Wu P'ei-fu

Wu P'ei-fu (w pā`-f), 1874–1939, Chinese general and political leader. He had a distinguished military career under the Ch'ing dynasty and was an important figure in the republic. For the most part Wu supported Yüan Shih-k'ai during his presidency. After Yüan's death (1916) Wu, as leader of the Zhili military faction, almost continuously warred with other military leaders, notably Chang Tso-lin, for the control of N China and the Beijing government. In 1926 he was defeated by the Northern Expedition armies.