Yang Zengxin
Muslim Gen. Ma Anliang, in cooperation with Yang, attempted to arrest and execute Yihewani (Ikhwan in Arabic) leader Ma Wanfu. Ma Qi, one of Ma Anliang's subordinates, staged a rescue operation and brought Ma Wanfu to Xining. Ma Anliang and Yang Zengxin were both monarchists and did not trust republicanism, and had served in the Qing military together.