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(东南互保)Shortly before the Boxer War, several local strongmen in China agreed to form a republican regime to keep things in check should anything happen to the Qing Court. (East South Mutual Protection)
These strongmen includes Li Hongzhang, Yuan Shikai, Sheng Xuanhuai and Zhang Zhidong. Li Hongzhang was to be the President of the new state, and Sun Yat Sen was to be invited into the game as well.
But of course, the dynasty survived for another 11 years until the revolution put an end to it.
Still, should history took a different turn, and the Aisin Gyoros was less lucky, we would have this accidental republic in place.
What would happen afterwards? Would there still be the warlords? When would the earliest democratic experiment take place?