National Protection War
He enlisted in the Huai Army in 1881, before joining the New Army in 1895. He entered the military academy at Tianjin in 1885, becoming an instructor in 1887. In 1905, he was put in charge of New Army units from Shandong and Guangdong provinces. In 1911, he was sent to suppress the Wuchang Uprising, but later went supported the revolutionaries through the influence of relative Feng Yuxiang. In 1912, he participated in the formation of the Beiyang government of the Republic of China. In June 1914, he was sent to Shaanxi Province to suppress the Bai Lang Rebellion. From December 1915 to 1916, he fought in the National Protection War in defense of the Empire of China, but refused to support Zhang Xun's restoration of the Qing dynasty in July 1917.