Thande
Donor
Realistically, I'm afraid it might not go further than a curiosity. Imperial Chinese Airships are certainly a cool idea, but it's not as though in OTL the fact that the French invented balloons first meant that they were the first to develop airships. Technological progress often has little to do with who invented the precursor first (also see America and aeroplanes, and Britain and tanks for two more recent examples).I'm beginning to see the infatuation we have with airships and Imperial Chinese airships will be totally awesome.
Anyway guys, how far do you think the Chinese will develop these balloons?
On the other hand, if the Chinese keep the manufacture of their balloons a secret, they could become a fabled secret weapon like Greek fire - useful for intimidating barbarians with their legend, which would be more potent than the weapon itself.