興(xing)武營古城(cheng)位于(yu)鹽池縣城(cheng)西北48公里的(de)高(gao)(gao)沙(sha)窩(wo)鎮二步坑(keng)村坐落在明代兩道長(chang)(chang)(chang)城(cheng)交(jiao)會處的(de)低(di)洼(wa)地(di)上。據(ju)記載原(yuan)是個廢(fei)城(cheng)。正統(tong)九年(nian)(nian)(公元1444年(nian)(nian))都(dou)御史金濂始筑(zhu)此(ci)城(cheng),就其舊基,設都(dou)指揮(hui)守(shou)備。城(cheng)周回三里八分(fen),高(gao)(gao)二丈(zhang)五尺。池深一丈(zhang)三尺,闊二丈(zhang)。西、南二門(men)(men)(men)及四(si)(si)角皆有(you)(you)(you)(you)樓。據(ju)實(shi)地(di)考察古城(cheng)略為矩形,東墻(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)(chang)(chang)610米(mi),西墻(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)(chang)(chang)580米(mi),南墻(qiang)(qiang)寬470米(mi),北墻(qiang)(qiang)寬480米(mi)。為黃土夯筑(zhu),基寬12米(mi),殘(can)(can)高(gao)(gao)9米(mi)左(zuo)(zuo)右(you),頂部殘(can)(can)寬3—5米(mi),夯層厚20厘米(mi)左(zuo)(zuo)右(you)。曾甃(zhou)有(you)(you)(you)(you)磚石(shi),早年(nian)(nian)已(yi)被(bei)拆除。四(si)(si)隅有(you)(you)(you)(you)角臺(tai),原(yuan)有(you)(you)(you)(you)樓,今已(yi)毀(hui)。墻(qiang)(qiang)體筑(zhu)有(you)(you)(you)(you)腰墩,東墻(qiang)(qiang)5個,西墻(qiang)(qiang)4個,南墻(qiang)(qiang)4個,北墻(qiang)(qiang)5個。開西、南二門(men)(men)(men)帶甕(weng)(weng)(weng)(weng)城(cheng),甕(weng)(weng)(weng)(weng)城(cheng)40米(mi)見方(fang),西甕(weng)(weng)(weng)(weng)門(men)(men)(men)面(mian)(mian)東,南甕(weng)(weng)(weng)(weng)門(men)(men)(men)面(mian)(mian)西。甕(weng)(weng)(weng)(weng)城(cheng)均以疊澀磚拱(gong)券門(men)(men)(men)。甕(weng)(weng)(weng)(weng)門(men)(men)(men)頂部原(yuan)有(you)(you)(you)(you)二層樓建筑(zhu),南門(men)(men)(men)是關帝廟(miao),西門(men)(men)(men)是財神廟(miao)。南門(men)(men)(men)樓和鐵鑄造像(xiang)毀(hui)于(yu)1958年(nian)(nian)。城(cheng)中間原(yuan)置鼓樓,現僅存夯筑(zhu)的(de)土臺(tai),臺(tai)基正方(fang)形,邊長(chang)(chang)(chang)14米(mi),殘(can)(can)高(gao)(gao)7米(mi),有(you)(you)(you)(you)磚拱(gong)四(si)(si)通(tong)門(men)(men)(men)洞,殘(can)(can)高(gao)(gao)4米(mi)左(zuo)(zuo)右(you)。南甕(weng)(weng)(weng)(weng)門(men)(men)(men)外百米(mi)處有(you)(you)(you)(you)一口古井,俗(su)城(cheng)龍踏井。興(xing)武營是長(chang)(chang)(chang)城(cheng)沿線的(de)重要(yao)城(cheng)障,有(you)(you)(you)(you)“靈夏重地(di),平慶要(yao)藩”之稱(cheng)。
