Duan Qirui (Chinese: 段祺瑞; pinyin: Duàn Qíruì; Wade–Giles: Tuan Ch'i-jui; IPA: [tu̯àn t͡ɕʰíɻu̯èi̯]) (6 March 1865 – November 2, 1936) was a Chinese warlord and politician, commander in the Beiyang Army, and the Provisional Chief Executive of Republic of China (in Beijing) from 1924 to 1926 and the Premier from 1916 to 1918. He was arguably the most powerful man in China from 1916 to 1920.