Wu Yicheng one of Wang Delins companions who had been with him for many years as a bandit, was made one of Wang's company commanders along with Kong Xianrong, when Wang was taken into the Kirin Provincial army and became a battalion commander. Wang Delin refused to submit to the Japanese during the invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and formed the Chinese People's National Salvation Army, Wu became a subordinate leader of one of the largest and most successful of the volunteer armies.