Zhang Zuolin, the Hero of Troubled Times

Zhang Zuolin (March 19, 1875 - June 4, 1928), Han nationality, named Yuting, was born in Beixiaowa Village, Haicheng County, Fengtian Province. The Beiyang warlords were the leaders of the clique. Zhang Zuolin was born in a poor peasant family since he was a child. He participated in the Sino-Japanese Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1894 and later joined the Green Forest. His power grew so strong that the Qing government was unable to conquer him and recruited him to peace. Zhang Zuolin assisted the Qing government in wiping out Du Lisan and other bandit forces, and later eliminated the trouble. He successively served as the military governor of Fengtian and the patrol envoy of the three northeastern provinces. He was known as the "King of the Northeast" and became the leader of the Fengcian faction of the Beiyang warlords. After the victory of the Second Zhili-Fengtian War, Zhang Zuolin entered Beijing and served as Marshal of the Army and Navy. He exercised his power of governance on behalf of the Republic of China and became the supreme ruler of the country. On June 3, 1928, Zhang Zuolin was forced to return to Northeast China due to unfavorable fighting conditions on the front line.