Following the end of the Northern Expedition, a coalition of warlords led by Feng Yuxiang, Yan Xishan and the New Guangxi clique who had supported the National Revolutionary Army attempted to wrestle control from Chiang Kai-shek's Nanjing government in the Central Plains War.

As part of their proposed Sichuan invasion plan, the Imperial Japanese Army attacked Western Hubei, hoping to destroy the Chongqing government's last remaining power base.

As a result of Hu's military record, his unit was deployed around Central and Eastern China as a firefighting brigade against the Chinese Communists.

Before the Huaihai Campaign in 1948, Hu's father died and he had dental problems from jaw wound suffered in battle of Shanghai, and thus he was absent from the military front.

[1] In Taiwan, Hu played a major role in Taiwan–Vietnam relations, serving as the ambassador to South Vietnam in Saigon from 1964 to 1972.

[2] Chiang Kai-shek had deep faith in his military leadership and gave a sword with inlaid jewels to Hu.