Malaya has the best resource extraction potential out of all the current Roman colonies. Although wildly profitable, the tin and gold mines, followed by the pepper, gambier and rubber plantations when they pick up will require enormous amounts of labour to work. Thus, Malaya will be the focal point of immigration in South East Asia for the next couple centuries. Indians and Chinese who immigrate either to set up their own enterprises or as indentured labour will continue to do so at an exponential pace regardless of any political developments short of a total razing and salting of the peninsula. The question is: Will the Romans adopt either or both of the
Kangani and
Kangchu Systems like the British IOTL to gain a semblance of control over immigration? Maybe they'll devise a whole new system that surpasses both.
I think the Kangani system won't really be relevant ITTL, considering the strength of the City of Victory. Or at least if there is a system of indentured servitude coming in as labour, it could have a very different source. The thread repeatedly dwells on the Alt-Phillipenes as an area that could be a huge population centre, so you could see some from there, but I expect that'd be needed. There is a population shortage in some regards back in Europe and the Heartland, so unless that recovers I doubt we'll see immigrants from there. Maybe China, Korea and Japan? Korea has been devestated, and many people could choose to emigrate rather than rebuild, Japan could use a demographic vent, and whilst the Zeng are united, is there enough work?
Considering the Roman population shortages are basically a character of the Empire at this point, with immigration from anywhere in Europe tolerated and needed, it wouldn't surprise me if D3 considers promoting larger families in some way. Maybe a tax-exemption for families with ten children, or priorities in allocating lands without owners. Heck, if the Great Crime is what is expected we're going to have... how many demographic shortages in the Empire? Mesopotamia, RITE, Egypt, Syria, Balkans. I appreciate the Romans are already importing a lot of food because they're so urbanised, but I think it should be emphasised how manpower could be a serious limiting factor long term, just as it always has.
(I didn't mention it earlier, but Kangshu seems more organic and a result of the Zeng, that might just be a system that emerges ITTL IMO)
If he crosses the Indus and establishes an Empire stretching from the Maghreb to Bengal, from Tanais to the East Indies and Australia, people will start referring to Alexander as 'the Earlier Odysseus'.
All Hail Odysseus Megas! In seriousness, I think it's fair to say Alexanders feat would still be considered more impressive for the time, especially considering the relative start points.