 Zhang Zuolin, who had pacified the provincial assembly with the threat of force, was made the commander of the 27th Division.During Yuan Shikai's attempt to restore the Empire of China, Yuan tried to gain Zhang's support by promoting him to the position of military governor of Fengtian.When Yuan failed and died in 1916, Zhang seized the opportunity to expel the military governor of Manchuria, Duan Zhigui.