Ma clique
Chiang intended the allied northwest Ma clique to have the strength to cope with Sun Dianying and to weaken themselves while competing with him. As the Ma warlords saw through this plot, and strongly protested against Sun moving into their territories, Chiang was forced to give in. He ordered Sun to halt his advance through Suiyuan province in November 1933. However, Sun's forces became short of food and restive from their inactivity.