military clique; junta; warlord

tycoon; magnate; powerful corporation; conglomerate

bottom valve; foot valve

steam valve

ball valve

a sleeve valve

angle valve

rich and powerful family

gate valve; sluice valve

top valve; head valve

suction valve

safety valve

a throttle

the Northern Warlords (1912-1927)

Fengtian clique (of northern warlords)

Guangxi warlord faction, from 1911-1930

Anhui faction of Northern Warlords 1911-c.1929

the Zhili faction of the Northern Warlords