Zhang Zuolin [a] (March 19, 1875 – June 4, 1928) was a Chinese warlord who ruled Manchuria from 1916 to 1928 and led the Fengtian clique, one of the most powerful factions during the Warlord Era.In 1927, he became the leader of the Beiyang government and was declared Generalissimo of the Republic of China.. Born to a poor peasant's family in Manchuria, Zhang became a prominent bandit in the ...