July 3, 1920 Marshals Tsao Kun, Chang Tso-lin and Wang Chan-yuan, three High Inspecting Commissioners, sent a joint telegram to Peking denouncing the action of General Hsu Shu-tseng, the real head of the Anfu Faction who was then Commander-in-Chief of the Frontier Defence Force. Three days later, General Hsu mobilized the Frontier Defence Troops in the direction of Paotingfu declaring to fight the Chihli Troops. Another three days later President Hsu Shi-chang acting upon the petition of the College of Marshals dismissed Marshal Tsao and General Wu from official posts. On July 12, 1920, Marshal Tsao with the promised support of Marshal Chang Tso-lin accepted the challenge of the Anfu Leader in a circular telegram ordering mobilization of his forces. The next day saw the coming of Chang's troops into Shanhaikuan. The actual encounter commenced on July 14, 1920. Three days later the Anfu forces collapsed and Chihli won the war. On July 26th, 1920 President Hsu cancelled the order of the dismissal of Marshal Tsao and General Wu. On August 14th, Marshal Tsao accompanied by Marshal Chang visited in Peking where he remained until September 4. On August 20, Marshal Tsao was relieved of the High Commissionership of Szechuan, Kuangtung, Hunan and Kiangsi, and was appointed High Inspecting Commissioner of Chihli, Shantung and Honan. Following the Anfu-Chihli War, the Chihli influences extended over many provinces. Marshal Tsao took General Wu Pei-fu into strong confidence. In consequence the hatred of the discontented factions and the Fengtien Warlord gradually centered on Wu Pei-fu who was becoming more outspoken and more serious with the political issues. During 1921 when the feeling between Wu Pei-fu and the opposition parties was becoming worse every day, Marshal Tsao tried his best to remove the understanding as indicated by the fact that he held altogether four conferences with the leaders of the other factions, in April, May, November and December respectively. The December conference was held at the time of Chang Tso-lin's visit in Peking. The sole purpose of Chang's visit was to adjust matters to his own satisfaction and the result of it was the installation of the Liang Shih-i Cabinet. General Wu Pei-fu was much against this new Cabinet. Following the war between the Chihli Fengtien parties Marshal Tsao demanded of the Peking government to reconvoke the First Parliament. On June 2, 1922 he took the lead in a telegram asking President Hsu Shih-chang to retire in favor of General Li Yuan-hung. President Li Yuan-hung entered Peking on June 11, 1922 and resumed his office. On June 13, he reconvoked the Parliament by a Mandate cancelling the Dissolution Order which he himself issued in 1917. The Parliament reassembled in Peking on August 1, 1922. On October 5, 1923 Marshal Tsao Kun was elected President of the Republic by the First Parliament with 480 votes out of a house of 590. On the October 10, 1923, the National Anniversary Day, Marshal Tsao came to Peking and assumed the Office of Presidency. As a result of the defeat of Marshal Wu Pei-fu and the Chihli party in the Civil War which began in September 1924, President Tsao Kun and his Cabinet were deposed and for several months was detained in Peking, upon the order of the Provisional government, supported by Marshal Chang Tso-lin and Feng Yu-hsiang.
