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Here's a rough idea that I have had for some time.

Due to an earlier invention of firearms by the chinese, they are able to defend their frontier against the Genghis Khan's mongols. But given his determination, he tries another target, Persia (nearly a decade before OTL) and succeeds massively.

As a result ITTL Genghis Khan is more practical and less megalomaniacal given his defeat at the Chinese and he also believes that expansion possibilities lie to the much weaker divided Europe and the Middle east for the same reason. Realizing Chinese superiority (or at least, equivalency) he remains friendly to the two Chinese Dynasties and uses the loot from his Persian and (later) Mesopotamian campaign to import Chinese knowledge while marching westwards. His sons follow his directions and conquer various parts of western Eurasia and before long, they have subdued Europe.

China, meanwhile continues to be left unmolested from outside forces, while a new conflict between Song and Jin, and desire to keep out barbarian horsemen motivates them to further improve firearms. The mongols, meanwhile have progressed to cannons like the ones that brought down Constantinople in OTL and have become the masters of siege.

What would the future of this gunpunk world look like?
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