China

The Collapse of China and the Rise of the Red Dragon Triad (Alternate Earth 2040)

China no longer exists as a unified nation. By 2040, it has fragmented into numerous warring splinter states, each fighting for dominance or independence. The once-powerful empire is now a patchwork of territories controlled by rival factions, with four primary states—the Canton Confederation, Henan, Shaanxi, and Sichuan—competing to reunify the region under their respective banners. Smaller states play a wildcard role, manipulating the balance of power as political and military machinations continue to unfold.

Background

The fall of China can be traced back to the economic reforms initiated by Deng Xiaoping during the late 20th century. While the market reforms expanded China's economy through the 1980s and 1990s, the prosperity was unevenly distributed. Southeastern provinces like Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, and Zhejiang began making individual trade deals with foreign partners, particularly with Southeast Asia and the United States. This regional autonomy led to the formation of the Greater Canton Economic Development Council in 2006, a trade alliance that tacitly received approval from Beijing. However, it alienated many western provinces, particularly Sichuan, which resented the eastern provinces' preferential treatment.

The breakdown accelerated after the mysterious event in 2011—the Veil. A magical barrier enveloped much of Tibet, Qinghai, and parts of the Himalayas, severing the region from China's control. This magical phenomenon, beyond the comprehension of the Chinese government, further destabilized the country. Attempts by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to penetrate the Veil failed, and the situation worsened.

In 2013, Xinjiang, populated mostly by Uighur Muslims, declared independence. With Tibet lost and a magical crisis consuming the government, China was unable to prevent Xinjiang’s secession. Xinjiang eventually merged with neighboring Central Asian nations to form Turkestan.

The Splintering of China

By 2015, Hong Kong's disillusionment with the "One Country, Two Systems" policy led to its secession. With the help of Great Britain and corporate influence from megacorporations, Hong Kong rebranded itself as the Hong Kong Free Enterprise Zone, a corporate enclave ruled by extraterritorial powers.

The collapse of China hit a critical point in 2017 with a devastating earthquake in the Taihang Mountains, which destroyed China’s primary nuclear arsenal. Several underground warheads detonated, sending shockwaves across the country and precipitating the loss of Beijing’s control over its western territories. This triggered a series of secessions, starting with the provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Zhejiang, which formed the Canton Confederation. Sichuan and Shaanxi followed suit, forming their own breakaway nations. The exodus of these territories created a corridor of independence, isolating Beijing and igniting further unrest across China.

With Beijing losing control, a coup in 2018 overthrew the Communist Party. The New Progress Party seized power, renaming the country the Republic of China. They enacted purges to obliterate the old Communist Guard, but hardline factions regrouped in Henan, and the country was plunged into civil war.

The Republic Civil War

From 2019 to 2027, China was embroiled in an eight-year civil war. Former Communist strongholds in the eastern provinces fractured into microstates, weak and politically divided. The Coastal Provinces region emerged, supported covertly by megacorporations seeking to exploit labor and deregulate industries.

Meanwhile, Manchuria, with the aid of urban spirits, seized the opportunity to break away from China. By the time the dust settled, Beijing had been reduced to a shadow of its former self, a rump state.

In 2021, the Sichuan provisional government collapsed due to internal strife and civil unrest. Neighboring states seized the opportunity to destabilize the region further, sparking more conflict and disintegration across the central and western provinces.

Key Events of the Republic Civil War

2029: Shaanxi falls into monarchist hands, transforming into a parliamentary monarchy under Queen Michelle Chou, who solidifies her rule and reorients the province’s policies.

2031-2034: Fujian and Zhejiang declare independence from the Canton Confederation, aligning with Taiwan. The Confederation launches a brutal war to reclaim Fujian, while Zhejiang fragments into several small states that later merge into the Coastal Provinces.

2035: The mage Liang Hong seizes control of Sichuan, his mastery of arcane power setting the stage for further instability.

2037: Li Tianzi, a military leader, orchestrates a coup in Beijing, ousting the Republic government. Claiming the title of Emperor, he establishes a new order, but internal division remains.

2038: A peace treaty is signed between the Republic of China and Emperor Tianzi, recognizing Beijing as an autonomous region. The capital of the Republic is moved to Tianjin, but tensions simmer beneath the surface.

The Rise of Lung and the Red Dragon Triad

In 2040, an event of unprecedented significance occurs—Lung, the enigmatic leader of the Red Dragon Triad, lands on Mount T'ai Shan. Rumors swirl that Lung is not merely a criminal mastermind but a true dragon, an ancient and powerful being whose supernatural abilities have allowed him to manipulate both mortal and spiritual forces to secure his dominance.

Lung’s arrival in Mount T'ai Shan marks the beginning of a new era. His control over the Red Dragon Triad, one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the shattered remnants of China, seems to be inextricably linked to his status as a mythical dragon. Some claim Lung is a direct descendant of the ancient dragon kings, while others whisper that he is the dragon itself, reborn in human form. His reach extends beyond traditional crime syndicates, and he has begun leveraging the chaos of the Civil War to expand his influence, securing allegiances with powerful factions across China.

Lung’s Red Dragon Triad is rumored to have deep ties to the mystical forces of the land, including ancient dragon magic. He controls large portions of Henan, Shaanxi, and the remnants of Beijing, and his influence has started to spread through the fragmented Coastal Provinces. As the splintered states of China struggle to rebuild, Lung's dragon-like grip on the country seems to be tightening.

In 2040, China remains a land of shifting allegiances, fractured identities, and fierce rivalries. The old order has crumbled, and a new power, one tied to ancient myth and modern ambition, emerges to stake its claim. Lung, the Red Dragon Triad, and the battle for supremacy in the ashes of the old empire now dominate the geopolitical landscape of a fragmented China.