Zhang had made no serious attempt to coordinate the resistance of the Fujian fleet, and was demoted by the Empress Dowager Cixi on 19 September 1884 and replaced as Fujian defense commissioner by the veteran general Zuo Zongtang.
In September 1884, Zhang did not successfully organize the Fujian fleet's resistance, which resulted in his demotion by Empress Dowager Cixi. Veteran general Zuo Zongtang was then appointed as the new Fujian defense commissioner.