 Britain was unwilling to sell China warships of this size for fear of offending the Russian Empire, despite having sold Japan similar vessels, so Li turned to German shipyards.The German "Kaiserliche Marine" (Imperial Navy) was completing the four s, and offered to sell China ships built to a modified design.Li wanted to buy up to 12 large ironclads, but tight finances prevented an order of three ships, of which the was reduced in size to that of a protected cruiser.