Ionic Android versioning fails

I have a problem with the version numbers in the Play store.

Versions of my app used to be formated like

Version code
10172   (5 digits)
Version name
1.1.72

I changed the build machine and didn't realize that the version I uploaded had

Version code
101748 

Now 6t digits! the 8 extends the version number to be too long

Version name
1.1.74

101748 now is blocking me from uploading a new version to the store. For instance, for version 1.1.821 in the config.xml I get an APK of version code 101748 again!?!?! and upload fails with

You need to use a different version code for your APK because you already have one with version code 101748.

I had other build combinations where the version code was 5 digits again and upload failed.

I can not remove the currently uploaded version from the play store and I do not know how to adjust the automated build system in ionic to force it to use a specific version code? It seems the code is generated out of the version during build.

Any suggestions welcome.