Zhu Xi are better at opening boat plays than Chinese. They tend to have more gold due to cheaper tech up, Meditation Garden resources, and earlier Imperial Official.

Mass Zhuge Nu can hit hard in Feudal timing because China needs Song Dynasty first, forcing them into horsemen which are countered by spearmen.

With the unique upgrade, Zhu Xi's Zhuge Nu match crossbow range and do more damage to spearmen, so mass infantry can't survive against them.

Archers in mass are definitely able to do a good amount of damage up against the knights but Zhuge Nu in mass without the upgrades not so much.

Usually this is where China has a bit more of an edge, right? Is they have a lot more passive gold income because of the double taxation and the fact they build the extra tax men early.