Born in Hebei province, he became an important military officer in Feng Yuxiang's Northwestern Army.

After the 1930 Central Plains War he took the post of 29th Army Deputy commander.

He became Chairman of the government of Chahar Province in June 1936, holding it until October 1938.

During the Battle of Henan-Hunan-Guangxi, at the time of the Battle of West Henan-North Hubei in 1945 he was in command of the Western Henan Garrison and Western Henan Forces, the 2nd Army Group.

During the Chinese Civil War in 1948, he was in command of 8th Army in the disastrous Huaihai Campaign.