If a dynasty is perceived to have lost the “mandate of heaven” there are rebellions.
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The concept of the Mandate of Heaven was first used to support the rule of the kings of the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BCE), and legitimize their overthrow of the earlier Shang dynasty (1600–1069 BCE). It was used throughout the history of China to legitimize the successful overthrow and installation of new emperors, including by non-Han Chinese monarchs such as the Qing (1636–1912).
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandate_of_Heaven
Xi is and Mao was acutely aware of the concept, partly as the reason they have to tightly control the people. Every emperor from the Zhou to the Reds has been the head of a bureaucratic totalitarianism. Every one was quick to exterminate villages of their own subjects if someone in the village displeased him. This disease outbreak is strong evidence that they have lost the Mandate. They are probably pretty frantic right now to instill in the population and to competing princes (politburo members or, more likely, generals) that they have it under control and the people are safe.