Hora Lucerna: China Timeline

In this alternate timeline, China’s history is marked by the rise of secret organizations, brutal power struggles, and a descent into a dystopian state where the government exerts total control over its people. This dark path leads to China attempting to establish itself as the dominant global superpower, using the fracture of the United States as an opportunity, but ultimately clashing with the Neo-Soviet Union in a global conflict known as the “Red War” in the 2030s.

1912-1949: The Birth of the Republic and the Struggle for Power

1912: The Fall of the Qing Dynasty and the Formation of the Republic

• The Xinhai Revolution: The Qing Dynasty, which had ruled China for over 250 years, collapses in 1912 after the Xinhai Revolution. The Republic of China is established under the leadership of Sun Yat-sen, but the new republic is weak and fragmented, with warlords controlling much of the country.
• The Hidden Society of the White Lotus: Amid the chaos, a secretive group known as the White Lotus Society emerges, claiming to be the true protectors of China’s ancient traditions. The White Lotus manipulates events from behind the scenes, seeking to restore China’s greatness by any means necessary. They begin infiltrating the new government, positioning themselves as advisors and confidants to key leaders.

1920s-1930s: The Rise of the Kuomintang and the Shadow War

• The Northern Expedition (1926-1928): Chiang Kai-shek, leader of the Kuomintang (KMT), launches the Northern Expedition to unify China under his control. The White Lotus Society secretly supports Chiang, seeing him as a useful tool for their own ends. However, they also cultivate alliances with various warlords, ensuring that no single faction becomes too powerful.
• 1931 - The Invasion of Manchuria: Japan invades Manchuria, establishing the puppet state of Manchukuo. The White Lotus Society sees the Japanese invasion as both a threat and an opportunity. They begin collaborating with anti-Japanese resistance groups while also engaging in covert operations to undermine Japanese control.
• 1937 - The Second Sino-Japanese War: The full-scale invasion of China by Japan leads to a brutal and protracted conflict. The White Lotus Society expands its influence, using the war as a cover for its own operations. They establish secret training camps and arms depots, preparing for the post-war power struggle they know will come.

1945-1949: The Civil War and the Birth of the People's Republic

• The Chinese Civil War (1946-1949): After World War II, China plunges into civil war between the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The White Lotus Society, having lost faith in Chiang Kai-shek, shifts its support to the CCP, seeing them as the future rulers of China. They provide the Communists with intelligence, resources, and strategic guidance, ensuring their victory.
• 1949 - The Establishment of the People's Republic of China: Mao Zedong declares the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on October 1, 1949. The White Lotus Society, now fully integrated into the CCP, assumes a new identity as the “Committee for National Rejuvenation.” This shadowy organization becomes the real power behind the Communist Party, guiding its policies and ensuring that the state evolves in line with their vision.

1950s-1980s: The Darkening of the People's Republic

1950s: The Maoist Era and the Consolidation of Power

• 1950 - The Korean War: The PRC’s involvement in the Korean War is driven by both Mao Zedong’s desire to assert China’s power and the Committee for National Rejuvenation’s long-term strategy. The Committee sees the war as an opportunity to solidify China’s position in East Asia and to test the loyalty of the new military leadership.
• 1958 - The Great Leap Forward: The Great Leap Forward, a disastrous economic and social campaign led by Mao, results in widespread famine and the deaths of millions. The Committee for National Rejuvenation secretly manipulates the campaign, using it as a means to purge potential rivals within the Party. The chaos of the Great Leap Forward also provides the Committee with the opportunity to establish a vast surveillance network, monitoring the population to identify dissidents and enemies of the state.

1960s-1970s: The Cultural Revolution and the Rise of the Surveillance State

• 1966 - The Cultural Revolution: The Cultural Revolution, initiated by Mao to reassert his control over the CCP, descends into violence and chaos. The Committee for National Rejuvenation uses the Cultural Revolution to eliminate rivals and strengthen its control over the Party. They also begin experimenting with psychological manipulation techniques, using mass propaganda and brainwashing to control the population.
• 1971 - The Purge of Lin Biao: Lin Biao, once Mao’s designated successor, is accused of plotting a coup and dies in a mysterious plane crash. The Committee for National Rejuvenation orchestrates the purge, seeing Lin as a threat to their plans. The purge is part of a broader campaign to eliminate all military leaders who might challenge the Committee’s authority.
• 1976 - The Death of Mao and the Power Struggle: Mao’s death leads to a power struggle within the CCP. The Committee for National Rejuvenation, having already positioned their loyalists in key positions, ensures that Deng Xiaoping emerges as the new leader. Deng, while seen as a reformer, is actually a puppet of the Committee, who guides his policies from the shadows.

