Guizhou clique

Guizhou clique
黔系 Qiánxì
Location of Guizhou on a map of modern China Map of Guizhou with the location of Guiyang, the provincial capital
Active	1916–1935
Country	Republic of China
Commanders
March 1912 – November 1920	Liu Xianshi
November 1920 – March 1921	Wang Wenhua
August 1922 – June 1926	Yuan Zuming
June 1926 – April 1929	Feng Xicheng
February 1932 – May 1935	Wang Jialie

The Guizhou clique, also known as the Qian clique (Qian being the abbreviated name of Guizhou; Chinese: 黔系; pinyin: Qiánxì; Wade–Giles: Chʻien²-hsi⁴), was a minor warlord faction in the Warlord Era of the Republic of China, situated in the province of Guizhou. Due to its weak economic situation, Guizhou warlords were typically dependent on more economically successful warlords such as the Yunnan clique and the Hunan warlords.

The Guizhou warlords were very much focused on family relations, especially the Xingyi clique warlords under the Liu family. These family connections formed the core of Guizhou political power for a long time. The first Guizhou warlord in power was Liu Xianshi, heading the Liu family and the Old Xingyi clique. With the invasion of Guizhou by Yunnan general Tang Jiyao, Liu's enemies were defeated and Guizhou started a lasting relationship with Yunnan and especially Tang Jiyao. Liu Xianshi's nephew, Wang Wenhua, disagreed with much of what Liu did, and was in conflict with him, using student organizations to agitate against him. He staged the Minjiu Incident, which forced Liu to resign his posts as military and civilian governor. Liu fled to Xingyi, with Wang fleeing to Shanghai, finally being assassinated by Liu's supporters in March 1921. Liu Xianshi was thus restored to power in Guizhou, and the rivalry between uncle and nephew ended.

The Guizhou warlords did not participate in many wars or expansions aside from assisting their allies in the Yunnan clique with their expansion into Sichuan. The main power base of the Guizhou warlords shifted from Xingyi to the provincial capital, Guiyang, as warlords changed.