Emperor Wu of Jin's eldest son and heir, Sima Zhong (later Emperor Hui of Jin) was developmentally disabled. While Wu's concerns about his son's capabilities were assuaged somewhat by his son apparently being able to impress him (actually his daughter-in-law Ja Nanfeng having someone else write answers to the emperor's inquiries), he still felt Zhong needed help to rule. So when the Emperor's health began to decline, he appointed two men - Yang Jun and and Sima Liang - to act as co-regents for his son after he died. But Yang Jun schemed against his would-be colleague and arranged things so he would be made sole regent. Yang Jun's intrigues would start a chain of events that culminated in the Fall of the Western Jin.

What if Sima Zhong wasn't handicapped? Would things have gone better for the Jin dynasty?
 
Depending on Sima Zhong's personality. If he was like his dad or Liu Shan (Liu Bei's son), history of China would be similar to Eastern Jin to Southern Chen. The rich and elite would be dominating the upper class. New emperor would slowly replace his dad's advisors with his trusted followers. As a result, the civil war would be avoided entirely.

On the national front, the nomadic tribes would look for opportunities to plunder and most powerful families would look for opportunities to take over, Jin administration would be weakened quickly.

The dynasty would last for one hundred years before it was replaced by another rich and powerful family. Furthermore, without influx of nomadic population, the culture would remain as old ones. Sui and Tang dynasties might never establish. Nobility in China might last much longer. There would be a delay in the implementation of Exam system.
 
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