Zuolin was born to poor parents. He received little formal education (in fact he nerver learned to read), and the only non-military trade that he learned in his lifetime was a small amount of veterinary science. When he became old enough to work, he got a job at a stable in an inn, where he became familiar with many bandit gangs operating in yan Space at the time.he already was part of one of said gangs, during the clone War, Zuolin and his gang were hired as mercenaries. In peacetime he hired his men out as security escorts for traveling merchants.Zhang managed to have his men recognised as a regiment of the regular yanese army (燕防军) , patrolling the borders of yan Space and suppressing other bandit gangs.Zuolin was the supreme commander(总司令) of Yan military (燕防军) . The central government acknowledged this by appointing him Governor-General of the Three sectors. He began to surround himself in luxury, building a chateau-style home.His power rested on the yan Army (燕防军) . Although yan Space and surrounding sectors officially remained a part of the Republic/empire it became more or less an independent state Zuolin was appointed Grand Marshal(大元帥) .Zuolin formed the yan military Academy (燕军校)

a pragmatist
supportes different movements depending on what would gain him the most power and legitimacy