是(shi)年夏,樂(le)平(ping)縣(xian)(xian)知縣(xian)(xian)加收青靛捐(juan),引起西鄉(xiang)靛農公憤。同(tong)時,流氓(mang)地(di)痞、土豪劣紳加入(ru)(ru)教(jiao)會后,倚仗洋人(ren)(ren)勢(shi)力,橫(heng)行鄉(xiang)里(li),有恃無恐。7月(yue)(yue)21日(ri),其率(lv)數(shu)百(bai)(bai)人(ren)(ren),沖(chong)人(ren)(ren)縣(xian)(xian)城(cheng)(cheng),奪取保(bao)甲局洋槍40余(yu)(yu)支。22日(ri),率(lv)3000余(yu)(yu)人(ren)(ren)搗縣(xian)(xian)統(tong)捐(juan)局、厘(li)金(jin)卡和天(tian)(tian)主教(jiao)堂。23日(ri),率(lv)眾(zhong)(zhong)拆毀(hui)(hui)緝私(si)卡、鹽(yan)卡,擊毀(hui)(hui)護卡炮船,搜捕各(ge)卡委員。樂(le)平(ping)抗(kang)捐(juan)、反教(jiao)起義(yi)令清(qing)廷大驚,于8月(yue)(yue)1日(ri)派(pai)300余(yu)(yu)清(qing)軍(jun)前往(wang)鎮(zhen)壓(ya),其團結各(ge)鄉(xiang)民(min)眾(zhong)(zhong),嚴陣以待。8月(yue)(yue)26日(ri)晨,率(lv)義(yi)軍(jun)3000余(yu)(yu)人(ren)(ren)攻入(ru)(ru)縣(xian)(xian)城(cheng)(cheng),打死打傷清(qing)軍(jun)60余(yu)(yu)人(ren)(ren),焚毀(hui)(hui)了縣(xian)(xian)衙(ya),釋放(fang)囚犯70余(yu)(yu)人(ren)(ren),并打出“官(guan)逼民(min)反”大旗,占據縣(xian)(xian)城(cheng)(cheng)達20余(yu)(yu)天(tian)(tian)。清(qing)廷恐其起義(yi)擴展,急調軍(jun)隊(dui)“圍剿”。9月(yue)(yue)18日(ri),其率(lv)部轉移至樂(le)平(ping)、婺源邊界(jie)地(di)區建立根據地(di)。1907年10月(yue)(yue)7日(ri),率(lv)數(shu)百(bai)(bai)人(ren)(ren)再(zai)次攻入(ru)(ru)縣(xian)(xian)城(cheng)(cheng),并搗毀(hui)(hui)厘(li)金(jin)卡。10月(yue)(yue)9日(ri),遭清(qing)軍(jun)洋槍隊(dui)伏擊,壯烈犧牲。
鄉開(kai)征(zheng)“厘金”(一(yi)種苛稅(shui)),加(jia)重(zhong)了(le)人民(min)負擔。光(guang)緒三(san)十年知(zhi)縣杜磷光(guang)又借口興辦高等小學堂經(jing)費不(bu)足,加(jia)征(zheng)靛(dian)捐,引起(qi)產靛(dian)最多的西(xi)鄉紳民(min)憤怒。正在西(xi)鄉演戲的夏廷宜,鼓動并帶領西(xi)鄉民(min)眾(zhong)進(jin)城(cheng)示威游行,搗毀了(le)統(tong)捐局(ju)、厘金卡、緝私卡、鹽卡和天主(zhu)教堂,擊沉了(le)兩(liang)艘護卡炮船。其后夏廷宜又率眾(zhong)攻打縣衙(ya),火燒(shao)清白堂,開(kai)牢釋囚,掀起(qi)一(yi)場轟轟烈烈的風暴(bao)。清廷派九江道臺瑞征(zheng)率兵馳樂鎮壓。在大(da)兵壓境之(zhi)時,夏廷宜主(zhu)動轉移,使瑞撲了(le)空。光(guang)緒三(san)十三(san)年,夏廷宜率眾(zhong)再(zai)度攻打樂平城(cheng),在途中(zhong)遭清軍洋槍隊伏(fu)擊,中(zhong)彈犧牲(sheng)。