Nouvelle Quatrième armée
Zhang was appointed as the head of the Propaganda Department of Anhui provincial government in April 1938. One year later, he became the deputy director of Political Department of Jiangbei headquarters of the New Fourth Army. In January 1940, he was Communist Party Secretary of Jinpuludong province, and concurrently served as director of Political Department of Fifth detachment of the New Fourth Army. A year later, he became the deputy director of Political Department of Second division of the New Fourth Army. In February 1942, he served as a political commissar of Fourth Brigade of Second division of the New Fourth Army, and concurrently served as head of the Propaganda Department of Huainan.