[1] Upon completing his education, Zhang taught law in Jilin and worked for the Shenzhou Daily, a Shanghai newspaper.

Zhang remained a high-ranking assemblyman until 1925, when he was named director of the National Tobacco and Alcohol Affairs Department.

[1][2] Zhang helped consolidate the Nationalist government in 1928, working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

From April 1930, Zhang served dual appointments in the foreign and interior ministries.

[1][2] Soon after the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out, Zhang organized a resistance movement against the Japanese.