興武(wu)營古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)位于(yu)鹽(yan)池(chi)縣城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)西(xi)(xi)北48公(gong)里(li)的高沙(sha)窩鎮(zhen)二(er)步(bu)坑(keng)村坐落在明(ming)代(dai)兩(liang)道長(chang)(chang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)交會(hui)處的低洼地(di)上。據記載原是(shi)個(ge)廢城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。正統(tong)九年(nian)(nian)(公(gong)元1444年(nian)(nian))都御史金濂(lian)始筑(zhu)此(ci)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),就其舊基,設(she)都指揮守備。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)周回三(san)里(li)八分(fen),高二(er)丈(zhang)五(wu)尺。池(chi)深一丈(zhang)三(san)尺,闊二(er)丈(zhang)。西(xi)(xi)、南(nan)(nan)二(er)門及四(si)角(jiao)皆(jie)有樓。據實地(di)考察古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)略為(wei)矩形,東墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)(chang)610米(mi),西(xi)(xi)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)(chang)580米(mi),南(nan)(nan)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)寬(kuan)470米(mi),北墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)寬(kuan)480米(mi)。為(wei)黃土夯(hang)筑(zhu),基寬(kuan)12米(mi),殘高9米(mi)左(zuo)(zuo)右(you),頂部殘寬(kuan)3—5米(mi),夯(hang)層(ceng)厚(hou)20厘米(mi)左(zuo)(zuo)右(you)。曾甃有磚(zhuan)石,早年(nian)(nian)已被拆(chai)除。四(si)隅(yu)有角(jiao)臺(tai),原有樓,今已毀。墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)體筑(zhu)有腰(yao)墩,東墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)5個(ge),西(xi)(xi)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)4個(ge),南(nan)(nan)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)4個(ge),北墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)5個(ge)。開西(xi)(xi)、南(nan)(nan)二(er)門帶甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)40米(mi)見方,西(xi)(xi)甕(weng)門面東,南(nan)(nan)甕(weng)門面西(xi)(xi)。甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)均以疊澀(se)磚(zhuan)拱券門。甕(weng)門頂部原有二(er)層(ceng)樓建(jian)筑(zhu),南(nan)(nan)門是(shi)關(guan)帝廟,西(xi)(xi)門是(shi)財(cai)神廟。南(nan)(nan)門樓和鐵(tie)鑄(zhu)造像毀于(yu)1958年(nian)(nian)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)中間原置鼓樓,現僅存(cun)夯(hang)筑(zhu)的土臺(tai),臺(tai)基正方形,邊長(chang)(chang)14米(mi),殘高7米(mi),有磚(zhuan)拱四(si)通門洞(dong),殘高4米(mi)左(zuo)(zuo)右(you)。南(nan)(nan)甕(weng)門外百米(mi)處有一口古(gu)井,俗(su)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)龍(long)踏井。興武(wu)營是(shi)長(chang)(chang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)沿線的重要(yao)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)障(zhang),有“靈夏重地(di),平慶要(yao)藩”之(zhi)稱。
