During the Second Zhili–Fengtian War, as the Zhili army marched on Fengtian forces, On September 27, 1924, Zheng cabled Cao Kun, the Chinese president.

Beijing sent 250,000 troops with modern weaponry against Zhang Zuolin's forces in Manchuria.

[3] Zheng, who was displeased Fengtian clique leader Zhang Zuolin made Zhang Zongchang commander in Shandong and transferred Zheng to the position of governor of Anhui, declared the province neutral.

Fengtian forces were not allowed entry, and the railroad was torn up as part of the resistance plan.

[4] During the Second Zhili–Fengtian War in 1924, as the Fengtian clique General Zhang Zongchang moved down the Tianjin-Pukou railway toward Jiangsu and eventually Shanghai, Zheng Shiqi declared Shandong's neutrality and forced Zhang's forces into retreat to Cangzhou.