Twenty-One Demands
Following the 1911 Wuchang Uprising Qu rose in revolt, becoming commander of the 2nd Division. In 1912 he was promoted to Major General. He was President of the Baoding Military Academy from 1913 to 1915. He was removed after opposing Yuan Shikai's capitulation to the Twenty-One Demands. Following the death of Yuan Shikai, Qu was given military commands again by the Anhui clique.