1980s: The Economic Reforms and the Deepening of Control

• 1980 - The Special Economic Zones: Under Deng Xiaoping’s leadership, China begins opening up its economy, establishing Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to attract foreign investment. The Committee for National Rejuvenation sees this as an opportunity to modernize China’s economy while maintaining strict political control. They ensure that the SEZs are tightly monitored, using them as testing grounds for new surveillance technologies and social control mechanisms.
• 1989 - The Tiananmen Square Massacre: The pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square are crushed by the Chinese military on orders from the Committee for National Rejuvenation. The Committee views the protests as a direct threat to their power and responds with brutal force. The massacre is followed by a nationwide crackdown on dissent, with the Committee expanding their surveillance network and implementing new measures to control information and suppress opposition.

1990s-2010s: The Rise of the Dystopian State

1990s: The Technological Revolution and the Beginning of the Digital Surveillance State

• 1994 - The Great Firewall: The Chinese government, under the direction of the Committee for National Rejuvenation, begins building the “Great Firewall,” a vast system of internet censorship and surveillance. The Great Firewall is designed to control the flow of information, prevent the spread of subversive ideas, and monitor the online activities of Chinese citizens. The Committee sees the internet as both a threat and an opportunity—a tool for controlling the population and shaping public opinion.
• 1997 - The Hong Kong Handover: The return of Hong Kong to Chinese control is seen by the Committee as a crucial step in expanding their influence. They begin to implement covert operations to undermine Hong Kong’s political freedoms and integrate the territory into the PRC’s authoritarian system. The Committee uses Hong Kong as a testing ground for new surveillance technologies and social credit systems, which will later be rolled out across mainland China.

2000s: The Expansion of Surveillance and Social Control

• 2003 - The SARS Outbreak: The SARS outbreak in 2003 provides the Committee for National Rejuvenation with a pretext to expand their control over public health and surveillance. The outbreak is used to justify the implementation of strict quarantine measures, health monitoring, and data collection. The Committee also begins experimenting with biometric tracking technologies, which will later become standard across the country.
• 2008 - The Beijing Olympics: The 2008 Olympics are used by the Committee to showcase China’s rise as a global power. Behind the scenes, the Committee uses the event to expand their surveillance capabilities, deploying advanced facial recognition systems and crowd control measures. These technologies are later integrated into the national security apparatus, creating a comprehensive system of monitoring and control.
• 2010 - The Social Credit System: The Committee for National Rejuvenation rolls out the Social Credit System, a dystopian system that monitors citizens’ behavior and assigns scores based on their loyalty to the state. The system is used to reward compliance and punish dissent, effectively controlling every aspect of citizens’ lives. Those with low scores are denied access to basic services, employment, and travel, while those with high scores are rewarded with privileges.

2010s: The Consolidation of the Dystopian State

• 2013 - The Rise of Xi Jinping: Xi Jinping becomes the General Secretary of the CCP, with the full backing of the Committee for National Rejuvenation. Xi, like his predecessors, is a figurehead controlled by the Committee, who use him to further tighten their grip on power. Xi’s anti-corruption campaign is actually a purge of rivals and dissenters within the Party, orchestrated by the Committee to ensure their absolute control.
• 2016 - The Implementation of the Mask Mandate: In response to growing unrest and environmental pollution, the Committee for National Rejuvenation implements a nationwide mask mandate. Officially, the mandate is for health reasons, but in reality, it is a means of further dehumanizing the population and reinforcing conformity. The masks are also embedded with microchips that monitor speech and gather biometric data, feeding directly into the Social Credit System.
• 2018 - The Slave System for the Elite: The Committee quietly reintroduces a form of slavery under the guise of a “labor reform” program. The program targets dissidents, those with low social credit scores, and marginalized communities, forcing them into labor camps where they work for the benefit of the elite. The elites, including high-ranking Party officials and wealthy business owners, are granted the right to use these laborers as they see fit. The system is kept secret from the general public, but rumors and leaks begin to spread, fueling fear and paranoia.

