鎮海衛城建于明洪武二十年(1387年),系江夏侯周德興筑以備倭,它比漳浦趙家堡還早180余年,其規模也比趙家堡大一倍多。據《海(hai)(hai)澄縣志(zhi)》載:其周長(chang)873丈,城(cheng)脊(ji)寬1丈3尺,高(gao)(gao)2丈2尺,有(you)女墻1660個,窩鋪20個,垛口720個,開東西南(nan)北四(si)門和水門,門各有(you)樓(lou)。登高(gao)(gao)府視,城(cheng)下陡絕(jue),以海(hai)(hai)為(wei)壕。城(cheng)墻歷經(jing)戰火,歲久傾(qing)圯(yi)。明(ming)正紡(fang)十(shi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1448年(nian)(nian)(nian))衛指揮同知(zhi)桂福,弘(hong)治年(nian)(nian)(nian)間衛指揮袁侯(hou),隆(long)慶(qing)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1569年(nian)(nian)(nian))明(ming)總兵張元(yuan)勛等先(xian)后重修。清順治十(shi)八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1661年(nian)(nian)(nian))對沿海(hai)(hai)實 行遷界政策,衛城(cheng)在(zai)界外,遂廢。康熙二直(zhi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1681年(nian)(nian)(nian))再修。
衛城(cheng)(cheng)遺(yi)址,便是當時(shi)重(zhong)(zhong)修的故壘。四(si)個城(cheng)(cheng)門巋(kui)然矗立。南(nan)門和水門較為完(wan)好,尚有石墻數丈。南(nan)門建(jian)有兩(liang)重(zhong)(zhong)城(cheng)(cheng)門,人城(cheng)(cheng)門兩(liang)側筑一(yi)半月形城(cheng)(cheng)墻,俗稱月眉城(cheng)(cheng)(簡稱月城(cheng)(cheng))。
內外城門(men)錯開,便于(yu)藏(zang)兵納將,防御進犯(fan)之(zhi)(zhi)敵(di)(di),足見古人(ren)建城用(yong)心(xin)之(zhi)(zhi)細。衛(wei)(wei)(wei)城的“衛(wei)(wei)(wei)”,為明朝(chao)軍(jun)(jun)事(shi)(shi)建制,每(mei)衛(wei)(wei)(wei)設(she)有(you)(you)衛(wei)(wei)(wei)軍(jun)(jun)5600名(ming)(ming)(ming)。名(ming)(ming)(ming)下設(she)千戶(hu)所(suo)(suo)(suo)(suo)、百(bai)(bai)戶(hu)所(suo)(suo)(suo)(suo)。每(mei)千戶(hu)所(suo)(suo)(suo)(suo)有(you)(you)兵1120名(ming)(ming)(ming),每(mei)百(bai)(bai)戶(hu)所(suo)(suo)(suo)(suo)有(you)(you)兵112名(ming)(ming)(ming)。百(bai)(bai)戶(hu)所(suo)(suo)(suo)(suo)設(she)總(zong)旗(qi)二(每(mei)旗(qi)50名(ming)(ming)(ming)),小旗(qi)十(shi)(每(mei)旗(qi)10名(ming)(ming)(ming)),沿海(hai)的衛(wei)(wei)(wei)、所(suo)(suo)(suo)(suo)還配有(you)(you)哨船若(ruo)干。其長官(guan),衛(wei)(wei)(wei)稱(cheng)指(zhi)揮使,所(suo)(suo)(suo)(suo)稱(cheng)千戶(hu)、百(bai)(bai)戶(hu)。