Hua Xin


Hua Xin, courtesy name Ziyu, was a government official who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of China. He initially served directly under the central government of the Eastern Han dynasty. Later, he served under the warlord Sun Ce and then under the warlord Cao Cao. He continued to serve in the Cao Wei state during the Three Kingdoms period.

Biography

As a clerk in Gaotang County, Hua Xin was nominated as xiaolian, and appointed as Langzhong. In 187, Hua was appointed as Shangshu Lang. When Dong Zhuo evacuated the court from Luoyang to Chang'an, Hua requested a position as the administrator of Shanggui County . He encountered Yuan Shu's army en route and was accepted to the latter's court. However, Hua left after his advice for Yuan to attack Dong Zhuo was dismissed.
In 192, Hua was appointed as the administrator of Yuzhang Commandery. After Liu Yao, governor of Yang Province died, his troops were willing to transfer the commandership to Hua. Hua declined, believing it to be inappropriate as an official of the Han. He joined the forces of Sun Ce as the latter was preparing the conquest of Jiangdong. Sun treated him as an honored guest.
In 200, after Sun Ce was assassinated, the imperial court under Cao Cao called Hua back to Luoyang. Sun Quan was hesitant to allow him to go, but Hua convinced Sun that his departure would be a sign of goodwill to Cao Cao. Eventually, Hua replaced Xun Yu as the Shangshu Ling. In 213, Hua was Junshi in Cao's war against Sun Quan. In 217, Hua became the first Grandee Secretary in the Kingdom of Wei. In 220, Hua became the Chancellor of Wei, and the Marquis of Anle Ting.
In 221, Hua was appointed the Minister over the Masses. In 226, Hua was granted the Marquis of Boping, and appointed as Grand Commandant. In 230, he objected to Cao Zhen's plans to attack Shu, resulting in the campaign being aborted. Hua died in 232.

Legacy

A famous story of Hua Xin was recorded in A New Account of the Tales of the World: