He and Deng Qiang were known as the "Enemies of Ten Thousands (萬人敵)", a title previously held by the generals Guan Yu and Zhang Fei during the end of the Han dynasty.
Zhang Ci was born into a family named Gong (弓) in Xuanshi county (泫氏; in modern-day Jincheng, Shanxi), Shangdang.
[2] His adoptive father, Zhang Ping was the Inspector of Bingzhou during the time of Later Zhao but became an independent warlord following the state's swift decline in 351.
[3] By 357, Zhang Ping was the strongest warlord in northern China and was seeking to establish his state to compete with Former Qin and Former Yan.
After Fu Jian reached Tongbi (銅壁, in modern-day Tongchuan, Shaanxi) in March, Zhang Ping led his entire army against him.
After Shuang, Wu and also Liu were subdued, Zhang Ci and Yang An were joined by Deng Qiang and Wang Jian (王鑒) to spearhead the assault on the rebel's last stronghold.
Zhang Ci did so, and after giving out a loud cry, they broke open the gate to allow the Qin soldiers to enter and capture Murong Zhuang.
Zhang Ci retreated to Shencheng (慎城, in modern-day Fuyang, Anhui) while Yuan Qin's troops scattered at the news of their reinforcements' defeat.
[9] In 376, Fu Jian invaded the Tuoba state of Dai after they attacked the Qin's ally, the Tiefu chieftain Liu Weichen.
However, faced with Xie Xuan's larger forces, Zhang Ci decided to retreat back north, setting up the Battle of Fei River.
[12] In the battle, the Qin forces were tricked into making a panicked and unorganized retreat, scattering the troops for the Jin soldiers led by Xie Xuan to easily dispatch.
Qin lost the battle with heavy casualties, but in their retreat, Zhang Ci managed to repel Xie Shi from pursuing them.
During this time, Zhang Ci was sought by the Dugu chieftain, Liu Toujuan (劉頭眷) to quell the rebelling Xianbei Bai (鮮卑皆) tribes.