The literature of the Northern Dynasty began to decline into a doldrum following the Cui Hao "national history" case during the rule of Taiwu emperor of Northern Wei dynasty, also known as the Pingcheng regime. The development of literature was affected by adverse political and economic conditions. Following the occurrence of the Cui Hao "national history" case, several northern and Hexi clans were exterminated in a development that dealt a direct and fatal blow to the prospects of literature. A reappraisal of the causes and effects of the Pingcheng regime and the Cui Hao case will contribute to the study of the different stages of development of Northern Dynasty literature.