How is Zhang Zongchang still around?

Shandong’s content is old, but is there any real reason? His province might as well be a German economic playground with Russian bandits. Zhang’s province was constantly in economic collapse and his army was unsustainable. Social unrest was constant from elites to peasants even before the KMT got anywhere. Surely someone would’ve tried to get a free province? The Zhili shouldn’t trust him and the second the league war happens, Shandong should cease to exist, let alone after Black Monday. The sheer existence of Qu Yongying and the other guy should have collapsed his regime years ago. The Zhili’s best interest is to get rid of Zhang as soon as possible and get someone friendly to the central government like Qu in charge.