Huá Xīn, styled Zǐyú, was a man from Gāotáng, Píngyuán. Gāotáng was famed as a capital of Qí and of the clothed and capped, there was no lack of them parading within the city. Xīn served as a minor official and whenever granted a recess, he would leave the administration post, return home, and shut the gates. He would discuss with fairness and in the end, would never defame nor distress the receiver.[a] From the same commandery was Táoqiū Hóng, who was also well-known, and he considered himself to be more enlightened and perceptive than Xīn. At the time, Wáng Fēn and other prominent heroes schemed to depose the Spirited Emperor. This can be found in the Annals of the Martial [Emperor].[b] Fēn secretly called Xīn and Hóng to agree and set upon a plan. Hóng intended to follow along, but Xīn stopped him, saying, “To depose the enthroned is an urgent matter. Yī and Huò themselves were in a dilemma. Fēn, by nature, is careless and also lacks martial prowess, so this certainly will not succeed. Instead, disaster will reach our clans. Sir, you should not go!" Hóng heeded Xīn’s words and ceased. Later, Fēn indeed was defeated, and Hóng henceforth showed humbleness to him.

[a] (Original Annotation) The Brevity of Wèi states: Xīn, along with Bǐng Yuán of Běihǎi, and Guǎn Níng, together toured and studied. The three men were mutually friendly and contemporaries nicknamed the three "The Dragon”. Xīn was the dragon’s head; Yuán was the dragon’s abdomen; Níng was the dragon’s tail. Your servant Sōngzhī believes regarding Bǐng Gēnjǔ, his accolades for plans and virtue may not necessarily be shamed by Duke Huá’s. Guǎn Yòu'ān cherished virtue abroad, so perhaps it would not be rational to make him the tail. This statement of the Brevity of Wèi cannot be used to determine who is first and onward.

[b] (Original Annotation) The Book of Wèi acclaims Fēn of having great fame under heaven.

華歆字子魚，平原高唐人也。高唐爲齊名都，衣冠無不游行市里。歆爲吏，休沐出府，則歸家闔門。議論持平，終不毀傷人。〔A〕同郡陶丘洪亦知名，自以明見過歆。時王芬與豪傑謀廢靈帝。語在《武紀》。〔B〕芬陰呼歆、洪共定計，洪欲行，歆止之曰：「夫廢立大事，伊、霍之所難。芬性踈而不武，此必無成，而禍將及族。子其無往！」洪從歆言而止。後芬果敗，洪乃服。舉孝廉，除郎中，病，去官。

〔A〕 《魏略》曰：歆與北海邴原、管寧俱游學，三人相善，時人號三人爲「一龍」，歆爲龍頭，原爲龍腹，寧爲龍尾。　臣松之以爲邴根矩之徽猷懿望，不必有愧華公，管幼安含德高蹈，又恐弗當爲尾。《魏略》此言，未可以定其先後也。

〔B〕 《魏書》稱芬有大名於天下。

During the Huángchū era, an imperial edict called for the Excellencies and Ministers to recommend seclusive but excellent men. Xīn nominated Guǎn Níng, so the Emperor hence sent a small carriage to summon him. When the Enlightened ascended the throne, he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Bópíng and increased the fief to 500 households, joining with the previous to have 1,300 households. He transferred to be respected as Grand Commandant.