ˈæftɚ jˈuːən sˈɜːvd æz ðə ɡˈʌvɚnɚɹ ʌv dʒˈaɪ pɹˈɑːvɪns fɔːɹ sˈɛvən jˈɪɹz, ɪn fˈoːɹhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti sˈɪks, hiː wʌz ɹᵻkˈɔːld bˈæk tə ðə kˈæpɪɾəl pɪŋtʃˈɛŋ tʃˈaɪniːzlˌɛɾɚ tʃˈaɪniːzlˌɛɾɚ, ɪn mˈɑːdɚn dˈæɾɑːŋ, ʃˈæŋksi ænd pɹəmˈoʊɾᵻd tə bˌiːɪŋ ðə kəmˈændɚɹ ʌvðɪ ˈɑːɹmd fˈoːɹsᵻz, ɔːlðˈoʊ hɪz ˈæktʃuːəl pˈaʊɚɹ æt ðɪs tˈaɪm wʌz ʌŋklˈɪɹ, fɔːɹ hɪstˈɔːɹɪkəl ɐkˈaʊnts dɪdnˌɑːt mˌeɪk mˈɛni ɹˈɛfɹənsᵻz tə hˌɪm.
After Yuan served as the governor of Ji Province for seven years, in 466, he was recalled back to the capital Pingcheng (平城, in modern Datong, Shanxi) and promoted to being the commander of the armed forces, although his actual power at this time was unclear, for historical accounts did not make many references to him.