Without the Sino-Japanese Wars to really drive in how badly the Qings have run the country, would they still have done their half hearted modernization programs?
Without a next door aggressor to really beat them down, i dont think the Russian empire is a sufficient stand in, they nibble away but...
How would a less conflict ridden/bad luck China's emigration pattern be like? If China is teeming with people, id have to imagine a goodly number will emigrate for better opportunities abroad.
Like would no Taiping Rebellion megadeath scenario lead to more North American West Coast emigration...
To get the wide spread reforms that the OP wants, to setup for a stronger China down the road, i would suggest an earlier kick off of the Warlord Era, right after a stalemate/defeat in the First Sino-Japansee War. Better showing by Qing troops on land and sea (due to Prussian training), leading...
I'm iffy on Taipings really able to turn things around. For them to well and fully take over, China would likely get depopulated and shattered into different cultural successor states. They were, to put simply, weird as fuck and totally not vibing with the ultra conservative Chinese state at...
So we all know about China's century of Humiliation and how it got beaten around like a feral dog for 19th and early/mid 20th centuries, by all its neighbors and some folks from halfway across the world.
What's the latest point, that China could turn it all around, and systematically reform...
Assuming competent leadership and luck continuing into the 20th century. Japan wont be able to get a toehold in Korea, as China is matching them techwise and has their massive resource and population advantage to swamp em.
A stronger China, prolly makes strong moves north and likely scaring...
China given more time to build up in peace and quiet, likely means the Communists will get snuffed out (who's survival was a miracle). An unmolested Republic of China, how long would it take for them to get their shit together enough to beat off the Japanese 1v1? No Manchuria for Japan is a...
There's no way the NA free states would stay truly independent after the US concluded the American Civil War, and had millions of veteran battle hardened troops, flush with victory ready and willing to push in all directions for the greater glory. The "autonomy" of the NA free states had was...
How much better off would Ming-ish China be 1644-1912 i wonder. A large part of the unrest was due to the tiny Manchu minority lording over the massive honking huge Han majority.
If the Ming was able to hold out, would they get their shit together and soon regain their dominant position i...
I feel it doesnt matter what Louis does or what the Dutch/Belgiums want to do. Joseph is gonna hold onto the Low Countries with an iron grip, for its economic potential and ease of defending his eastern frontier from a horde of unwashed Germans/Russians/whatever else might come. If the...
For the most part i agree with your assessment. The part I doubt the most is the rest of the continent caring all that much if the Brits have the "Dagger of Antwerp" pointed at their throats. It's one thing to go all the way to Paris to slay the Ogre, it's another thing to prosecute a war into...
Seems like its very likely France is gonna come out of Nappy's early death with a France to the Rhine as the outlying kingdoms under the various brothers slowly drift away from French influence or get picked off in later wars. Kinda like ablative armor so that France can hide behind the river...
OOC: Yea the Franco-Iberian Union is just way too OP and cuts off too much fun
IC: The French Marshals and their retinues exiled to the New World are one of the most amazing periods in history IMO. Without Davout leading the expedition to crush aspiring rebels and without Soult/Bernadotte's...
Prevent the creation of Franco-Iberian Union. I know u like using the quaint term of Spain but the only reason she's a superpower is from the French lands and infusion of elite French military survivors who were sent to the New World to reestablish royal authority. The Scourge of Napoleon...
Well i'd assume KMT Chinese Civil War victory would mean a crapton of US arms and aid being pumped in to keep em afloat.
There's no way in hell KMT China would attack the USSR, but would the USSR be willing to smack around China if they felt the Chinese were getting uppity? Smacking around...