Zhang Xueliang has a close relationship with Guo Songling, and their relationship can be described as a mentor. In fact, Zhang Xueliang didn't want to kill Guo Songling, but Guo Songling failed against the warlords, and both the westerners and the old school wanted to kill Guo Songling. Under the pressure of the situation, Zhang Xueliang could do nothing even if he wanted to save Guo Songling. What's more, Zhang Zuo Lin didn't want to help Guo Songling, and Zhang Xueliang alone could hardly save Guo Songling.
Guo Songling is a very talented person. He studied in Fengtianjun crash school, and he was a little literary and artistic. Later, after graduation, he worked as a teacher in Wujiang Hall of the Army in three northeastern provinces. It was there that he met Zhang Xueliang, made friends with Zhang Xueliang, and gained his trust and preference. Because Zhang Xueliang admired Guo Songling very much, in front of Zhang, Zhang Xueliang recommended Guo Songling to be his right-hand man. Zhang Zuo Lin had no impression of Guo Songlin at that time, so he agreed to Zhang Xueliang's recommendation and made Guo Songling the brigade commander of Zhang Xueliang's Eighth Brigade, the deputy commander of the Third Army and the deputy commander of Jin Yushu garrison headquarters.
But with their different styles of doing things, the contradiction deepens. Guo Songling was dissatisfied with Zhang's conservative warlord style and launched a coup against Zhang's warlord style. Later, the coup failed, and the foreign faction and the old faction among the warlords wanted Zhang Xueliang to execute Guo Songling. Guo Songling's actions have seriously damaged the interests of westerners and the old school. Under such circumstances, it is impossible for Zhang to reuse him. After all, different roads lead to different goals.