What if the Nien and Taiping rebellions had joined forces, won against the Manchus, and established a new dynasty?
-how would this have impacted european imperialism in China? could the "breath of life" of a new [han] dynasty have revitalized the country?
-might a more united, powerful-looking rebellion have prompted the russians to support the uprising? that might have had the advantage of drawing the europeans away from the crimea [which would make that war the first "world war"]
-how would hong have played within this? would he have been the new emperor? or would a better candidate have been chosen, with him being appeased with something?