興(xing)武營(ying)是長城(cheng)(cheng)沿線的(de)(de)重要(yao)城(cheng)(cheng)障(zhang),有“靈夏重地,平慶要(yao)藩”之稱。由寧夏抵榆林界凡四百里(li)(li),無高山疊澗(jian)可(ke)倚,則依花馬(ma)池(chi)、興(xing)武營(ying)控制。興(xing)武營(ying)是一份寶(bao)貴(gui)的(de)(de)文化遺產(chan),屬鐵柱(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)古城(cheng)(cheng)。鐵柱(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)古城(cheng)(cheng)位(wei)于鹽池(chi)縣城(cheng)(cheng)西南(nan)36公里(li)(li),今(jin)屬馮(feng)記溝(gou)鄉暴記春村,東(dong)至(zhi)哈巴湖林場8公里(li)(li),西到(dao)王沖莊6公里(li)(li),北抵錢記灘5公里(li)(li),距鐵柱(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)村西500米,青(qing)山馮(feng)記溝(gou)公路經過(guo)此處。嘉靖(jing)十五(wu)年(nian)(nian)(1536年(nian)(nian)),都(dou)察(cha)院左(zuo)都(dou)御史兼(jian)兵(bing)部左(zuo)待郎(后(hou)為(wei)兵(bing)部尚書)劉天和(he)奉命治(zhi)理三邊軍務。他與(yu)中丞張文魁“同謀修鐵柱(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)城(cheng)(cheng),周回四里(li)(li)許,高四尋有余,厚亦如之,城(cheng)(cheng)以(yi)衛泉(quan)(quan),隍以(yi)衛城(cheng)(cheng),工圖永堅。設(she)操守官領之,置兵(bing)一千五(wu)百多,馬(ma)八十六匹(pi),兼(jian)募土人(ren)守之”。城(cheng)(cheng)建成后(hou),結束了170年(nian)(nian)來(lai)韃靼部落和(he)花馬(ma)池(chi)民眾為(wei)水(shui)草爭(zheng)戰(zhan)的(de)(de)歷史。今(jin)考證城(cheng)(cheng)內已(yi)(yi)不(bu)見(jian)水(shui)泉(quan)(quan),當為(wei)風沙壓埋,城(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)有泉(quan)(quan),為(wei)后(hou)人(ren)所為(wei)。當年(nian)(nian)“水(shui)涌如柱(zhu),泉(quan)(quan)水(shui)甘洌,日(ri)飲(yin)數萬騎弗(fu)涸(he)”的(de)(de)局面今(jin)已(yi)(yi)不(bu)見(jian),但泉(quan)(quan)水(shui)仍(reng)使百畝良田受益,居民飲(yin)水(shui)也依賴(lai)于此。北京大學地理學教(jiao)授侯仁之先(xian)生曾(ceng)到(dao)鐵柱(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)專程考察(cha)。
據《嘉(jia)靖寧夏新(xin)志》卷三(san)記載:“舊(jiu)有(you)城(cheng)(cheng),不詳其何(he)(he)代何(he)(he)名,惟遺廢址一面,俗(su)呼為半個(ge)城(cheng)(cheng)。”正統九(jiu)年(nian)(nian)(公(gong)元1444年(nian)(nian))都(dou)御史金(jin)濂始筑此城(cheng)(cheng),就其舊(jiu)基(ji),設都(dou)指揮守備。據考察,古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)略為矩形(xing),東(dong)墻(qiang)(qiang)長610米(mi),西墻(qiang)(qiang)長580米(mi),南墻(qiang)(qiang)寬470米(mi),北墻(qiang)(qiang)寬480米(mi)。墻(qiang)(qiang)體筑有(you)腰墩,東(dong)墻(qiang)(qiang)5個(ge),西墻(qiang)(qiang)4個(ge),南墻(qiang)(qiang)4個(ge),北墻(qiang)(qiang)5個(ge)。南甕(weng)門(men)外(wai)百米(mi)處有(you)一口(kou)古(gu)(gu)井(jing)(jing),俗(su)謂龍踏(ta)井(jing)(jing)。相(xiang)傳(chuan)有(you)一騎士(shi)經此前(qian)去靈州(zhou),時(shi)遇日(ri)將(jiang)落山,遂(sui)向一牧(mu)民詢問:“天黑前(qian)能否到(dao)靈州(zhou)?”對日(ri):“靈州(zhou)距此還有(you)百余里,你(ni)除(chu)非是神人神馬,不可(ke)能到(dao)達。”此時(shi)馬渴(ke)不得飲,于是一聲長嘶,用蹄挖(wa)地,頓出一口(kou)水(shui)井(jing)(jing),清泉自(zi)溢。牧(mu)民抬頭已(yi)不見(jian)騎士(shi)。后(hou)來在甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)門(men)上修建了關帝廟,鑄造關公(gong)形(xing)象,并取名龍踏(ta)井(jing)(jing)。時(shi)遇雨水(shui)較多的年(nian)(nian)份,井(jing)(jing)水(shui)自(zi)溢。當(dang)地居民每逢年(nian)(nian)初一大(da)早來此觀井(jing)(jing),據說井(jing)(jing)水(shui)溢向何(he)(he)方,何(he)(he)方便會豐(feng)收。