Following the establishment of the State of Manchukuo in March 1932, Zhang was reappointed to command his old force, which was now renamed the Taoliao Army. He led Manchukouan troops against the Anti-Japanese Volunteer Armies during the Pacification of Manchukuo and in the Japanese invasion of Rehe in Operation Nekka. Afterwards he was appointed to command the newly organized Rehe Guard Army, which became the 5th District Army "Chengde" after the 1934 reorganization of the Manchukuoan Army. From March 1933 to November 1934 he was Governor of Rehe Province. He was promoted to full general in the Manchukuo Army in 1936. In 1941 he went into retirement.