Changes

When Yuan died in 1916, the officers of the Beiyang army divided into rival cliques. Puyi, the former Qing emperor, was briefly restored in 1917. It took eleven days for Premier Duan Qirui, leader of the pro-Japanese Anhui clique, to defeated the imperialists and reinstate the republic. In 1920, the Zhili clique defeated Anhui's forces and Duan was ousted. Zhili warlord Cao Kun gained the presidency in 1923 by paying out bribes of 5,000 silver dollars each to members of the National Assembly. Not reconciled to Zhili's ascendency, the Japanese backed the rival Fengtian clique led by Zhang Zuolin, the pro-Japanese warlord of Manchuria appointed by Yuan. In October 1924, a Zhili commander defected, marched into Beijing, and evicted Puyi from the Forbidden City. The "Beijing coup," as it was called, soon collapsed. But Zhili had lost the upper hand in its war with Fengtian.

When Yuan died in 1916, the officers of the Beiyang army divided into rival cliques. Puyi, the former Qing emperor, was briefly restored in 1917. It took eleven days for Premier Duan Qirui, leader of the pro-Japanese Anhui clique, to defeated the imperialists and reinstate the republic. In 1920, the Zhili clique defeated Anhui's forces and Duan was ousted. Zhili warlord Cao Kun gained the presidency in 1923 by paying out bribes of 5,000 silver dollars each to members of the National Assembly. Not reconciled to Zhili's ascendency, the Japanese backed the rival Fengtian clique led by Zhang Zuolin, the pro-Japanese warlord of Manchuria appointed by Yuan. In October 1924, a Zhili commander defected, marched into Beijing, and evicted Puyi from the Forbidden City. The "Beijing coup," as it was called, soon collapsed. But Zhili had lost the upper hand in its war with Fengtian.

The fighting in 1924 was far more destructive than earlier disputes among the warlords, leaving many Chinese fed up with the warlords. In November, Duan was named president. This time around, Duan was no longer a clique leader, but rather a stalking horse for Zhang. Politically, Zhang's Manchuria was a world apart from the rest of China. While attitudes in southern and eastern China had modernized during the May Fourth Movement of 1915-1921, Manchurians still dreamed of an imperial restoration and honored Puyi. A Manchurian warlord at the helm was the last straw for many. There was massive public support for the KMT's May Thirtieth protests in 1925. As China's internationally recognized government, Beijing still received the revenue of the Chinese Maritime Customs Service, which had international management. But Manchuria had long been overtaxed to support Zhang's adventurism. The customs revenue was not enough to prevent an economic collapse in 1927–1928.

The fighting in 1924 was far more destructive than earlier disputes among the warlords, leaving many Chinese fed up with the warlords. In November, Duan was named president. This time around, Duan was no longer a clique leader, but rather a stalking horse for Zhang. Politically, Zhang's Manchuria was a world apart from the rest of China. While attitudes in southern and eastern China had modernized during the May Fourth Movement of 1915-1921, Manchurians still dreamed of an imperial restoration and honored Puyi. A Manchurian warlord at the helm was the last straw for many. There was massive public support for the KMT's May Thirtieth protests in 1925. In October 1926, a facade of civilian government was restored with the respected diplomat [[Wellington Koo]] as president. As China's internationally recognized government, Beijing still received the revenue of the Chinese Maritime Customs Service, which had international management. In response to the KMT's Northern Expedition, Zhang brushed Koo aside in June 1927 and established a military government.

 

Meanwhile, Zhang's Manchurian power based was slipping into a tailspin. The region had long been overtaxed to support Fengtian adventurism. The winter of 1927-1928 saw the Beiyang heartland roiled with strikes, financial chaos, and starving peasants. The Zhang government had only soldiers left, and no future to offer the Chinese people.

==Culture and fashion==

==Culture and fashion==