- Location
- Western New York
The ATL "Yan" Dynasty replacing the Ming instead of the Qing is still bouncing around my brain as it often has for the last few months. Today, while reading a book about the military collapse of the Ming, I came across an interesting passage ripe with WI potential.
Li Zicheng being the most successful rebel in late Ming China, and the one who actually managed to capture Beijing - for a few months, anyway. His actions (irretrievably alienating the Ming general who commanded a vital fortress between China and Manchuria, leading said general to ally with the Qing and march on Beijing) arguably resulted in the Qing being able to conquer all of China. So if he dies four years earlier, the fall of the Ming is going to play out somewhat differently. Who fills the void? Do the Qing still succeed in breaching the Great Wall (it wouldn't have been the first time) or does another Chinese rebel come out on top?
Li Zicheng being the most successful rebel in late Ming China, and the one who actually managed to capture Beijing - for a few months, anyway. His actions (irretrievably alienating the Ming general who commanded a vital fortress between China and Manchuria, leading said general to ally with the Qing and march on Beijing) arguably resulted in the Qing being able to conquer all of China. So if he dies four years earlier, the fall of the Ming is going to play out somewhat differently. Who fills the void? Do the Qing still succeed in breaching the Great Wall (it wouldn't have been the first time) or does another Chinese rebel come out on top?
Last edited: