WI No Ming Intervention in the Imjin War?

Following on the discussion in the more proactive Japan thread, what if the Ming had decided not to directly defend Korea when Toyotomi invaded and instead defend in Liaotung where the Ming manpower advantage could be used to greater effect in the more open terrain and (possibly) Japan's supply lines would be longer? How much longer could the Ming last without the enormous expense of the OTL Imjin War?
 
I wrote a timeline on this, but I haven't posted it, because it's really bad.

Basically, the Manchus would probably invade (Nurhaci offered to invade IOTL but was turned down). Some Japanese general purposely took some Manchu forts because he believed in the inferiority of the continentals, which led to Nurhaci's declaration.

And China is much better off.
 
A Manchu-Japanese border war over Korea would be perfect for the Ming, which could then sit back and pit the two against each other, in the process getting the breathing space it needs to sort out its internal problems.

I'd be very interested to read the TL if you ever get around to reworking it.
 
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Bump. Does anyone have any thoughts on how long the Ming would last in this scenario? Through the late 1600s-early 1700s perhaps? What would be the ramifications of the Ming surviving longer?
 
Assuming Hideyoshi is Hideyoshi, borderline ASB.

There's a Chinese proverb - *if you have no lips your teeth will shiver* of something like that. The Chinese realize this, and realize what it means diplomatically not to support one of its most important vassals. In the 1590s they're going in.

Now if the Japanese attacked in the 1630s it would be completely different. But then it wouldn't be an Imjin War, and the Manchus would intervene.
 
From what I remember, there was a substantial faction in the government opposed to the intervention, and it's not at all inconceivable that it could have prevailed. In any case, the Ming do go to war in this scenario, its just that they choose to fight in Liaotung where they can make better use of their advantages if Hideyoshi does end up deciding to move beyond Korea.
 
From what I remember, there was a substantial faction in the government opposed to the intervention, and it's not at all inconceivable that it could have prevailed. In any case, the Ming do go to war in this scenario, its just that they choose to fight in Liaotung where they can make better use of their advantages if Hideyoshi does end up deciding to move beyond Korea.

Which faction was this again?

Just out of curiosity, of course.
 
Which faction was this again?

Just out of curiosity, of course.

I'm trying to remember where I read it. The only source I can find right now is "The East Asian war, 1592-1598" page 180 "Nonetheless there were still doves at court who argued against intervention in Korea... Therefore, after a series of spirited debates at court, the Ming Emperor Wanli decided to intervene military in Korea..."
 
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I'm trying to remember where I read it. The only source I can find right now is "The East Asian war, 1592-1598" page 180 "Nonetheless there were still doves at court who argued against intervention in Korea... Therefore, after a series of spirited debates at court, the Ming Emperor Wanli decided to intervene military in Korea..."

Nah, it's fine. Thankzzzz
 
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