 In the Warlord Era he was in the Northwest Army of Feng Yuxiang, Northern Expedition with Zhang Zuolin and Northwest Army for Yan Xishan against Chiang Kai-shek in Central Plains War.Then he commanded forces during the 2nd, 3rd and 5th Campaigns against the Jiangxi Soviet.During the Second Sino-Japanese War he commanded the 1st Army in the Northern Peiking – Hankow Railway Operation (August 1937).