He was removed from office for his abuses and assassinated in 1933 for his involvement in helping the Empire of Japan attempt to establish the monarchy of Puyi in northern China.

Born in 1881, Zhang joined the Beiyang Army, rising to the rank of general, and then was part of the Anhui clique.

While he was governor, his troops committed many atrocities including the killing of civilians, robbing the wealthy, and rape.

At Yueyang on June 16, 1920, Zhang's troops murdered an American missionary, William A. Reimert.

In 1933, the Empire of Japan began setting up a puppet government in northern China with Puyi as the ruling monarch.