[1] Han Xiu's uncle Han Damin (韓大敏) was a more-known official who, during the early reign of Emperor Gaozong's wife Wu Zetian, refused to falsely implicate the official Li Xingbao (李行褒), and ultimately, when Wu Zetian executed Li Xingbao anyway, was forced to commit suicide.
Han Xiu was known for his literary abilities and knowledge, and after he passed the imperial examinations, he was made the secretary general of Taolin County (桃林, in modern Sanmenxia, Henan).
He was subsequently made Zhujue Yuanwailang (主爵員外郎), a low level official at the ministry of civil service affairs (吏部, Libu).
Guo Prefecture was positioned between Chang'an and Luoyang, and as the emperor often travelled between the two capitals, it was often disturbed by the size of the imperial train and often was required to carry out labor.
When his subordinates warned him that this might offend Zhang, Han responded: If a prefect cannot save his people from suffering, why bother governing?
After the mourning period was over, he was recalled to serve as the deputy minister of public works (工部侍郎, Gongbu Shilang) and was again in charge of drafting edicts.
Emperor Xuanzong thus made Han the Huangmen Shilang (黃門侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau, and gave him the designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto.
I, your subject, see that the Grand General Jinwu Cheng Boxian, because of the favors that Your Imperial Majesty has shown him, is greedy and corrupt, and he has built houses and ridden on horses beyond propriety.
If Your Imperial Majesty cannot expel Cheng, I cannot follow your edict and exile Li.Emperor Xuanzong, impressed with Han's blunt talk, agreed.
Emperor Xuanzong, touched by Xiao's tearful request, removed both from chancellor positions later in 733 and made Han the minister of public works (工部尚書, Gongbu Shangshu).