興武營古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)位(wei)于(yu)鹽池(chi)縣城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)西北48公里的高沙窩(wo)鎮(zhen)二(er)步坑村坐落在(zai)明代兩道長(chang)(chang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)交會處的低洼地上(shang)。據(ju)記載原(yuan)是個(ge)廢城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。正(zheng)統九年(公元1444年)都御史金濂(lian)始筑此(ci)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),就(jiu)其舊(jiu)基(ji),設都指揮守備(bei)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)周回三里八分,高二(er)丈五尺。池(chi)深(shen)一(yi)丈三尺,闊二(er)丈。西、南(nan)(nan)(nan)二(er)門(men)(men)及四角皆有(you)樓(lou)。據(ju)實地考察(cha)古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)略為(wei)矩形,東(dong)墻(qiang)長(chang)(chang)610米(mi)(mi),西墻(qiang)長(chang)(chang)580米(mi)(mi),南(nan)(nan)(nan)墻(qiang)寬(kuan)470米(mi)(mi),北墻(qiang)寬(kuan)480米(mi)(mi)。為(wei)黃土(tu)夯筑,基(ji)寬(kuan)12米(mi)(mi),殘(can)(can)高9米(mi)(mi)左右,頂(ding)部(bu)殘(can)(can)寬(kuan)3—5米(mi)(mi),夯層厚20厘米(mi)(mi)左右。曾(ceng)甃(zhou)有(you)磚(zhuan)石(shi),早年已(yi)被拆(chai)除。四隅有(you)角臺(tai),原(yuan)有(you)樓(lou),今已(yi)毀。墻(qiang)體筑有(you)腰墩,東(dong)墻(qiang)5個(ge),西墻(qiang)4個(ge),南(nan)(nan)(nan)墻(qiang)4個(ge),北墻(qiang)5個(ge)。開西、南(nan)(nan)(nan)二(er)門(men)(men)帶甕(weng)(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),甕(weng)(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)40米(mi)(mi)見(jian)方,西甕(weng)(weng)門(men)(men)面東(dong),南(nan)(nan)(nan)甕(weng)(weng)門(men)(men)面西。甕(weng)(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)均以疊澀磚(zhuan)拱券門(men)(men)。甕(weng)(weng)門(men)(men)頂(ding)部(bu)原(yuan)有(you)二(er)層樓(lou)建筑,南(nan)(nan)(nan)門(men)(men)是關帝廟(miao),西門(men)(men)是財神廟(miao)。南(nan)(nan)(nan)門(men)(men)樓(lou)和鐵(tie)鑄造(zao)像(xiang)毀于(yu)1958年。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)中(zhong)間原(yuan)置鼓樓(lou),現僅存夯筑的土(tu)臺(tai),臺(tai)基(ji)正(zheng)方形,邊長(chang)(chang)14米(mi)(mi),殘(can)(can)高7米(mi)(mi),有(you)磚(zhuan)拱四通門(men)(men)洞,殘(can)(can)高4米(mi)(mi)左右。南(nan)(nan)(nan)甕(weng)(weng)門(men)(men)外百米(mi)(mi)處有(you)一(yi)口古(gu)井(jing),俗城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)龍踏井(jing)。興武營是長(chang)(chang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)沿線的重要(yao)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)障,有(you)“靈夏重地,平慶要(yao)藩”之稱。
