Abstract: The relationship between history and literature has long been a puzzling question. For Guo Moruo, historic research and creation of historical literature must stick to two different approaches respectively: the former tells things as they were while the latter only grabs the soul. The long practice of creating historical literature yields a basic principle, that is, being faithful to major historic facts while being creative with details. Under this principle, to examine the Nianjun Uprising, the grand peasant movement in the 19th century from a brand new angle will endow the characters with tragic historic meanings and meet the expectations from readers of the new era.