During the Song Dynasty, Zhang Jingxian, a native of Henan, served as the deputy transport commissioner in Huainan. In Shanyang County, a corrupt official named Zheng Fang amassed immense wealth through relentless exploitation, protected by a web of powerful relatives. The people seethed with resentment but dared not speak out, burying their grievances deep in their hearts.
Zhang Jingxian, a man of unwavering integrity who loathed evil as his mortal enemy, soon after taking office made it his top priority to bring the corrupt official Zheng Fang to justice. After meticulous investigation, he had Zheng Fang tried and exiled beyond the Lingnan mountains. When word spread of Zheng Fang's punishment, the other officials who habitually plundered the people's wealth trembled in fear and fled far away.
Later, Zhang Jingxian, recognized for his outstanding governance, was promoted to Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Revenue. He frequently toured the border regions, handling frontier defense matters, gaining deep insight into local customs and conditions, and becoming thoroughly familiar with foreign tribes intent on encroaching upon or attacking Song dynasty cities.
In the early years of the Yuanfeng era, Zhang Jingxian served as the highest official in the Heyang region. At that time, the imperial court was preparing to dispatch troops to suppress invasions by ethnic minorities in the southwest. Zhang Jingxian went to advise the emperor, saying, "Those troublemakers at the border are nothing but petty villains. However, their strongholds are remote, with treacherous terrain that is easy to defend but hard to attack. If Your Majesty orders a large army to march against them, the journey will be long, and if the supply of provisions falls behind, it will demoralize the troops, leaving them trapped and at a disadvantage." The emperor pondered this and replied, "Your words are very reasonable, but the court has no choice. Sending troops is a last resort; otherwise, the situation would be even more dire." Hearing this, Zhang Jingxian said no more.
During the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty, Zhang Jingxian served as an imperial envoy. At that time, the laws were lenient, yet Zhang Jingxian insisted on strict enforcement and cracking down on corruption. By the Xining era, when the laws became harsh, Zhang Jingxian governed the state and investigated offenses with leniency, never impeaching a single official before the new laws were enacted. He upheld justice without fear of the powerful, and unless it was for state affairs, he never visited the homes of the nobility to curry favor. This was the character of Zhang Jingxian.
Later, the idiom "a clown jumping on a beam" came to refer to insignificant villains stirring up trouble.
Source: *History of Song*, "Biography of Zhang Jingxian"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "小丑跳梁" came to describe insignificant villains stirring up trouble.