Two Ming What-Ifs

Dorozhand

Banned
1) Ming avoids destruction in 1644

This could easily have happened, at least for the short term. Li Zicheng could have been defeated by the Ming at numerous critical junctures before he took Beijing IOTL. The question is, how long does Ming last after avoiding this fate? The problems rotting deep within the Ming state have not gone away. Even an emperor inclined towards actually doing something about the dire situation, like Ming Sizong seems genuinely to have been, was hobbled by ministers who seemed to be living in a different world entirely even when they were trying to help.

2) The Chongzhen Emperor flees south

This would have made things interesting. If the Chongzhen Emperor escapes the Shun and makes it to Nanjing, he would be a unifying factor for the Southern Ming. He might transform it from a popular movement into a more solid entity. This could usher in a Northern and Southern dynasties period.
 
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Another PoD i like that technically includes the Ming is rebel and naval commander Koxinga living longer and executing his plan of invading the Spanish Philippines.
 
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