Complex sentence: Students in Hunan wanted to found a preparatory school, but when the provincial government at Changsha refused to help, they went to Bejing in February 1918 to consult with Li and Cai.
Split into simpler sentences: Students in Hunan wanted to found a preparatory school, but the provincial government at Changsha refused to help. A delegation went to Bejing in February 1918 to consult with Li and Cai.