The Australian Revolution of 1828

Chapter 94 Implementation Clauses

February 10, 1829, the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, Hanyang naval port.

After several days of negotiations, and thanks to the dedication of Luo Bingzhong, Li Guochen, Meng Xiong, and others, all the relevant clauses in the Armistice Agreement have been implemented.

Xia not only acquired nearly 60 square kilometers of land in Lanfang and Kunding, but also forced the Netherlands to cede half of its rights and transfer part of the poll tax and mining tax to the Lanfang trading station.

Excluding profits from trade, supplies, and commerce, the Lanfang trading post could earn approximately 15 taels of gold annually from taxes alone (mining tax and poll tax), equivalent to about 360 million silver dollars.

The annual revenue of 360 million silver dollars accounted for about 11% of the Xia Kingdom's total revenue in 1828, demonstrating just how substantial the profits from the war were.

Returning home with such a windfall, Han Qingyun received them with high honors, personally going to the port and bestowing great honors upon Luo Bingzhong, Li Guochen, and Meng Xiong.

Upon seeing the warship carrying the three men in the distance, Han Qingyun signaled to the military band to prepare. As soon as the warship docked, the band would play triumphant music to welcome the naval fleet home victoriously.

About half an hour later, the naval fleet ships arrived at the port one after another. Under the guidance of the personnel at the naval base, the flagship at the head of the fleet successfully docked.

Then the military band began to play music to welcome the main commanders ashore. Leading the group was Luo Bingzhong, followed by Meng Xiong, Li Guochen, and Navy Commander He Zhibang, among others.

With a broad smile, Han Qingyun personally went to greet them and congratulated the heroes of the battle, saying, "You have returned to the court victorious; I share in your glory."

"You are all meritorious contributors, and tonight we will celebrate your achievements."

Luo Bingzhong, as the Grand Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the chief representative in this negotiation, had made some contributions. He humbly responded to Han Qingyun, saying, "Your Majesty, this battle was all thanks to the proper command of the Grand Commander and Minister Li. I dare not take credit for it."

"If we are to reward meritorious service, I believe that the Grand Commander and Minister Li have made outstanding contributions and are role models for our army. They deserve this honor."

As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Xiong, mindful of his own excessive power and being Han Qingyun's father-in-law, quickly declined, saying, "You flatter me, Grand Secretary. Our army's victory was entirely due to Your Majesty's strategic planning and the valiant efforts of the naval officers and soldiers."

"I merely acted as a mediator and am not worthy of such credit."

Li Guochen, who was standing nearby, also understood the meaning behind the words and chimed in, saying, "Indeed, as the Grand Commander said, this battle was all thanks to His Majesty's strategic planning."

"We were only able to achieve victory in this war by following Your Majesty's strategy and fulfilling the duties of the army."

"I believe Your Majesty deserves the greatest credit, the soldiers of the army and navy deserve the second greatest credit, and we have only made a small contribution."

Several people took turns praising Han Qingyun, then completely absolved himself of any credit. It wasn't that they didn't want credit, but rather it was simply the behavior of those in power.

If Han Qingyun were to claim all the credit for himself, he would be no different from Xiang Yu. Even if he were a skilled warrior and possessed great knowledge, he would ultimately face betrayal and isolation from his followers.

When it comes to understanding people's hearts and human nature, Han Qingyun is quite knowledgeable, almost comparable to Liu Bang. In governing a country, simply giving orders isn't enough; you also need to offer constructive criticism from time to time.

Only in this way will the generals and soldiers of both the army and navy fight with all their might and be willing to serve the royal family.

As an emperor, one must not only be good at making money, setting strategies, and determining directions, but also at eliminating and employing people. Han Qingyun's primary responsibility is to maintain his authority, as well as the morale of the army, the people, and the officials.

Having understood all this, Han Qingyun became quite adept at handling things, and replied with a smile, "You are all pillars of the nation."

"If everyone in the country were like you, so humble and modest, how could the nation not become strong and prosperous?"

"However, since we have won this battle, our achievements should be recognized. You should draft a memorial later, and those who have made contributions should be commended."

This was only to be expected, so the three of them didn't refuse any further and agreed.

That evening, Han Qingyun hosted a grand celebration banquet for the meritorious soldiers. In addition to high-ranking officers, the banquet was attended by mid- to low-ranking officers from the army and navy, as well as grassroots managers from the arsenal and shipyard.

Such a victory celebration not only featured traditional Chinese music and dance but also a thrilling war dance, combining entertainment and education to the fullest extent, pushing the celebration to its peak.

