I conceived three China DLCs, focusing on the four main dynasties (Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming) of medieval China. My idea is mainly about dividing Chinese into two civilizations. It can introduce gunpowder units to China without changing the original gameplay. Sorry my idea lacks details.
1. Age of Firearms
This DLC focus on the Yuan Dynasty (1260-1368) and the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Various firearms can appear in scenario.
The Chinese civilization is renamed Chinese (Tang and Song) or Chinese early stage, which can perfectly preserve the original Chinese civilizationās lack of Hand Cannoneer (Hand cannon only appeared when the Song Dynasty was about to fall). In addition, add a new gunpowder civilization called Chinese (Yuan and Ming) or Chinese late stage. Just like the Italian is a cultural descendant of Rome, but both Italian and Roman civilizations can appear in the game, I think it is also appropriate to divide medieval China into two main periods and then treat them as separate civilizations. The Tang and Song dynasties were culturally close, after 97 years of the Mongol rule of the Yuan Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty distanced itself from the Tang and Song dynasties in terms of architecture, clothing and other cultural aspects. The Ming Dynasty made Beijing, which is close to the northern border, its capital, which made the northern culture more influential on the dynasty.
The existing East Asian architectural style can be renamed to the Southern Chinese architectural style, and the brick-based Northern Chinese architectural style can be added (refer to the Siheyuan). The North-South confrontation often appears in Chinese history, and the two architectural styles could also reflect the difference between the southern and northern regimes.
Civilizations:
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Chinese late stage (Yuan and Ming) (1260-1644):
Gunpowder weapons were widely used in the Yuan dynasty, and the Shenjiying of the Ming dynasty was a specialized firearms army, so the YuanMing was gunpowder civilizations, with unique units such as the Three-Eyed Gunner and the Nest of Bees.
Because both the Yuan and Ming dynasties used Beijing as their capital, the YuanMing used Northern Chinese architectural styles. -
Chinese early stage (Tang and Song) (618-1279):
Basically the same as the original Chinese civ. Give the Wonder Temple of Heaven and unique technologies Great Wall to YuanMing. So, it wonāt change the gameplay of the original Chinese civilization much.
The original East Asian architecture is based on Japanese and Chinese architecture, and Japanese architecture is heavily influenced by the Tang Dynasty. So, the TangSong used Southern Chinese architectural styles.
Others:
Koreans can also produce the Nest of Bees.
Japanese can produce the Monk Soldier (SÅhei), similar to the Warrior Priest.
Koreansā architectural style is Northern Chinese architectural style, reflecting the influence of the Ming Dynasty on Joseon.
Japaneseās architectural style is Southern Chinese architectural style, reflecting the influence of the Tang Dynasty on Japan.
Mongolsā architectural style is Northern Chinese architectural style.
Vietnameseās architectural style is Southern Chinese architectural style.
Maybe give new skins to the East Asian Hand Cannoneer.
Campaign:
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Zhu Di (Chinese late stage): Zhu Di was the son of Zhu Yuanzhang who founded the Ming Dynasty. He fought against Mongols many times in his early years. He guarded the north with a large army. He had an elite force composed of surrendered Mongolians (ęµé”äøč”). He seized the throne from his nephew through civil war and became the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty. However, because his succession to the throne was not legally legitimate, his ministers did not truly agree with him, so he moved the capital to Beijing and built the Forbidden City. In addition, Zhu Di sent Zheng He to lead a large fleet on six ocean expeditions, reaching the Persian Gulf and the east coast of Africa. During one of these expeditions, the fleet encountered a battle with Sinhalese at Sri Lanka (MingāKotte War). The King of Sinhalese was captured and brought back to China to meet Zhu Di.
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Kublai Khan (Mongols and Chinese late stage):
Kublai was the grandson of Genghis Khan. In his early years, he invaded Dali and Song many times. After Mongke Khan died in 1259, no successor was designated. Kublai competed with Ariq Boke for the Khanship and eventually defeated Ariq Boke. Kublai proclaimed himself emperor and established the Yuan Dynasty, and eventually completely destroyed the Song Dynasty. -
Yi SÅng-gye (Koreans)
The Red Turban Rebellions broke out at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang joined the Red Turban Rebellions and eventually defeated the Mongols and established the Ming Dynasty. Lake Poyang from the Historical Battles campaign is a battle between two Red Turban forces. Some Red Turbans invaded Goryeo (Korea), and Yi SÅng-gye defeated them and accumulated military merits. And many Jurchen tribes joined Yi SÅng-gyeās forces. He defeated the Mongol invaders and Japanese pirates many times. The King of Goryeo was murdered by his servants, and a 10-year-old child with a controversial background was supported as the new king. In the end, Yi SÅng-gye disobeyed the order to attack the Ming Dynasty and sent troops back to the capital to launch a military coup. He became the founder and first king of the Joseon dynasty of Korea.
