In the summer of 1920 Zhang made a foray into north China on the other side of the Great Wall trying to topple Duan Qirui, the leading warlord of Beijing.

Duanqirui dismissed the parliament after Beijing Coup.

Duan is seated beside other military leaders and cabinet members in extravagant formal attire and before a somewhat bucolic backdrop of weeping willow trees.

After Duan Qirui and Wan clique took the power, the central government run by the Bei Yang declined obviously.

After the 1924 Beijing coup, Feng Yuxiang began to seek military support of the Soviet Union in order to counter Zhang Zuolin and Duan Qirui.