Culture is (to my mind) the strongest force of all when it comes to government, above religion and politics, and Xi’s consolidation of power is true to China’s very long running culture. The only thing that has changed, really, since the “age of Chinese emperors” is the labels by which Chinese government and government leaders have had. It is all theater covering a system that has changed very little.
Mao and Deng both understood they were inheritors of China’s ancient system of governance, more than they were representative of any political philosophy. So does Xi. The great center holds.
Chinese communist revolution is an example of successful religious cult rebellion. Now a religious council is being disbanded and an imperial court is being installed. How long does this empire last in its current form? Xi’s empire will probably face big internal turmoil because Chinese economy is heading for a serious trouble.
Having modern weapons to enforce such loyalty certainly helps, but the penalties for disloyalty haven't changed much for thousands of years.