Feng Guozhang

Féng Guózhāng, (simplified Chinese: 冯国璋; traditional Chinese: 馮國璋; Wade–Giles: Feng Kuo-chang; courtesy: Huafu 華甫 or 華符) (January 7, 1859 – December 12, 1919) was a key Beiyang Army general and politician in early republican China. He held the office of Vice-President and then President of the Republic of China. He is considered the founder of the Zhili Clique of Warlords that vied for control of northern China during the chaotic Warlord era.

Early life

Feng Guozhang was born to a peasant family in Hejian, Hebei (then called "Zhili"). His family had fallen on hard times and was forced to sell its property to educate its sons; however being the fourth son, Feng was unable to complete his education due to costs. He reputedly had to survive part of his early life by playing the violin in disreputable theatres.

Early career

Without much recourse, Feng enlisted himself in the army, then undergoing reforms that would eventually create the Beiyang Army under the command of Yuan Shikai. Feng performed admirably and came to the notice of a battalion commander who referred him to the Baoding Military Academy. It was at Baoding where he would make key friends and allies who would serve him well later on. In 1895, Feng was sent to Tokyo to serve as a military attaché and came to the attention of Yuan Shikai, who began to groom him to be one of his supporters within the Beiyang Army. However, when Yuan was forced to retire in 1908 by Manchu nobles fearful of his growing power, Feng managed to maintain a good relationship with both sides.