Historical Battles campaign:
Siege of Diaoyucheng: Mongke Khan of the Mongol Empire was killed by a trebuchet during the siege of Diaoyucheng, which led to the withdrawal of the Mongols from Syria and China, and led to civil war and division of Mongol empire. This was a very important event in the course of world history, and the Mongols were unable to continue conquering Europe and Egypt, but I donāt know why the Wikipedia page of Siege of Diaoyucheng is only in Chinese, English and Italian, and this battle seems to be widely ignored.
The battle itself is also very interesting. Diaoyucheng was a fortress built on a mountain on a peninsula. The trebuchets were helpless against it. The defenders inside had come out by the secret passage many times to attack the Mongol camp.
2. Rivalry among the Greats (ē¾¤ééé¹æ)
This DLC focus on the Song Dynasty (960ā1279). After the An-Shi Rebellion in Tang Dynasty, the Tanguts, Khitans, and Jurchens were no longer constrained and rose to become threats to China. The DLC will tell tales of heroes and heroines who built their empire around China. In the previous scenario, Jin, Hsi Hsia, Tanguts, Xi Xia, and Great Jin can be replaced to the correct civilizations. Some of the following ideas has been proposed by others before.
Civilizations:
Tangut (Monk and camel):
Northern Chinese architectural style
unique unit:
Poxi ę³¼å (camel catapult)
Bubazi ę„č·å(fast infantry similar to Eagle Warriors)
Tieyaozi éµé·å(heavy armored cavalry)
Khitan:
Northern Chinese architectural style
unique unit: Tielin éµęč» (heavy armored cavalry) (Song and Khitan both called their armored cavalry the Tielin Army)
Wonder: Pagoda of Fogong Temple
Jurchen (Cavalry):
Northern Chinese architectural style
unique unit: Iron Pagoda éµęµ®å± (heavy armored cavalry)
Campaign:
Li Yuanhao (Tangut): The Tangut people were vassal states of both Liao (Khitan) and Song. Li fought many wars in his early years, looting cities along the Silk Road. He annexed the Ganzhou Uyghur Kingdom and destroyed the Guiyi Circuit. After inheriting the throne, he established the Western Xia. Defeating the Liao invasion. I was deeply impressed by his image in the Japanese movie TonkƓ.
Xiao Chuo (Khitan): Xiao Chuo is a Khitan empress. When her husband died, she was only 30 years old. Xiao was the empress dowager regent, and her son was the 12-year-old Liao emperor. The Song Dynasty thought the Khitan emperor was too young, so they launched a massive attack on Liao. Xiao personally lead the army and defeated the Song army. In order to prevent the alliance between Koreans and Song, Xiao launched a war and invaded Korea. When she was 51 years old, she invaded the Song again, forcing the Song Dynasty to sign a treaty to pay tribute of silver to the Liao every year.
Aguda (Jurchen): Aguda was the leader of the Jurchen tribal alliance. He rebelled against the Liao and established the Jurchen Jin Dynasty. Later, he formed an alliance with Song to attack Liao.
Other:
Maybe add Song Soldiers to the scenario. I think Song style bingli headgear å µē¬ is very unique.
Maybe add Three-bow Bed Crossbow äøå¼åŗ弩 as a more powerful Scorpion unit to the scenario.
3. Empire of Plateau
Focus on the establishment of the powerful Tibetan Empire during the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
Civilization:
Tibetan
Nepalese
GƶktĆ¼rk
Uighur
Campaign:
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Li Shimin (Chinese early stage):
China had just ended the centuries of division and established the unified Sui Dynasty, but the Sui emperor had failed in their repeated invasions of Goguryeo (Korea). The corvĆ©e labor in the country was heavy, and the people were living in poverty. Rebellions broke out in many places. Li Shimin helped his father defeat other rebels and established the Tang Dynasty, unifying China again. Later, in order to fight for the throne, he led his troops to ambush his brother, and he killed his brother, and forced his father to abdicate. After inheriting the throne, he eliminated the Eastern Turkic Khaganate (GƶktĆ¼rk), maintained friendship with the newly rising Tibetan Empire through marriage and defeated Goguryeo (Korea). -
Songtsen Gampo (Tibetan): 13-year-old Songtsen Gampo succeeded to the throne and suppressed the rebellions. Unified the various tribes and established the Tibetan Empire. By marrying a Nepalese princess, Tibetan intervened in Nepalās war of succession and turned Nepal into a vassal state of Tibetan. He defeated Tuyuhun, invaded Tang, and married Princess Wencheng, niece of Li Shimin. This marriage is very famous in modern China. Because it represents the peaceful and friendly relations between the ancient Tibetan regime and the Chinese regime. Magadha kingdom (In India) detained Tang envoys. Songtsen Gampo sent troops and Nepalese army to defeat Magadha and rescue the envoys.
Historical Battles campaign:
Battle of Talas