I, Emperor Chongzhen, have extended the life of the Ming Dynasty by five hundred years.

The fact that it can be mass-produced indicates that the leak has been going on for a long time.

The fact that the Chinese Academy of Sciences has now discovered that its manufacturing process is similar to that of the first-generation flintlock musket further suggests that the leak occurred very early on.

However, no one noticed at the time until counterfeit flintlock muskets appeared in North Korea, at which point it was discovered that they had already been widely deployed.

Although the materials and craftsmanship are far inferior to the genuine products from the Ming Dynasty, this thing wins in terms of concept. Although the quality is worse, its combat power should not be underestimated.

What is certain now is that the leak was of the technology, not that someone was directly reselling weapons.

But how did the Japanese devils get their hands on such highly confidential technology?

"Wang Banban, how much trade has there been between our Great Ming Dynasty and the Westerners in recent years?"

Wang Chengen hurriedly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, in recent years, the trade between our Great Ming and the Western countries has reached its highest level since the founding of the dynasty. Annam, Siam, Burma, and other countries import large quantities of silk, tea, porcelain, and other goods from our Great Ming every year. Even more gratifying is that the countries of Southeast Asia have begun to use Great Ming paper money, making trade increasingly convenient."

He paused, then continued, "However, because of this, Western merchants often mingled among them, taking the opportunity to purchase specialties of our Great Ming Dynasty and transport them back to Western countries."

Zhu Youjian frowned: "Were these Western merchants rigorously vetted?"

Wang Chengen quickly replied, "The Imperial Guard has been secretly conducting strict inspections. All foreign merchant ships entering the port undergo triple checks. The merchants' identities, cargo manifests, and accompanying personnel are all registered. In particular, those foreigners are the focus of our surveillance; we will absolutely not allow them to use trade as a pretext for espionage."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian frowned and fell into deep thought once again.

It seems that the person who leaked the information was not only extremely well-hidden, but must also hold a high position of power and have access to court secrets...

He suddenly looked up, his gaze sharp as lightning, and asked, "Have there been any missionaries visiting in recent years?"

Wang Chengen paused for a moment, then quickly replied, "Since Johann Adam Schall von Bell, no new missionaries have come, and Schall von Bell hasn't participated in church activities for a long time..."

"Your Majesty!"

At this moment, a young eunuch hurriedly entered.

Wang Chengen glared at him and said with displeasure, "Can't you see that His Majesty is discussing important matters? Get out!"

"But……"

The young eunuch hesitated for a moment, then mustered his courage and said, "Vice Minister Lin of the Ministry of Revenue requests an audience!"

Zhu Youjian asked, "Lin Risheng? Go tell him I have important business to attend to and ask him to come back another time!"

"yes!"

The young eunuch bowed his head and withdrew, but soon returned.

Wang Chengen, his face flushed with anger, said, "Don't you believe I'm deaf? Didn't you hear what the Emperor said?"

The young eunuch said with a bitter face, "I told him, but Minister Lin insists on seeing His Majesty, saying that he has intelligence brought back from Siam."

"Um?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian quickly said, "Let him in!"

"yes!"

The palace doors opened again, and Lin Risheng, the Vice Minister of Revenue, strode in, followed by a blond, blue-eyed, hook-nosed foreigner. The foreigner was dressed in Ming Dynasty attire, but his exotic features could not be concealed, drawing the attention of everyone in the hall.

"Your subject Lin Risheng pays his respects to Your Majesty!" Vice Minister Lin bowed respectfully. The foreigner behind him also knelt down and said in broken Chinese, "Your humble subject Lin Bangde pays his respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Youjian slightly raised his hand: "Rise. Minister Lin, what is the matter that is so urgent?"

After Lin Risheng stood up, he said solemnly, "Your Majesty, I have just returned from official business in Siam. While sorting through the cargo on the merchant ship, I inadvertently discovered something suspicious. I feel it is of great importance, so I have come to report it."

He gestured for the foreigner behind him to step forward and continued, "This is Lin Bangde, the ambassador I appointed to Siam, who has long been involved in overseas trade. It would be best if he personally reported the specifics to His Majesty."

Zhu Youjian turned his gaze to the peculiar foreigner: "Lin Bangde? What do you have to report?"

