 It was named for the general region of the clique's base of power, Zhili Province, now Hebei, and during its height also controlled Jiangsu, Jiangxi, and Hubei.Unlike other cliques, this one was formed by officers who felt discriminated against by Premier Duan Qirui in matters of appointment and promotions.They rallied around President Feng Guozhang who had to share power with Duan's dominant Anhui clique in the Beiyang government.