The Australian Revolution of 1828

December 22, 1828, Hanyang Prefecture, Xia State.

A fast horse galloped from the port, approaching from afar. On horseback rode a soldier with a red flag tucked behind him, shouting repeatedly, "Victory news from Lanfang!"

Pedestrians on the city's main street heard the noise and ordered themselves to make way. Everyone knew the meaning of the red flag: it signified that the Xia Kingdom had won another victory.

Each victory brought in unmarried female laborers of marriageable age, giving hope to the men of Hanyang and to the city's development.

Once the messenger had passed, the workers who knew each other gathered together again, chatting about the impact of the war and their recent income.

Income directly impacts buying a house and getting married, and this is the topic that receives the most discussion.

Just like a man around 25 years old chatting about the recent situation, he said, "The Ministry of Military Affairs has placed a lot of orders recently, and the ordnance factory is really working non-stop."

"A few days ago, the factory paid out wages, and I, a junior technician, received a full 17 silver dollars! If I were a senior technician, my income would definitely be 30 silver dollars."

Skilled workers in each factory are divided into junior, intermediate, and senior levels according to their skill level, and their income is also determined according to their level.

A junior employee's salary was 8 silver dollars, and with overtime pay and other subsidies, it could usually reach 13 silver dollars.

For intermediate-level technicians, the starting salary was 15 silver dollars, and if they worked overtime to rush orders, they could earn more than 22 silver dollars.

As for senior technicians, such technicians are rare, especially in Hanyang. Their minimum salary is 25 silver dollars, and if orders increase due to the war, their income is generally above 35 silver dollars.

A junior technician in an ordnance factory could earn 17 silver dollars, which was basically earned through overtime work.

In Hanyang, this income would be considered middle-income compared to other skilled workers. Buying a house and getting married would be no problem at all.

The other two men in the group, who were not workers at the arsenal, were envious of this income, saying, "Our machine factory is much worse off; last month we only got 10 silver dollars."

"If you want to buy a house and get married, you'll have to take out a loan!"

The income disparity made the employees of the arsenal quite proud, but they didn't want to provoke their friends, so they said, "It's only because of the war that we have such high incomes."

"Once the fighting in Lanfang ends, I'm afraid he'll only be able to receive the lowest possible salary."

"As for your machine factory, there are rumors lately that you've successfully copied the British industrial steam engine and are about to start mass production!"

Industrial steam engines, also known as reciprocating steam engines, are the source of industrial power.

Previously, due to issues with materials and sealing, the power output could not meet the effective operating power requirements of industry, and imports were basically necessary to maintain the operation of various factories.

After years of imitation, the research and development was finally successful. This was undoubtedly a shot in the arm, injecting strong momentum into the Xia Kingdom.

The two machine shop technicians were quite pleased, finally having something to boast about, and said, "Yes, that's right. His Majesty has finalized the model and production standards, and mass production will begin next month."

The mass production of steam engines meant that the income of the two technicians would also increase.

The arsenal technicians finally found a reason and echoed the two, saying, "That's it. The demand for steam engines has always been high, and His Majesty attaches great importance to it."

"I overheard the workers chatting in the factory that the machine factory received a lot of funding, even more than the ordnance factory."

The funding was substantial, but it was all used for research and development, leaving workers' wages largely stagnant. He said helplessly, "Hopefully, we can expand production and increase salaries like your ordnance factory."

The three chatted as they walked, disappearing outside the city and heading to their respective factories.

At the same time, Han Qingyun also received Lan Fang's battle report.

The demise of Liu and Tai's forces did indeed present Xia with an optimal opportunity for annexation. However, the combined forces of England and the Netherlands, one in the north and one in the south, formed a pincer movement, preventing Han Qingyun from hastily undertaking an annexation.

After carefully reviewing Wei Guochang's battle report and analyzing the situation in Lanfang, Han Qingyun made his decision.

Currently, both Meng Xiong and Li Guochen are in Xunyang County, one in charge of naval warfare and the other in charge of land warfare. Neither of them is in Hanyang to provide military advice.

To address any shortcomings, Han Qingyun informed Luo Bingzhong, the Grand Secretary of the Civil Affairs Bureau, saying, "Bingzhong, this is the situation in Lanfang. We can't do without Chen Qi'en."

"But we can't just be doing all the work for someone else and get nothing in return. Do you have any objections?"

Luo Bingzhong, who was in charge of civil affairs, did not want to waste money and benefit Lanfang, so he said, "Your Majesty, I also support Wei Guochang's opinion to support Chen Qien to succeed as the head of Lanfang."

"But Chen Qi'en must also agree to our conditions, namely, that the poll tax and mining tax collected by the Dutch must be paid to us unconditionally!"

By driving out the Dutch, Xia Kingdom would inherit all of the Dutch's rights; this was the meaning Luo Bingzhong wanted to convey.

However, Han Qingyun was worried that the war in Lanfang might take a turn for the worse, and that this condition would force the people of Lanfang to side with the Dutch again. He said, "Bingzhong, this is only natural, but we must also consider the attitude of the Lanfang chieftain."

"We are doing this under the guise of punishing the Dutch lackeys. If we announce these conditions, Chen Qi'en and the other chieftains will probably hesitate."

"Once the war between the Netherlands and the Netherlands reaches a stalemate, I am worried that the people of Lanfang will cause trouble."

When faced with interests, the leaders of Lanfang didn't care whether someone was Chinese or not; as long as their interests weren't harmed, that was enough.

Lanfang's patron is Holland, so even if the exploitation is brutal, it's become a routine, and people can psychologically accept it. But if Xia Kingdom had the same conditions, it might not be so acceptable.

Luo Bingzhong understood this principle, but he was still somewhat unwilling and said, "Your Majesty, even if we cannot collect all the poll tax and mining tax, I believe that collecting half would be acceptable."

"This move can not only make up for the huge expenses, but also effectively control Lanfang's rapid accumulation of strength."

The annihilation of Liu Tai'er was not merely due to his allegiance to the Netherlands, but also served as a warning to others. During the Xia-Dutch War, Liu Tai'er's audacity in supporting the Netherlands was an unreasonable provocation against the Xia state.

Furthermore, Lanfang has a population of nearly 110 million, which plays a very important role for the Xia Kingdom.

Han Qingyun's original intention was to control Lanfang and then relocate Lanfang's population to Hanyang.

Now that Luo Bingzhong had his ideas, he also had a new thought and said, "Then let's do it your way. Send a letter to Wei Guochang to support Chen Qi'en in succeeding as Minister, but we must acknowledge that Xia Guo inherited half of the rights and interests of the Netherlands."

"At the same time, Liu Tai'er, who aided and abetted the wicked, is hereby ordered to be executed on the spot, and his residence to be confiscated, to deter petty villains in Lanfang!"

Being a good person will only lead to losses for the Lanfang faction. And without ruthless methods, it is impossible to suppress the Lanfang faction, especially during the period of conflict between Xia and He.

As the ruler of a country, Han Qingyun needed both the means to win people over and the means to intimidate them.

Chen Qi'en's succession as chief was an attempt to win him over. Liu Tai'er's execution and the confiscation of his property were a deterrent. It remains to be seen whether the headman of Lanfang can understand his own limitations and make the appropriate decision.