I may be confusing either my Song dynasts or my rebellions. =/ Wasn't there a Song prince who the Yuan dynasty first sent to a monastery, and then later executed to prevent rebels from using him?
So I'm working on a novel set in an alternative 19th century. Not steampunk, but alternative. I want a world which is different to our own, but recognizable. The primary action of this story takes place in China, which recently fought and lost a war with the western powers over opening trade...