The Australian Revolution of 1828

Chapter 95 Summary Report of 1828

After the meeting, Han Qingyun kept Luo Bingzhong behind alone.

During this period, Luo Bingzhong had been busy dealing with the aftermath of the Xia-Dutch wars and the implementation of related matters, as well as the work that had been delayed during the Spring Festival. He did not have a systematic summary of the work done in 1828.

This summary includes both the achievements of the year and the shortcomings in our work. It serves as both a way to identify and address gaps in our knowledge and to summarize our experiences, which is of great significance for our future work.

Han Qingyun had been keeping this matter in mind and was preparing to convene a relevant meeting as soon as possible. The theme of the meeting was also quite clear: to look back on 1828 and look forward to 1829.

Summarize the experience of 1828 and plan the work for 1829.

The huge conference room was empty, except for Han Qingyun and Luo Bingzhong.

Han Qingyun got straight to the point, stating his purpose directly: "Bingzhong, I asked you to stay because I want the Civil Affairs Bureau to take charge of summarizing 1828 and planning for 1829."

"If you encounter any difficulties or problems, please feel free to speak up, but this work cannot be delayed."

Summarizing and planning were done annually when Han Qingyun was in charge of the Immigration and Trade Office. Luo Bingzhong had seen it and had some understanding of it.

It's just that the changes in that year were too great; he went from deputy director to chief minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and he didn't have a good grasp of the overall work.

Furthermore, planning and summarizing are Han Qingyun's strengths, not Luo Bingzhong's.

Before March 1828, Luo Bingzhong was an executor, not a competent decision-maker in the strict sense.

Upon hearing such a request, Luo Bingzhong was genuinely at a loss. However, as the Grand Secretary, this was his duty, and he had no choice but to accept it.

Luo Bingzhong did not back down, but bravely took on the responsibility, saying, "Your Majesty, I have no problem. I will produce a summary in the next few days."

It's good that there are no problems, which means Luo Bingzhong has been growing and his work ability has improved to a certain extent. However, Han Qingyun, having been through it all, knows that summaries and plans are not so easy to write.

The main point in the summary is that it should be based on reality and actual strength, rather than on something created out of thin air.

As for planning, it can be understood as looking to the future and the various important indicators to be achieved in the coming year, such as population growth, grain production, amount of cultivated land, output of pig iron and steel, total import and export volume, number of guns and cannons, etc.

These data are all symbols of the Xia Kingdom's strength and are of great significance.

Han Qingyun was very concerned and said, "How about this, the Ministry of Civil Affairs will take the lead, and the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Mining, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Immigration and Trade, and other departments will send people to participate and jointly issue a summary report."

"This report relates to the manifestation of national strength and has an immeasurable impact on the country's positioning and development. I hope it is a true and detailed account of the Xia Kingdom."

The meaning was clear, and Luo Bingzhong understood it. He assured Han Qingyun, saying, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will definitely produce a truthful report."

Hearing this, Han Qingyun felt much more at ease and said, "Go ahead and get busy!"

After leaving the conference room, Luo Bingzhong did not return to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, but went to the Ministry of Military Affairs first.

When Han Qingyun was in charge of the Immigration and Trade Administration, Luo Bingzhong and Li Guochen were both deputy directors. However, Luo Bingzhong was in charge of immigration affairs, while Li Guochen was in charge of trade affairs.

Working under Han Qingyun, the two had an unusual relationship.

After explaining the situation, Li Guochen didn't mince words, saying, "Summaries are indeed important. By comparing the data, we can determine which link went wrong."

"Back then, when we worked for His Majesty, we never understood the importance of the summary report. Later, after His Majesty's summary, we found many problems with immigration and trade."

"It was precisely because these problems were identified that the Xia Kingdom came to be as it is today."

"Brother Bingzhong, if you have any difficulties, please feel free to ask. Although I am not good at it either, I have learned a little from His Majesty, so I understand."

The main reason Luo Bingzhong didn't mention it to Han Qingyun was that he didn't have a specific direction yet and didn't know where to begin.

But in front of his old friend Li Guochen, he had no such reservations and said, "Guochen, as you know, I am not well-educated, and I rely entirely on my loyalty."

"His Majesty has entrusted me with such an important position; I must achieve something."

"Some time ago, I personally went to Batavia to negotiate, not only to implement the rights and interests in the terms as soon as possible, but also to prove to myself that His Majesty did not make the wrong choice."

"Since the founding of the nation on August 1st, I have worked diligently and conscientiously in charge of the overall work of the Civil Affairs Bureau. Because I am not well-educated, I have made many mistakes, but His Majesty has not blamed me. Instead, he continues to trust me and employ me as always."

"I hope I can do well this time and bring honor to His Majesty. I humbly request your assistance!"

Based on matters of state and the request of his friend, Li Guochen did not refuse, saying, "Brother Bingzhong, whatever you ask, I will do my best!"

In terms of overall ability, Li Guochen is stronger than Luo Bingzhong.

Luo Bingzhong understood this as well, and felt no jealousy. On the contrary, he trusted Li Guochen and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, my virtuous brother Guochen!"

"I'll go back now to explain the things that needed to be done in the meeting, and then contact the other departments to get this summary report out as soon as possible."

In the days that followed, Luo Bingzhong, together with several other departments led by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, produced a national summary report that was relevant to the times.

