 Yuan Lang was said to be intelligent in his youth.In 529, at age 16, Yuan Lang became an army officer, serving on the staff of Yuan Su (元肅) the Prince of Lu Commandery, who was the governor of Si Province (肆州, roughly modern Xinzhou, Shanxi).In spring 531, he became the governor of Bohai Commandery (勃海, in modern Cangzhou, Hebei).