Feng Guozhang
Féng Guózhāng, (馮國璋 Wade-Giles: Feng Kuo-chang courtesy Huafu 華甫 or 華符) (1858 - December 1919) native of Hejian, Hebei. He was a Beiyang Army general and politician in early republican China.
Feng broke with Yuan Shikai when the latter attempted to make himself emperor. Feng then served as vice president under Li Yuanhong and was founder of the Zhili clique of warlords. During the occupation of Beijing by Zhang Xun, Feng served as acting president, a position he kept when Li formally resigned. He was elected the president of the Republic of China on August 1 1917. On August 14, China entered World War One on the side of the Allies after growing evidence of Germany's support for Zhang's coup was uncovered as well as intense lobbying by Premier Duan Qirui. He sent about 100,000 in labor battalions to the Western Front. Sun Yatsen set up a rival government in Guangzhou during September 1917 and also declared war later that month in a failed attempt to get international recognition. Feng wanted to peacefully resolve the north-south conflict which led to Duan resigning in protest. In response, he sent General Cao Kun to drive out Sun's invading troops which led to a reconciliation with Duan. Feng finished the term started by Yuan in 1913 on October 10, 1918 and died in Beijing of illness.
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