據《鎮海(hai)衛(wei)(wei)(wei)志》載(zai):此衛(wei)(wei)(wei)原有(you)(you)官(guan)賓5300名(ming)(ming)(ming),歷任指(zhi)揮使18名(ming)(ming)(ming),轄(xia)(xia)陸鰲(今漳(zhang)浦),銅(tong)山(今東山)、懸鐘(zhong)(今詔安)3千戶(hu)所(suo)(suo)(suo)(suo),清朝(chao)時僅留旗(qi)軍(jun)(jun)1042名(ming)(ming)(ming),相當于(yu)一個千戶(hu)所(suo)(suo)(suo)(suo)兵力。遷界后廢除衛(wei)(wei)(wei)的建制,改(gai)隸漳(zhang)浦縣(xian)二十(shi)三都八 圖,至雍正(zheng)十(shi)二年(1734年)才劃歸海(hai)澄(cheng)縣(xian)管轄(xia)(xia)。城南(nan)門(men)有(you)(you)教場(chang),中有(you)(you)演武亭(ting)(ting),坐山面海(hai)。亭(ting)(ting)之(zhi)(zhi)左有(you)(you)將臺(tai),每(mei)年春(chun)秋兩操。建城后又建有(you)(you)望高樓(lou),用(yong)以(yi)望海(hai)面,監視(shi)敵(di)(di)情。同時置有(you)(you)九座煙墩臺(tai)。以(yi)上軍(jun)(jun)事(shi)(shi)設(she)施,今已無(wu)存。
城東(dong)(dong)(dong)有石(shi)形如狗(gou)。因(yin)古語云(yun):“東(dong)(dong)(dong)門開,石(shi)狗(gou)吠,金(jin)雞(ji)啼(ti),賊(zei)又來”。故(gu)東(dong)(dong)(dong)門常閉,另設(she)水門。明嘉靖四十年(1561)閏五月二十日(ri)夜(辛(xin)酉(you)時,辛(xin)為(wei)金(jin)、酉(you)為(wei)雞(ji)),廣東(dong)(dong)(dong)饒平賊(zei)寇張連(lian)等從水門陰(yin)溝(gou)(gou)潛入(ru),打開城門,蜂擁而(er)至,殺(sha)掠官軍無數。今在水門猶可見蓋以(yi)石(shi)板的陰(yin)溝(gou)(gou)直通城外。
鎮海衛城(cheng)(cheng)具有(you)獨特風(feng)格,既是海城(cheng)(cheng)又是山(shan)(shan)(shan)城(cheng)(cheng)。城(cheng)(cheng)內有(you)后(hou)山(shan)(shan)(shan)、古山(shan)(shan)(shan)、召山(shan)(shan)(shan)、曜山(shan)(shan)(shan)、倉山(shan)(shan)(shan),統(tong)稱(cheng)“五星山(shan)(shan)(shan)”,合城(cheng)(cheng)外“酒(jiu)桶(tong)頭”、“土地公山(shan)(shan)(shan)”兩山(shan)(shan)(shan)統(tong)謂“七星落地”。城(cheng)(cheng)南(nan)有(you)象(xiang)鼻山(shan)(shan)(shan),與(yu)旗尾(wei)山(shan)(shan)(shan)相通,環抱鴻(hong)江港(gang)。此(ci)港(gang)風(feng)平浪靜,為天然避(bi)風(feng)港(gang),每當風(feng)汛,過往船(chuan)千百艘聚集于此(ci),頗為壯觀。遠處海天范茫,東(dong)碇(ding)、南(nan)碇(ding)諸島點(dian)綴海面,煞是好看。