Although the country was small and its population was not large, it involved a great deal of affairs, covering almost every aspect of life. After repeated guidance from Li Guochen and numerous revisions, the summary report of 1828 was finally completed.

Luo Bingzhong wasted no time and immediately delivered the finalized summary report to Han Qingyun's study.

Han Qingyun had been waiting for this report. After carefully reviewing the summary report, he gave his approval and sent it back to Luo Bingzhong to supplement some data.

When Luo Bingzhong submitted it again, the entire summary report was finally close to Han Qingyun's requirements. The report covered data on population, agriculture, industry, infrastructure, arable land, income, and grain output.

As of December 31, 1828, the registered Chinese population, including those in Xigu County, Xunyang County, and Zhaoyang County, reached 231,000.

Among them, there were 3317 Chinese in Zhaoyang County, 2.7 in Xunyang County, 3.3 in Xigu County, and 16.8 in Hanyang Prefecture.

There are nearly 23.1 Chinese people, of whom about 14 are men and about 9 are women.

Of these, there were 13.3 adult males and 7716 minor males, including 5123 newborns. There were 7.7 adult females, including 3.1 Chinese women and 4.6 naturalized women of Xunyang, Javanese, and Indian origin.

Regarding labor, approximately 6.2 people are temporarily employed in mining, land reclamation, infrastructure construction, cement plants, brick and tile factories, and quarries.

Of the 10,000 people, 57,000 were in Hanyang Prefecture, and another 5000 were reclaiming wasteland in Zhaoyang County.

In agriculture, as of December 31, 1828, Hanyang Prefecture had reclaimed a total of 1.7 million mu of land, producing about 95,000 tons of wheat annually, enough to feed at least 300,000 people.

Xunyang County has about 90 mu of arable land. Due to the climate, it can grow two crops a year. In addition, the arable land is fertile, and the annual rice production is about 19.2 tons, which can feed nearly 60 people.

Excluding other places, the arable land in Hanyang Prefecture and Xunyang County alone is enough to feed 90 people, which is a considerable achievement.

In terms of industry, it produced approximately 3600 tons of pig iron, 5 tons of steel, and 11 tons of coal annually. It also produced 1.7 rifles and 510 artillery pieces of various calibers.

In the mining sector, since the large-scale introduction of laborers from Deyang, the monthly gold production has exceeded 11 taels, and the annual gold production in 1828 was about 72 taels, totaling about 1728 million silver dollars.

In terms of infrastructure, approximately 9000 new courtyard houses were built in 1828, covering a total area of ​​about 450 million square meters; about 360 new three-story apartment buildings were also built, with 18 households per building and each household having an area of ​​about 150 square meters.

In addition to housing, approximately 37 kilometers of new 5-meter-wide cement roads were built, connecting all the towns and villages under the jurisdiction of Hanyang.

In terms of gains, gold and silver worth 390 million silver dollars were seized from Deyang County, and 830 mu of cultivated land worth 83 million silver dollars were confiscated.

Gold and silver worth 660 million silver dollars, as well as jewelry, paintings, and antiques that have not yet been accounted for, were confiscated from the homes of Liu Tai, the second chief of Lanfang, and his core subordinates.

In these two locations alone, a total of 1880 million silver dollars were seized, which can be described as a very fruitful haul.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the total revenue from customs duties and trade amounted to approximately 190 million silver dollars.

In 1828, a total of 7000 Chinese immigrant women married, collecting 70 silver dollars in matchmaking fees. There were also nearly 4.6 women with Yang nationality...

A Javanese woman married an Indian woman and received a marriage fee of 230 million silver dollars.

In 1828, there were a total of 900 million silver dollars in loans, with an annual interest of 45 silver dollars. In addition, there were loans from previous years, which generated approximately 37 silver dollars in interest in 1828, for a total interest of 83 silver dollars.

Roughly estimated, the total revenue for the year 1828 was nearly 4181 million silver dollars.

On the expenditure side, it was also quite impressive.

Firstly, regarding immigration, the main method involved bribing Qing officials and merchants, with a total expenditure of approximately 66 silver dollars in 1828.

Secondly, in terms of trade, the main expenditures were the import of Qing Dynasty goods such as cloth, tea, and porcelain, as well as grain from Batavia, sugarcane from Lanfang, limestone from Lombok, and cotton from India, totaling approximately 271 million silver dollars.

Thirdly, in terms of salaries, the expenditure for miners, sailors, soldiers, and officials amounted to 1370 million silver dollars.

Fourthly, in terms of war, including the wars on Deyang Island, Zhaoyang Island, and Xiahe, the total expenditure was approximately 360 million silver dollars.

The total expenditure amounted to approximately 2067 million silver dollars, which was nearly half less than the revenue of 4181 million silver dollars.

In addition to the summary from 1828, there was also a plan from 1829. Luo Bingzhong made a bold estimate regarding population, predicting that nearly 30 people would need to immigrate.

Given the predominantly single male population, it is projected that 13 eligible married and childbearing women from India, Deyang, and Java will be introduced.

With so many women, not only can the problem of unmarried single men be solved, but the newborn population can also be increased, enabling Xia Kingdom to develop healthily and no longer be just a place for adults.

The increase in newborns means that more talents can be cultivated, laying a strong foundation for the Xia Kingdom twenty years from now.

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