 He was promoted as commander-in-chief of the 24th Army Group and became provincial governor of Hebei province.During his tenure as governor, his forces was clashed with the communist Eighth Route Army which led the two sides to work out a political settlement which led to the easing of armed conflicts soon afterwards.In 1941, the Japanese Northern China Area Army under General Hayao Tada launched Battle of South Shanxi which resulted in a defeat of the Nationalist forces.