Zhang Lingyun was a Northwestern Army officer under the warlord Feng Yuxiang.
He was made the general commanding 6th Corps of the Anti Japanese Army.
When the Anti Japanese army was dispersed in August 1933, Song Zheyuan made him Baochang garrison commander in Chahar.
In September 1933, he assisted Fu Zuoyi against some of his former comrades, pursuing and blocking them east of Ertaizi, Suiyuan when they attempted to move west to Ningxia via Suiyuan, forcing them east to join Fang Zhenwu at Dushikou.
In August 1937 Zhang had become commander of the 37th Division succeeding Feng Chian.