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I did it as China 1.7

Step 1: ACCEPT OPIUM AND BE FRIENDS WITH BRITAIN, YOU NEED THE TRADE DEAL AND DEFENSIVE PACT
I supported the great powers in their minor conflicts to keep them protective of me, only india hated my guts

Step 2 (WORST PART): RNGJESUS FOR HOMESTEADING FROM AGITATOR, I GOT IT TWICE AND PASSED THE SECOND TIME (any preserve serfdom will cause a civil war)
Step 2.2: Support Landowners to keep them happy enough (if they hate japan, you hate japan). Homesteading will make them radical unless you appease their support groups

Step 3: DONT BANKRUPT (Bureaucracy is a bitch)

Step 4: Build 30 Groceries over 9 years (and once you are militarily and socially techsavy, just rush food industry tech and wait)
Step 4.2 maximize economy of scale by privatizing the food industries, building 30 in the same province, and export as much groceries as possible.