 A loyal follower of Zhang Zuolin, he was the commander of the 27th Regiment, 27th Division, of the Fengtian Defence Force from 1911-16 as Zhang Zuolin took control of Fengtian.He rose up through the ranks of the new Fengtian Army as commander of a brigade (1916–19), acting commanerd of 27th Division (1919, 1920) and Fengtian garrison commander (1919).From 1920-22 he was staff officer for the Military Governor of Fengtian, Zhang Zuolin himself.