Shortly after arriving in Nanjing, Yan insinuated himself into a quarrel between the acting president of the Chinese Republic, Li Zongren, and Chiang Kai-shek, who had resigned from the presidency in January 1949.
Tak lama setelah tiba di Nanjing, Yan menjadi pertengkaran antara pejabat presiden Republik Tiongkok, Li Zongren, dan Chiang Kai-shek, yang telah mengundurkan diri dari kursi kepresidenan pada Januari 1949.