Lin Bangde bowed again, then said in broken Chinese, "Your Majesty, it's really nothing serious. I just obtained some books in Batavia, which I didn't think much of at first. But Lord Lin saw them and said they were of great importance, insisting on bringing me to see Your Majesty."

As he spoke, he took out an exquisitely bound book from his pocket and presented it with both hands.

Wang Chengen quickly stepped forward to take it, carefully examined it, and then presented it to the Emperor.

Zhu Youjian took the book and saw that the cover was prominently labeled "The New Western Calendar".

Song Yingxing couldn't help but lean forward, take a few glances, and suddenly exclaimed, "Your Majesty, isn't this the 'Chongzhen Calendar' compiled by Scholar Xu?"

Zhu Youjian frowned and asked, "What's going on?"

Song Yingxing quickly explained, "Your Majesty, Scholar Xu compiled the *Chongzhen Calendar*, which comprised 46 categories and 137 volumes. It not only included calendar calculations but also recorded the latest astronomical observations, geometric measurement methods, artillery firing tables, and ballistic calculations."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall paled.

Li Ruolian couldn't help but interject, "Could this book be the source of the leak?"

Song Yingxing shook his head and continued, "This book is only one of the 137 volumes. Moreover, the flintlock gun technology had nothing to do with this book after its completion. However, Scholar Xu died shortly after completing the Chongzhen Calendar. At that time, the Ming Dynasty was beset by internal and external troubles, and this calendar was kept sealed in the Imperial Observatory and never circulated outside. Why would it appear overseas?"

Zhu Youjian's face was so dark it seemed to drip water, and he asked in a deep voice, "Who assisted Xu Guangqi in compiling the book back then?"

Without hesitation, Song Yingxing replied, "Besides the officials from the Imperial Observatory, the main one is Johann Adam Schall von Bell, who is currently the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, in charge of firearms research and development."

"Then it all matches up!"

Zhu Youjian nodded emphatically, then looked at Lin Bangde: "Besides this book, what other discoveries have you made?"

Lin Bangde pondered carefully, then continued, "Your Majesty, when I was in Batavia, I heard that the Dutch ambassador, Johannes, was equipped with a batch of new firearms, very similar to the flintlock muskets of the Ming Dynasty. They are long spears that do not require a matchlock, and it is said that he organized their production himself."

Zhu Youjian's expression changed drastically, and he leaned forward slightly: "Where did he give birth? Was it in Siam?"

"Not Siam!"

Lin Bangde shook his head repeatedly, then said, "I heard it's in Surat, which is the Dutch East India Company's Asian headquarters. There's a large arsenal there that specializes in copying advanced firearms from various countries."

These words immediately caused an uproar in the hall.

Song Yingxing exclaimed, "I've only ever seen the name Surat on Zheng He's nautical charts! It's thousands of miles away from our Great Ming Dynasty!"

Li Ruolian gripped the sword at his waist and roared, "These barbarians have such audacity! Your Majesty, I request permission to lead troops to destroy this Su... Su..."

Zhu Youjian waved his hand to interrupt, then said, "Wang Banban, bring Johann Adam Schall von Bell before me. I want to ask him a few questions myself!"

"This old servant will take care of it immediately!"

Wang Chengen agreed and turned to call the agents of the Eastern Depot to go to the Ministry of Works to summon him.

After only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Johann Adam Schall von Bell, looking completely bewildered, followed the agents of the Eastern Depot to the Emperor's presence.

The man, with blond hair and blue eyes, dressed in the official robes of the Ming Dynasty, respectfully performed a standard kneeling bow: "Your subject, Johann Adam Schall von Bell, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Zhu Youjian's expression remained calm as he slowly spoke: "Three years ago, I ordered you to improve firearms. I wonder how the results are?"

Upon hearing this, Johann Adam Schall von Bell breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Your Majesty, I have been proceeding according to plan. The firing mechanism of the new cannon has been improved, and its range and accuracy have been significantly enhanced. However, there are still some issues to be resolved regarding the smelting process of the cannon barrel steel."

"Um!"

Zhu Youjian nodded and then asked, "Do you recognize this book?"

Before he finished speaking, Wang Chengen held the Western calendar in both hands and came to Johann Adam Schall von Bell.