The Australian Revolution of 1828

"Husband, you really look...unflattering in this outfit!"

"Madam, you mean he's handsome, right?"

"Yes, yes, yes, that's the word. I've heard you Xia people say it all the time, but I just couldn't remember it for a moment."

The man was about 30 years old and was wearing a Ming Dynasty official robe from the Xia Kingdom. He looked much more energetic and imposing.

Hearing his wife's praise, the man's smile unconsciously spread across his face, filled with pride.

Responding to his wife, he said, "Madam, I am now a legitimate official of the Xia Kingdom, a proper citizen of the Xia Kingdom, no longer a Lanfang citizen, and you are not allowed to make such a distinction anymore."

"Since the founding of our Xia Dynasty, the whole country has been changing its attire, and now it's finally our turn as officials from overseas."

"What do you think of the buzz cut I got yesterday?"

"Stand back a bit and see if you look more handsome than when you had a braid and a beard?"

The woman touched the man's freshly shaved stubble; it felt slightly prickly.

She walked a little further away before properly admiring the man's face, her smile barely concealed, and said, "Husband, you are indeed much more handsome and younger than before."

The man looked smug, looked in the mirror again, and said, "I do look much younger. Our Emperor's taste is definitely on point. He abolished the tradition of men wearing queues and beards."

"If we still follow the Qing Dynasty's traditions, it would be absolutely hideous. No wonder the red-haired devils called it a pig's tail!"

The story about pig tails has been around for a long time, it started with the red-haired devils anyway.

The woman also agreed with the term "pig's tail," saying, "It's really not good-looking to have a braid. It's better to cut it off. We should also change how we call the 'red-haired devil' from now on."

The man, however, did not think so, and said with great certainty, "This name is probably hard to change. It's been called 'Red-haired Devil' for many years, it's not so easy to change."

"However, when His Majesty embarks on his expedition to Batavia, he will surely teach those red-haired devils a lesson."

"These red-haired devils have no manners and are simply lawless."

Listening to her husband's nagging, the woman didn't know what to say. She could only try to soothe his anger, saying, "Alright, husband. This isn't settled yet. Go to work!"

"If you're late, the station will be waiting for you."

Feeling the woman's tender comfort, the man knew there were some things he shouldn't show. He gently pinched her cheek and said, "As you wish, madam, I'll go to work now!"

After speaking, the man strode out with his head held high, displaying an imposing and dignified demeanor.

Just as he stepped out of the room, he saw his younger sister quietly waiting at the door. A little embarrassed, she said, "Boling, when did you arrive?"

Tang Boling, clearly a little girl with a touch of shyness, blurted out as if possessed, "Brother, it's when you say 'handsome'!"

Facing his graceful younger sister, Tang Boqian liked to tease her, saying, "This little girl only knows how to eavesdrop on our private conversations."

"In two months, you'll be 18. It's time to get married!"

Although she lived in Southeast Asia and was exposed to many Western ideas, Tang Boling was ultimately a Han Chinese woman, retaining the shyness typical of women, and replied, "No, that's not true!"

Every time Tang Boqian saw his younger sister in such a shy state, he was very happy, but worried that she might be upset, so he didn't provoke her too much. He said, "Your sister-in-law is in her room. You can go in now. I'm leaving!"

Just as Tang Boqian was about to leave, Tang Boling remembered the purpose of his visit and called out to him, "Brother, Father wants to see you in the study. He has something to tell you."

Not knowing what Old Master Tang wanted to say, Tang Boqian still rushed over and asked, "Father, Boling said you wanted to talk to me about something!"

Mr. Tang, also known as Tang Yichen, was born on May 27, 1775, and is currently 53 years old.

Looking at his son in his Ming Dynasty official robes, Tang Yichen felt a strange sense of unease. He poured out his confusion and said, "Boqian, you're 32 years old this year."

"Logically, I shouldn't interfere with your choice, but is this choice really the right one?"

"We were born in Lanfang, but you chose the Xia Kingdom. What will become of the Tang family then!"

Tang Boqian had always known that Tang Yichen was against it, but he went ahead and became a citizen of the Xia Kingdom.

Tang Boqian strongly identifies with this identity;

Tang Boqian was very certain about this choice;

Tang Boqian remains steadfast in his commitment to this position.

Knowing he couldn't persuade Tang Yichen, Tang Boqian still insisted on his decision, saying, "Father, perhaps you don't know the situation of the Chinese, and you can pretend you don't know about Lanfang's situation."

"But I'm only 32 years old, I can't keep up the act."

"I can't bear to see Chinese people starving to death, dying of disease, or being beaten to death every day!"

"My pride drove me to make this choice, and the Han Chinese blood flowing in my veins determined my decision."

"If you insist that I make a choice, I will belong to the Xia Kingdom forever."

Tang Boqian’s unwavering belief gave him a steadfast responsibility that can never be erased.

Seeing his son's tears, Tang Yichen understood that it was not excitement or regret, but blood hatred, the hatred that the red-haired devil had etched into Tang Boqian's mind.

This hatred, if it weren't for the existence of the Xia Kingdom, might have slowly faded away, or it might have been lost with the passing of time.

However, the Xia Kingdom brought hope, which Tang Boqian could not afford to lose. Instead, it fueled his hatred, making him ready to take revenge at any moment.

Knowing he couldn't change his son's mind, Tang Yichen still tried his best. With a touch of sadness, he said, "Boqian, you are the only son in the Tang family. I can't bear the consequences."

Thinking back to seven years ago, in 1821, the Dutch marched north from the Machen region of Borneo and attacked the Lanfang territory. The Tang family was also plundered, and the younger brother Tang Bowen, Tang Boren, mother Tang, and younger sister Tang Boyi died.

The loss of his family members caused Tang Boqian immense distress.

Tang Boqian always remembered this blood feud, but Lanfang did nothing and let the wolf into the house, allowing the Dutch colonial army to occupy areas such as Sanfa and Pontianak.

In 1822, Liu Tai'er, the head of Lanfang Company, accepted the title of "Kaptan" from the Dutch, and the head office and deputy heads of various regions were granted the title of Kapitan.

The Lanfang Republic began to be governed by the Dutch East Indies government, lost its independent status, and became an autonomous republic.

In 1823, the Lanfang Company ceded all poll tax and half of the opium and other tax revenue rights to the East India Company, which then sent a 12-man army to garrison the Lanfang Company's capital, Dongwanlu.

From then on, the Grand General Manager of Lanfang and the heads of various regions were under the long-term control of the Netherlands, and completely lost the ability to resist the Netherlands.

Tang Boqian was unwilling, but he was powerless to do anything about it.

Until four years ago, when the Hanyang Governor's Office established the Pontianak Trading Station, Tang Boqian joined the station and became a staff member.

Three years later, on August 1st, the Xia Kingdom was established, and Tang Boqian officially became a citizen of the Xia Kingdom, becoming a legitimate citizen of the Xia Kingdom.

Today, Tang Boqian, as an official of the Xia Kingdom, wears the official robes of the Xia Kingdom and serves the Chinese in Southeast Asia.