城(cheng)里(li)到處有井(jing),共(gong)有99口(kou),傳(chuan)為(wei)江夏侯周(zhou)德(de)興(xing)所(suo)鑿。這些井(jing)分布(bu)于石徑之側、榕樹之旁(pang)、庭(ting)院之中。據載(zai)有兩口(kou)較出名(ming)(ming),一名(ming)(ming)“七(qi)星(xing)井(jing)”,與“七(qi)星(xing)落地”相對應,井(jing)有六孔,泉(quan)從孔出,“海深而咸,浚泉(quan)得(de)甘”,群眾稱“米篩(shai)泉(quan)”。一為(wei)“柳(liu)樹井(jing)”,井(jing)形如(ru)菱花,汲(ji)繩之痕入石欄寸(cun)許。城(cheng)外另有泉(quan),在東關口(kou)水(shui)(shui)門外,石壁峭裁之下(xia),因(yin)衛城(cheng)如(ru)象(xiang),此泉(quan)如(ru)乳(ru),故名(ming)(ming)“象(xiang)乳(ru)泉(quan)”,泉(quan)水(shui)(shui)終年(nian)不(bu)枯。雖然安(an)裝了自來水(shui)(shui),但群眾依然到此汲(ji)水(shui)(shui)飲用。
鎮海(hai)(hai)衛內外不(bu)僅(jin)山海(hai)(hai)俊(jun)秀(xiu),而(er)且有(you)不(bu)少祠(ci)(ci)、廟、亭、碑可(ke)供游人觀瞻。在(zai)南門城(cheng)墻上(shang),有(you)座福(fu)德祠(ci)(ci),天啟二(er)年建,均以石(shi)砌(qi)成,高(gao)1.1米,寬1.2米,進深1.2米。南門內,有(you)個(ge)“父子承思祖孫專(zhuan)閭”石(shi)碑坊,建造甚工,保(bao)存較好。南門外半里處,原有(you)一(yi)座天門宮(gong)(一(yi)名(ming)大道宮(gong)),現已(yi)圯,但宮(gong)內十(shi)八(ba)尊石(shi)雕羅漢(han)猶在(zai),均無頭。傳說(shuo),明代賊寇覬覦(yu)鎮海(hai)(hai),而(er)夜間常(chang)見城(cheng)上(shang)有(you)哨(shao)兵(bing)巡邏,不(bu)敢冒然進犯(fan)。一(yi)天,賊首派人扮(ban)作(zuo)賣貨郎潛入,打聽虛實,得知是十(shi)八(ba)羅漢(han)化身守(shou)城(cheng),因(yin)而(er)放膽夜襲,并且將羅漢(han)頭顱全部(bu)砍掉(diao)。
在北門(men)內(nei),明正統十三年建(jian)有(you)(you)(you)城隍(huang)廟(miao)(miao)一座,后多次修葺。農歷五(wu)月二(er)(er)十七(qi)日廟(miao)(miao)會,頗(po)盛。北門(men)外二(er)(er)里許,有(you)(you)(you)嘉靖(jing)初年建(jian)的東(dong)岳廟(miao)(miao)。現(xian)仍供奉(feng)香火,廟(miao)(miao)右小山上,有(you)(you)(you)風(feng)動石(shi)。其西有(you)(you)(you)亭,額書“石(shi)室藏春”,內(nei)有(you)(you)(you)石(shi)洞,寒氣(qi)襲人。距風(feng)洞石(shi)不遠處有(you)(you)(you)巨石(shi),上有(you)(you)(you)鎖孔(kong)模樣的痕,長約一尺。傳說內(nei)藏寶劍天(tian)書,如能(neng)以用(yong)指扣滿兩端鎖孔(kong),則能(neng)打開天(tian)鎖。
城內尚有義學碑(bei)記、昭(zhao)毅將軍(jun)殘碑(bei)、關(guan)帝(di)廟、梳(shu)妝樓遺址(zhi)和金魚池等(deng)古跡。水門右(you)側(ce)柳樹下有古地洞,據說(shuo)是(shi)四通八達(da)的地洞群,為閩南(nan)十八洞之(zhi)一(yi),名“飛蛾洞”。楊文廣征閩至此,擲金搶于海底,妖(yao)氛遂平。
鎮海衛城(cheng),歷六(liu)百(bai)年風(feng)云(yun),故壘雄風(feng),至今猶存。山(shan)海壯麗,物(wu)阜民(min)豐,猶如一顆海上明(ming)珠,正閃爍著(zhu)瑰麗的光芒。