WI: Mao Zedong: 1893-1927

OTL: (quoted from "Origins of the Chinese Revolution: 1915-1949" by Lucien Bianco)

"...Mao Tse-tung had returned once again to his native province, where in September 1927 he led an army of peasants, miners, and soldiers in an uprising who's intended target was the city of Changsha. This insurrection, known as the Autumn Harvest Uprising , was crushed in a week; Mao was arrested and managed to buy his release only hours before his scheduled execution."

POD: Poor Mao is a little more strapped for cash and can't come up with the funds. What happens now?
 
Good question, even without Mao it is still possible that the communists will still find a leader who is capable of securing soviet support and defeating the nationalists, and would butterflies be enough to allow the kuomitang and Chiang to act smarter? Mao's death may not prevent a communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, although it may prevent the Cultural Revolution.
 
Top