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So I've been reading up on the Chinese Revolution and Korean War, and I'm wondering. Suppose Mao's eldest son manages to survive the Korean War? Elder and Junior's relationship wasn't perfect, but it wasn't terrible either, and surviving both the Eastern Front of WWII and Korea gives Junior some of the best (and most horrific) military experience out there; it wouldn't be hard to see him on the Politburo by the mid-50s with a military responsibility, perhaps by marginalising Lin Biao (since the two will be in direct competition if Junior survives). Head of the Red Guard during the Cultural Revolution? He might serve as both a stabilising influence and a reality check on Dad, and Dad might even be willing to retire in his favor as the years wear on. What are the odds of creating a genuine Mao Dynasty here? How different is this PRoC likely to be (I'm thinking Deng transfers loyalty to Junior and backs him.) Any major flaws in this idea?
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