ɪn fˈoːɹhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti, jˈuːən wʌz wˈʌn ʌvðə dʒˈɛnɚɹəlz fɚɹə mˈeɪdʒɚɹ ɐtˈæk ðæt ˈɛmpɚɹɚ zˈaɪənwən, hˌuː hæd baɪ ðˈɛn ɐsˈuːmd ɪmpˈɪɹiəl pˈaʊɚz, mˌeɪd ɐɡˈɛnst ɹˈɜːɹən.
In 470, Yuan was one of the generals for a major attack that Emperor Xianwen, who had by then assumed imperial powers, made against Rouran.