Three days later, the Governor-General's Office, in conjunction with the Military Affairs Department, produced a battle report. The report detailed the causes of the Xia-Dutch War and the entire course of the battle.

It was through this report that Han Qingyun identified the person who deserved the most credit: Tang Boqian, the station manager of Lanfang Trading Station.

In response, Han Qingyun also gave relevant instructions to provide convenience and give important positions to meritorious officials who have made contributions outside the mainland.

Those who intend to relocate to Hanyang should be given special consideration in terms of household registration, residency, and housing. Those who have made contributions should be promoted and given important positions.

Don't end up like the Tang family, having to ask someone else to handle things.

Influenced by Han Qingyun, the Governor's Office, after careful consideration, awarded the primary credit for the Xia-He war to Tang Boqian, and the secondary credit to Wei Guochang, the magistrate of Zhaoyang County.

Wei Guochang rose to power through war, and Tang Boqian emerged during the Xia-He war, which essentially provided a path for junior officers in the Xia state to be promoted.

Once the war is won, one can attract local attention like Wei Guochang and Tang Boqian, thus receiving a promotion and no longer having to wait for seniority as before.

Of course, this is on the premise of victory, not defeat.

Two days later, the list of those to be commended in the military was released, and Han Qingyun convened a related meeting. The agenda included rewarding those who had rendered meritorious service, as well as personnel arrangements within Lanfang.

In response, Grand Commander Meng Xiong gave a brief report, saying, "The battle between the Dutch and the Spanish established our country's dominant position in the Southeast Asia region and also changed the situation in Lanfang."

"Originally, the trading post was merely a place to provide supplies and rest, playing only a supporting role. After this battle, our country has completely seized the initiative and no longer relies on the Netherlands or Lanfang for everything."

"Moreover, with nearly 60 square kilometers of land, we can station troops and build military fortresses, which increases the security for immigration and trade and shortens the time required."

"I believe we can select some talented individuals from among these meritorious personnel and develop Lanfang into an important military stronghold. This would allow us to support Zhaoyang County and connect various trading posts."

Meng Xiong's opinion hit the nail on the head: the most important military base outside the mainland.

Minister of Military Affairs Li Guochen expressed his strong agreement, echoing, "The Grand Commander is absolutely right. Lanfang is the most important key to immigration and trade."

"This place is backed by the entire continent of Borneo, and it is not only related to the supply of the fleet, but also a vital link between Britain and the Netherlands. As long as this place is built into a military fortress, the security of the homeland can be guaranteed."

"Both Britain and the Netherlands will be hesitant to act until the garrison at Lanfang is completely wiped out."

While Zhaoyang could indeed threaten British trade and Singapore, its resources were too scarce, making it difficult to sustain a sustained war effort and rendering it incapable of a strong counterattack.

Lanfang was different. Although the land there was barren and grain yields were low, it had abundant land resources and a Chinese population of approximately 110.

Million.

With enough money, one can assemble a massive force capable of rivaling both Britain and the Netherlands.

Subsequently, different ideas were raised during the meeting, as well as the use of the 60 square kilometers of land.

60 square kilometers, roughly the size of a town.

Located right at the mouth of the sea, this place has a population of only about 3, making it a truly wealthy town.

After considering everyone's opinions, Han Qingyun made a decision and said, "The 60 square kilometers of land in Pontianak can be used to establish Xigu County, with Wei Guochang as the county magistrate, Tang Boqian as the county assistant, and Cheng Wenzhuo as the county lieutenant."

"The Ministry of Civil Affairs will send someone to take over the position of Magistrate of Zhaoyang County from Wei Guochang."

Luo Bingzhong quickly recorded the relevant decision and said, "Your Majesty, Xigu County is located at the mouth of the Kunlun Mountains and has good land resources. I believe that it is appropriate to arrange for sugarcane to be planted and a sugar factory to be established."

Han Qingyun nodded and said, "Okay, Wei Guochang will be in charge of implementing it."

"However, Xigu County was too small, with a population of about 3.3. Apart from those who stayed to farm the land and work at the sugar factory, half of the remaining population migrated to Xunyang County and the other half to Hanyang."

"In addition, the plans for Lombok, Sumba, and Sumbawa should be implemented as soon as possible to bring all the male indigenous people from these islands to Hanyang to work in the mines."

"We will leave female immigrants alone for now. Once immigrants from mainland China arrive in these areas, we will arrange marriages for them as soon as possible."

Lombok, Sumba, and Sumbawa are relatively easier to navigate, except for Lombok, which has a population of nearly 16. The other two islands have a combined population of less than 5.

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