Just wanted to share this idea.
Let's say Li Zicheng was a bit more patient and accommodating with Wu Sangui which result into the latter defecting to him rather than the Qing. A couple of battles later, the Manchus retreated to Manchuria (for the time being).
As for the 2nd POD, let's say something bad happened between Sangui and Zicheng which resulted into what happened pretty much the same as OTL (Zicheng killing most of the Wu family), which in turn exploded into a series of battles between the two.
Long story short, Sangui ultimately wins and Zicheng dies (either on the battlefield or assassination by a defector). The remnants of the Shun army joins Wu Sangui and declared a new dynasty: Great Zhou.
Thoughts?
Let's say Li Zicheng was a bit more patient and accommodating with Wu Sangui which result into the latter defecting to him rather than the Qing. A couple of battles later, the Manchus retreated to Manchuria (for the time being).
As for the 2nd POD, let's say something bad happened between Sangui and Zicheng which resulted into what happened pretty much the same as OTL (Zicheng killing most of the Wu family), which in turn exploded into a series of battles between the two.
Long story short, Sangui ultimately wins and Zicheng dies (either on the battlefield or assassination by a defector). The remnants of the Shun army joins Wu Sangui and declared a new dynasty: Great Zhou.
Thoughts?