However, Zhang Zuolin, leader of the Fengtian clique, became increasingly uneasy with Wu Peifu's vehement anti-Japanese stance that threatened to upset the delicate arrangement Zhang had reached with the Japanese in his power base of Manchuria.
Men Zhang Zuolin, leder af Fengtianklikken, blev stadig mere foruroliget over Wu Peifus kraftige antijapanske holdninger, som han mente truede den sårbare overenskomst, som Zhang havde indgået med japanerne i hans magtbase i Manchuriet.