2020s-2040s: The Attempt at Global Domination and the "Red War"

2020s: The Collapse of the U.S. and China's Global Ambitions

• 2021 - The COVID-19 Pandemic as a Catalyst: The COVID-19 pandemic is seen by the Committee for National Rejuvenation as an opportunity to accelerate their control over the global narrative. They launch a massive disinformation campaign, both domestically and internationally, to undermine trust in Western democracies and promote the superiority of China’s authoritarian model. The pandemic also provides a pretext for expanding the Social Credit System and increasing surveillance, with health data now integrated into the monitoring of citizens’ behavior.
• 2025 - The U.S. Fractures: As the United States begins to collapse under the weight of internal divisions, economic crises, and external pressures, the Committee for National Rejuvenation sees an opportunity to position China as the new global superpower. They begin covertly supporting separatist movements within the U.S., providing them with resources and intelligence to further weaken the American state.
• 2027 - The Belt and Road Initiative as a Weapon: The Committee turns the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) into a tool of economic imperialism, using debt-trap diplomacy to exert control over countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe. They establish military bases and surveillance hubs in strategic locations, effectively creating a global network of Chinese influence. The BRI also serves as a means of spreading China’s dystopian technologies, with partner countries adopting elements of the Social Credit System and surveillance infrastructure.

2030s: The "Red War" and the Global Power Struggle

• 2030 - The Rise of the Neo-Soviet Union: As the Neo-Soviet Union begins to reassert itself as a global power, the Committee for National Rejuvenation sees it as a direct threat to their ambitions. The Committee begins preparing for a confrontation, expanding China’s military capabilities and forming alliances with rogue states and non-state actors who oppose the Neo-Soviet Union.
• 2032 - The Start of the "Red War": The “Red War” begins as a series of proxy conflicts between China and the Neo-Soviet Union, escalating into a full-scale war involving cyberattacks, space warfare, and conventional military engagements. The Committee for National Rejuvenation deploys advanced AI-controlled drones, autonomous weapons systems, and cyber warfare units to gain the upper hand. The war is characterized by its brutality and the extensive use of disinformation and psychological operations to destabilize enemy populations.
• 2035 - The Battle for the Arctic: The Arctic becomes a major battleground in the Red War, as both China and the Neo-Soviet Union seek control over its vast resources and strategic shipping routes. The Committee for National Rejuvenation, having established a foothold in the region through the BRI, uses its military bases to launch operations against Neo-Soviet forces. The conflict in the Arctic becomes a flashpoint, with both sides deploying nuclear-powered icebreakers, hypersonic missiles, and other advanced technologies.
• 2038 - The Collapse of Global Order: As the Red War drags on, the global order begins to collapse. International organizations like the United Nations and the World Trade Organization are rendered powerless, as the world divides into spheres of influence controlled by China and the Neo-Soviet Union. The Committee for National Rejuvenation imposes its dystopian model on conquered territories, integrating them into the Social Credit System and exploiting their resources for the war effort.

2040s: The Aftermath of the Red War and the Dystopian World Order

• 2040 - The Stalemate: By 2040, the Red War reaches a stalemate, with neither China nor the Neo-Soviet Union able to achieve a decisive victory. Both sides are exhausted, and the global economy is in ruins. The Committee for National Rejuvenation begins focusing on consolidating its gains, using the Social Credit System and surveillance technologies to maintain control over its population and occupied territories.
• 2045 - The New Dystopian World Order: The world in 2045 is a dystopian nightmare, dominated by the authoritarian regimes of China and the Neo-Soviet Union. The Committee for National Rejuvenation has succeeded in creating a totalitarian state where every aspect of life is monitored and controlled. The Chinese population lives in constant fear, their every move dictated by the Social Credit System, and their lives consumed by state propaganda. The elites, enjoying the privileges of the slave system, continue to exploit the common people, who have no recourse or hope for change. The Red War may have ended in a stalemate, but the world has been irrevocably altered, with China and the Neo-Soviet Union locked in a cold, oppressive peace, each waiting for the moment to strike again.