The Qing dynasty was saved by a powerful military aristocracy. The war against the progressive South, however, has split China apart for nearly a decade.The empire controlled the Northern part of China proper during the Civil War, including Zhili (plus most of the Northeast), Shandong, as well as Mongolia, Xinjiang and Tibet; the strategically superior position allowed the victory against the rebellious Southern Chinese. Da Qing relies heavily on heavy industries and has a remarkaby modern military. It was a modernized military aristocracy that saved the Qing dynasty from its demise; the emperor however, has lost his formerly absolute power and is now an isolated puppet while the state is de facto a military oligarchy. There were still emperors, however, with remarkable political influence