 A Hui, Ma Hongkui graduated from Lanzhou Military Academy (aka Gansu Military Academy) in 1909, and became commander of the Ningxia Modern Army and commander of the 7th Division after the founding of the republic.He was in Beijing until Cao Kun's presidency (1923–24), even though he was the commander of the Ningxia Army.He was at one point the Ningxia, Shaanxi and Mongolia "Bandit Suppression Commander".