興武營是長城(cheng)(cheng)沿線(xian)的(de)重要城(cheng)(cheng)障,有“靈夏重地(di)(di),平慶(qing)要藩”之(zhi)稱。由寧夏抵榆林界凡四(si)百(bai)里(li)(li)(li),無高(gao)山疊澗可倚,則依花(hua)馬池、興武營控制。興武營是一(yi)份寶貴的(de)文化遺產,屬鐵(tie)柱(zhu)(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)古城(cheng)(cheng)。鐵(tie)柱(zhu)(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)古城(cheng)(cheng)位于(yu)鹽池縣城(cheng)(cheng)西(xi)南36公里(li)(li)(li),今(jin)屬馮記溝(gou)鄉暴記春村,東至(zhi)哈巴湖林場(chang)8公里(li)(li)(li),西(xi)到(dao)王沖莊(zhuang)6公里(li)(li)(li),北抵錢記灘5公里(li)(li)(li),距鐵(tie)柱(zhu)(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)村西(xi)500米,青山馮記溝(gou)公路經過此處。嘉靖十五(wu)年(1536年),都(dou)(dou)察(cha)院左都(dou)(dou)御(yu)史兼兵部(bu)(bu)左待郎(后(hou)為(wei)(wei)(wei)兵部(bu)(bu)尚書)劉天和奉命治理三邊軍(jun)務。他與中丞張文魁“同謀修鐵(tie)柱(zhu)(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)城(cheng)(cheng),周(zhou)回(hui)四(si)里(li)(li)(li)許,高(gao)四(si)尋有余,厚(hou)亦(yi)如之(zhi),城(cheng)(cheng)以衛泉(quan)(quan),隍以衛城(cheng)(cheng),工圖永堅。設操守官(guan)領(ling)之(zhi),置兵一(yi)千五(wu)百(bai)多(duo),馬八十六匹,兼募土人守之(zhi)”。城(cheng)(cheng)建成后(hou),結(jie)束(shu)了170年來韃靼部(bu)(bu)落和花(hua)馬池民眾為(wei)(wei)(wei)水(shui)(shui)草爭戰的(de)歷史。今(jin)考證城(cheng)(cheng)內已不見水(shui)(shui)泉(quan)(quan),當為(wei)(wei)(wei)風沙(sha)壓埋(mai),城(cheng)(cheng)東有泉(quan)(quan),為(wei)(wei)(wei)后(hou)人所為(wei)(wei)(wei)。當年“水(shui)(shui)涌(yong)如柱(zhu)(zhu),泉(quan)(quan)水(shui)(shui)甘洌(lie),日(ri)飲數萬騎弗涸”的(de)局面(mian)今(jin)已不見,但泉(quan)(quan)水(shui)(shui)仍(reng)使百(bai)畝良田受益(yi),居(ju)民飲水(shui)(shui)也依賴于(yu)此。北京大學地(di)(di)理學教授侯仁之(zhi)先(xian)生(sheng)曾(ceng)到(dao)鐵(tie)柱(zhu)(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)專程考察(cha)。
據《嘉靖寧夏新志》卷三記(ji)載:“舊有(you)城(cheng),不(bu)詳其(qi)(qi)何(he)(he)代何(he)(he)名,惟遺(yi)廢(fei)址一(yi)(yi)(yi)面(mian),俗呼(hu)為半個城(cheng)。”正統九年(nian)(公(gong)元1444年(nian))都(dou)御史(shi)金濂始筑此(ci)城(cheng),就(jiu)其(qi)(qi)舊基,設都(dou)指揮守備。據考察,古城(cheng)略為矩形,東墻長610米(mi)(mi),西(xi)墻長580米(mi)(mi),南(nan)墻寬(kuan)470米(mi)(mi),北(bei)墻寬(kuan)480米(mi)(mi)。墻體筑有(you)腰墩,東墻5個,西(xi)墻4個,南(nan)墻4個,北(bei)墻5個。南(nan)甕(weng)門外百米(mi)(mi)處有(you)一(yi)(yi)(yi)口古井(jing),俗謂龍踏井(jing)。相傳有(you)一(yi)(yi)(yi)騎士經此(ci)前去靈州(zhou),時(shi)遇(yu)(yu)日將落山,遂向(xiang)一(yi)(yi)(yi)牧民(min)詢(xun)問:“天黑前能(neng)(neng)否到靈州(zhou)?”對日:“靈州(zhou)距此(ci)還有(you)百余里,你除非是(shi)神人(ren)神馬(ma),不(bu)可能(neng)(neng)到達。”此(ci)時(shi)馬(ma)渴不(bu)得(de)飲(yin),于是(shi)一(yi)(yi)(yi)聲(sheng)長嘶,用蹄挖地(di),頓(dun)出(chu)一(yi)(yi)(yi)口水井(jing),清泉自溢(yi)。牧民(min)抬頭已不(bu)見騎士。后來在甕(weng)城(cheng)門上(shang)修建了關帝(di)廟,鑄造關公(gong)形象(xiang),并取名龍踏井(jing)。時(shi)遇(yu)(yu)雨水較多的(de)年(nian)份(fen),井(jing)水自溢(yi)。當地(di)居民(min)每逢年(nian)初一(yi)(yi)(yi)大早(zao)來此(ci)觀井(jing),據說(shuo)井(jing)水溢(yi)向(xiang)何(he)(he)方,何(he)(he)方便會豐收(shou)。