In the mid-14th century, Mongol rule over China was faltering. The glorious days of Genghis were long gone, and famines, floods, political instability, and rebellion was rampants, and the radical, millenarianist Red Turban rebels had seized large parts of the country. While Zhu Yuanzhang was one of the most significant leaders, there were others, who might have been able to come out on top and rule China, and one such leader was Chen Youliang. He gained initial success in Fujian and the Upper Yangtze, before Zhu Yuanzhang gained the upper hand and eventually defeated him at Poyang Lake. What if Chen Youliang had managed to defeat and kill Zhu Yuanzhang, and while there are still other powerful warlords and Yuan remnants, assume he becomes emperor, establishing the Dahan dynasty. Where would he locate his capital? How would he rebuild the country, and would we see a stronger emphasis on Buddhism and pre-Mongol traditions? What would be the effect on Korea and the steppes, and would groups such as the Oirat or even the Northern Yuan attempt to invade again? Would monetary policy be changed? Would more money be retained instead of blown on useless prestige missions that this site likes to speculate about discovering America so much? Or would it not be much different? I find it hard for Chen Youliang's descendants to exhibit the kind of megalomania that the Yongle Emperor did, but then again, it is a matter of when, but the genetic combinations would certainly be different. And would Vietnam even still be invaded?