Final answer:
A person would most likely be hired for the Han bureaucracy based on their merit and family connections. Recruitment of government officials in Han times was partially meritocratic, with talented or virtuous men being recommended and evaluated. However, family connections also played a significant role in securing a position in the bureaucracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to the question is that a person would most likely be hired for the Han bureaucracy based on their merit and family connections.
In Han times, the recruitment of government officials was partially meritocratic. Talented or virtuous men were recommended by senior officials in the commanderies and kingdoms and sent to the capital for evaluation and appointment. These recommended men then went through an assessment, possibly an examination, to test their reading and writing abilities.
However, family connections also played a significant role in securing a position in the bureaucracy. Clans with a close relationship to the imperial house had the privilege to designate a son or nephew for office. The influential noble families were exempt from some taxes and labor for the state, and had legal superiority over commoners.