 Li Genyuan () sent a representative to Southeast Asia to invite Cen back to China to join the revolutionaries in their war against Yuan Shikai.On 4 January 1916, Cen returned to Shanghai, met Liang Qichao, and discussed with him how to deal with Yuan Shikai.He wrote letters to his former subordinates Lu Rongting and Long Jiguang, who were in control of Guangxi and Guangdong respectively, to declare independence from Yuan Shikai's regime.