In 309, after Shi Le occupied Julu and Changshan commanderies, Zhi Xiong was made one of his "talon and teeth" (爪牙) along with Kong Chang, Kui An, Tao Bao and Lu Ming (逯明).
[3] In 312, Zhi Xiong was one of the many generals to besiege Xuanyang (苑鄕, in present-day Hebei and Beijing) after the inhabitants renounce their allegiance to Han-Zhao and surrendered the Youzhou's warlord Wang Jun.
Wang Jun assisted the rebels by attacking Shi Le's base at Xiangyang, but was repelled, so people of Xuanyang surrendered back to Zhao.
His duty was to prevent and settle any conflict among the tribal people and ensure that they do not oppress the Han Chinese officials within Shi Le's territory.
Zhi Xiong was made Grand Dragon-Soaring General and together with Yao Yizhong, they were given 70,000 cavalry under their command to serve as the vanguard against the tribe's chieftain, Duan Liao.
During the campaign, Zhi Xiong made a long march to Jicheng, forcing the administrators of Yuyang, Shanggu and Dai to surrender while capturing forty cities.