Guo Tu
Xin Ping started his career as an adviser to the warlord Han Fu, who governed Ji Province (covering much of present-day Hebei) from 189 to 191. In 191, Xin Ping, along with Xun Chen and Guo Tu, managed to persuade Han Fu to give up his governorship of Ji Province to another warlord Yuan Shao, who they said would be in a better position to defend Ji Province from an invasion by a rival warlord Gongsun Zan. Xin Ping subsequently became an official serving under Yuan Shao, and he brought along his younger brother Xin Pi.