We shall assume that the Chinese actually DID land in South America in 1421. Further, we shall assume that a full fledged colony was put into place, and an alliance set up with the nearby native South Americans. We shall also assume that the Chinese government took interest in the exploration of South America, and soon Chinese settlers begin to arrive. This timeline shall continue up until the present day. Here's a starter...
1420: According to recent evidence found by scholars, this is the year that a huge Chinese fleet sets sail across the globe.
Main Reasons for Exploration:
A] Trading franchises. At a time when the Chinese empire was arguably at it's highest, entrepreneurs were constantly on the lookout for a way to make money through trade, and they were largely successful.
B] Pure exploration. China was, at this time, an imperialistic power, and thus it's need to expand itself was just as strong as that of any western European nation's.
1420-21: The fleet breaks up, part of it returning to China, but, according to secret history, part went up the coast, all the way to California. In this alternate history, however, this part decides to land, and the sailors decide to begin colonization after early communications with the native peoples reveal that both food and precious metals are plentiful here.
1422: The first part of the fleet that set sail across the world returns to China, with goods from Africa and India but not South America. It will be years before the Chinese empire learns of the second fleet. For now, they assume that either a colony was established, as food supplies would probably be low, or some mishap has occurred.
1439-1440: This is our next official government record of Chinese South America, as the fleet that went to South America, previously thought to be lost, returns to China laden with rich goods from South America. The Chinese government is pleased, and another fleet is sent out, this time across the Pacific, stopping at the Philippines and Indonesia, to aid the Chinese colonists.
1440-1441: The fleet is badly hit by a storm in the South Pacific, but reaches the settlement anyways. The Chinese government begins to claim large swathes of land in South America without consulting the native South Americans there, as imperialistic governments do.
1447: First significant communication with the Inca Empire, headed by Pachacuti. Colonists make their first mistake when they trade gunpowder weapons for spices to be sent back to China. Trading gunpowder will be destined to haunt them in later years during confrontations with other Native Americans.
1454-56: During these years, one fleet of junks filled with settlers lands in the new colony whilst another reaches China almost unscathed by Pacific winds. The emperor is, once more, pleased, especially by the sweet fruits untasted by Eurasians previously.
1471: First clash between Chinese and Incas, who have before this time both gone their separate ways, and both making the wise decision to conceal the secret of gunpowder from other native South Americans. However, information quickly leaks to the Aztecs, who now, contrary to OTL, border the expanding Incas.
This war will be called, in future, the first Chino-Incan war [in English, of course] and will end in the battle of Cuzco, a decisive victory for the vast population of Chinese settlers. Although Incan guerilla tactics are effective, their lack of technological advancement is fatal.
1492: Christopher Columbus arrives in the Carribbean, which has not changed much.
1493-99: Huayna Capac, an expansionistic Inca emperor, decides to defy the expanding settlers. He is beaten in the second Chino-Incan war and Cuzco is razed to the ground. The Incan empire is annexed to China, and the Aztecs begin to look worried.
1519: Cortes gets a big shock when he arrives in Tenochtitlan to see Aztecs armed with gunpowder, even in a limited amount. Nevertheless, he decides to go through with the invasion, but is soundly defeated, killed by a flare as he tries to abduct Moctezuma.
Much more to come...
