleships and letting other countries see the power of this warship can foreign orders be attracted.

To ensure the government does not suffer too much loss, Carlo personally decided to offer a deduction of 50,000 pounds to the government under the premise of the internal price of 550,000 pounds, thereby selling the warship at cost.

Considering the current decline in steel prices, even though it is sold at cost, the shipyard still has a certain profit margin.

Further price reduction is a win-win for both the shipyard and the government. The shipyard gains experience in building ironclad battleships while winning the order, and the Spanish Government strengthens its naval power by acquiring an advanced ironclad battleship with lower funds, benefiting both sides.

500,000 pounds is equivalent to 13 million pessetas, which is not a big burden on the current Spanish financial capability.

Spain’s army has already been fully expanded, and army expenses will enter a relatively stable period. The Defense Department’s financial budget is more than enough to squeeze out 13 million pessetas to order a warship. For Spain, with vast colonies, this ironclad battleship can play a very important role in stabilizing the colonies.

Though continental powers like Germany and France are famous for their armies, Europeans place more importance on naval development.

A strong army does not necessarily make a country a major power, but a strong navy almost always does.

Even the somewhat backward Tsarist Russia places considerable importance on naval development, having three fleets during the World War period, with fleet command headquarters in the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and Far East.

Currently, Spain ranks as the world’s fifth-largest naval power, somewhat unworthy of the title. But if a new ironclad battleship joins the fleet, it can at least ensure the naval strength ranks among the world’s top eight.

A stronger navy is useful whether to protect the homeland’s coastlines or to suppress various colonies—a nation with a powerful navy qualifies to possess vast colonies.

According to the construction timeline given by the Royal Guanizuo Shipyard, this Rejuvenation-class ironclad named Rejuvenation will be launched by next summer.

Plus, with the lengthy sea trial period, the ship might officially be incorporated into naval service two and a half years later, around the middle of 1877.

As the construction and testing period of two and a half years still falls within the tenure of the previous Cabinet Government, it’s acceptable for the Ministry of Defense.

Once the news of Spain building a new ironclad battleship is released, it can also strengthen the public’s confidence in the government.

After all, for Europeans at this time, whether a country’s naval strength is powerful or not greatly affects the nation’s overall power.

The populace is happy to see the nation’s strength, underscored by this famous saying: “When mentioning the vast wealth of the British Empire, even Manchester’s lowest-tier textile workers proudly thrust out their chests.”

The stronger the nation, the stronger the people’s confidence in the nation and government. The stronger the people’s confidence in the nation and government, the stronger the nation becomes.

This is also the role that building a powerful ironclad battleship offers Spain—its potential benefits may be more attractive than its actual effect.

After all, though Spain’s colonies are not extensive in total area, they are scattered around the world.

Among all colonial countries globally, besides the United Kingdom, Spain is the only one that could be considered a “sun never sets” nation.

The so-called “sun never sets” means the sun never sets on their territory.

Britain’s colonies span the globe, besides the European mainland, it has colonies in North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, making it undoubtedly the colonial empire.

Though France also has many colonies, having become the world’s second-largest colonial empire surpassing Spain.

France’s colonies are mainly concentrated in Asia and Africa, with only a small portion in South America.

As for Spain, America has Cuba and Puerto Rico, Africa has Southern Morocco, Guinea, and Congo, Asia has the Philippines and Kalimantan, plus the European mainland and numerous islands and archipelagos spread across the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean, making it not unfitting to call it a “sun never sets” nation.