What If? Chinese Civil War force substitute: Qin Shi Huang takes command of the Nationalists

[Lord Sovereign]

Chiang Kai-Shek is an often much maligned figure of history, but he undoubtedly made serious errors, compounded by his personality, that contributed to utter defeat and the downfall of the Chinese Republic. Should by some ancient sorcery the First Emperor end up in the mid 20th century, and either force the Nationalist leadership to bow to him (or more probably murder them) how do you think he'd have handled the Post-1945 situation? My guess is bloody brutally, as whilst the man was meant to have been a competent ruler he didn't have much in the way of mercy.

 

[King Arts]

Well if he is a sorcerer then he might be able to pull something off. But if he is just time displaced he probably doesen't know anything about how to run a modern nation and army.

 

[Zyobot]

No doubt he’d be brutal, book-burning and burying scholars alive being atrocities to his name, as is. He’d liberally reuse that against communists he gets his hands on, I imagine.

However, for as bad as Qin Shi Huangdi was, he has some formidable competition in the form of Chairman Mao for the title of “Most Brutal Statesman In Chinese History.” The Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward are very hard to exceed in terms of body count, misery, and all-around callousness (though the First Emperor may dawn well try).

 

[Lord Sovereign]

No doubt he’d be brutal, book-burning and burying scholars alive being atrocities to his name, as is. He’d liberally reuse that against communists he gets his hands on, I imagine.

Chairman Mao gets buried beneath the Great Wall.

However, for as bad as Qin Shi Huangdi was, he has some formidable competition in the form of Chairman Mao for the title of “Most Brutal Statesman In Chinese History.” The Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward are very hard to exceed in terms of body count, misery, and all-around callousness (though the First Emperor may dawn well try).

I think he'd actually be vaguely disturbed by the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution, because they were totally needless. Good old Ying Zheng, vicious cunt that he was, probably wouldn't see much point or desirability in starving tens of millions of peasants to death or tearing down ancient Chinese culture (his culture) in the name of utopia.

 

[Zyobot]

Chairman Mao gets buried beneath the Great Wall.

I can't help but simultaneously LMAO at this and think it a deserving fate for the biggest mass-murderer in history (fingers crossed no one worse emerges down the line).

I think he'd actually be vaguely disturbed by the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution, because they were totally needless. Good old Ying Zheng, vicious cunt that he was, probably wouldn't see much point or desirability in starving tens of millions of peasants to death or tearing down ancient Chinese culture (his culture) in the name of utopia.

Even evil has standards, I suppose. In that case, would he unleash a larger and more devastating version of the Taiwanese White Terror, with way more book-burning and live-burying of suspected traitors? Certainly, it'd be terrible to live through if you're not an obedient subject with nothing to hide, even if it's still leaps and bounds less devastating than Mao's reign IOTL.

 

[Arlos]

I find the thought that the First Chinese Emperor is better at agriculture than Mao absolutely hilarious, he really was one of a kind when it came to stupid ideas.

 

[Lord Sovereign]

Even evil has standards, I suppose. In that case, would he unleash a larger and more devastating version of the Taiwanese White Terror, with way more book-burning and live-burying of suspected traitors? Certainly, it'd be terrible to live through if you're not an obedient subject with nothing to hide, even if it's still leaps and bounds less devastating than Mao's reign IOTL.

He would collect all the writings of the Empire and burn those of no use, thereby accidentally discovering Das Kapital's use as fuel. Certain elements of the Nationalist cause might actually get into trouble as they did have some socialist leanings, and anything that says "everyone is equal" is going to be violently disagreed with by Ying Zheng. Given all the lefties he'd fucking murder, "Build the Wall" would take on a darker tone.

 

[Zyobot]

He would collect all the writings of the Empire and burn those of no use, thereby accidentally discovering Das Kapital's use as fuel. Certain elements of the Nationalist cause might actually get into trouble as they did have some socialist leanings, and anything that says "everyone is equal" is going to be violently disagreed with by Ying Zheng. Given all the lefties he'd fucking murder, "Build the Wall" would take on a darker tone.

So it seems.

Butterflies might prevent it from happening, but I can't help but feel like he'd have friendly interactions with the likes of Augusto Pinochet? Even if not, he may consider incorporating some of the General's execution methods to complement his own, such as death flights.

Another question is what kind of relationship Qin's China would have with the anticommunist West? He may not be on board with capitalism or liberal democracy, but given the mess of a country he's inherited and dangerous neighbors like the USSR, he'd do well to secure ties with like-minded powers. A category the US and Western Europe hardly fall into, ditto with how they'd pressure China to democratize and open up to Western interests. Or at least, become a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament, which Qin would despise almost as much as anti-monarchist, anti-nationalist communism.

 

[ATP]

So it seems.

Butterflies might prevent it from happening, but I can't help but feel like he'd have friendly interactions with the likes of Augusto Pinochet? Even if not, he may consider incorporating some of the General's execution methods to complement his own, such as death flights.

Another question is what kind of relationship Qin's China would have with the anticommunist West? He may not be on board with capitalism or liberal democracy, but given the mess of a country he's inherited and dangerous neighbors like the USSR, he'd do well to secure ties with like-minded powers. A category the US and Western Europe hardly fall into, ditto with how they'd pressure China to democratize and open up to Western interests. Or at least, become a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament, which Qin would despise almost as much as anti-monarchist, anti-nationalist communism.

USA supported commie China against soviets,so they would support Quin as well.Aside from that - he need technology,so he must take science seriously.
From whom ? defeated Japan, Switzerland,Sweden.They would sell to all buyers.And maybe running german scientists,too ?