興(xing)武營(ying)是(shi)長城(cheng)(cheng)沿線(xian)的重要(yao)城(cheng)(cheng)障,有(you)“靈夏重地,平(ping)慶(qing)要(yao)藩(fan)”之稱。由寧夏抵(di)榆林界凡四百里(li),無高山疊澗可倚,則依花馬(ma)池(chi)(chi)(chi)、興(xing)武營(ying)控制。興(xing)武營(ying)是(shi)一份(fen)寶貴的文化遺產,屬(shu)鐵(tie)柱(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)古城(cheng)(cheng)。鐵(tie)柱(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)古城(cheng)(cheng)位于(yu)鹽池(chi)(chi)(chi)縣(xian)城(cheng)(cheng)西南36公(gong)里(li),今屬(shu)馮(feng)記(ji)溝鄉暴記(ji)春村(cun),東至哈巴湖林場8公(gong)里(li),西到王沖莊6公(gong)里(li),北抵(di)錢記(ji)灘5公(gong)里(li),距(ju)鐵(tie)柱(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)村(cun)西500米,青山馮(feng)記(ji)溝公(gong)路經過(guo)此處。嘉靖十五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1536年(nian)(nian)(nian)),都察(cha)院(yuan)左都御史兼兵部(bu)左待郎(后(hou)為兵部(bu)尚書)劉天(tian)和奉命治理三邊(bian)軍務(wu)。他與(yu)中丞(cheng)張(zhang)文魁“同謀修鐵(tie)柱(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)城(cheng)(cheng),周回四里(li)許,高四尋有(you)余(yu),厚(hou)亦如之,城(cheng)(cheng)以衛泉(quan)(quan),隍以衛城(cheng)(cheng),工(gong)圖永(yong)堅。設操守官領之,置兵一千五百多,馬(ma)八十六匹,兼募(mu)土(tu)人(ren)守之”。城(cheng)(cheng)建成后(hou),結(jie)束了170年(nian)(nian)(nian)來(lai)韃(da)靼部(bu)落和花馬(ma)池(chi)(chi)(chi)民眾為水草爭戰的歷史。今考證城(cheng)(cheng)內已不(bu)見(jian)水泉(quan)(quan),當為風沙壓埋,城(cheng)(cheng)東有(you)泉(quan)(quan),為后(hou)人(ren)所(suo)為。當年(nian)(nian)(nian)“水涌(yong)如柱(zhu),泉(quan)(quan)水甘洌,日飲(yin)數萬騎弗(fu)涸”的局面今已不(bu)見(jian),但泉(quan)(quan)水仍使百畝良田受(shou)益(yi),居民飲(yin)水也(ye)依賴于(yu)此。北京大學(xue)地理學(xue)教授侯仁之先(xian)生曾到鐵(tie)柱(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)專程考察(cha)。
據(ju)《嘉靖(jing)寧夏新志》卷三記載:“舊有(you)城(cheng),不(bu)詳其(qi)何(he)(he)代(dai)何(he)(he)名,惟遺廢址一(yi)面,俗(su)呼為半個城(cheng)。”正統九年(公元1444年)都御史金濂始筑(zhu)此(ci)城(cheng),就其(qi)舊基,設都指揮守備。據(ju)考(kao)察,古(gu)城(cheng)略為矩形(xing),東墻(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)610米(mi),西墻(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)580米(mi),南墻(qiang)(qiang)寬470米(mi),北墻(qiang)(qiang)寬480米(mi)。墻(qiang)(qiang)體筑(zhu)有(you)腰墩,東墻(qiang)(qiang)5個,西墻(qiang)(qiang)4個,南墻(qiang)(qiang)4個,北墻(qiang)(qiang)5個。南甕門外(wai)百米(mi)處有(you)一(yi)口(kou)(kou)古(gu)井(jing),俗(su)謂(wei)龍踏井(jing)。相傳(chuan)有(you)一(yi)騎士經此(ci)前去靈州,時(shi)遇(yu)日將落(luo)山,遂向一(yi)牧(mu)民(min)(min)詢問(wen):“天黑前能否到(dao)靈州?”對(dui)日:“靈州距此(ci)還有(you)百余里(li),你除非是神(shen)人神(shen)馬,不(bu)可(ke)能到(dao)達。”此(ci)時(shi)馬渴(ke)不(bu)得飲(yin),于是一(yi)聲長(chang)嘶(si),用蹄挖(wa)地,頓出一(yi)口(kou)(kou)水(shui)井(jing),清泉自溢。牧(mu)民(min)(min)抬頭已不(bu)見騎士。后來在甕城(cheng)門上修建了關(guan)帝廟,鑄造關(guan)公形(xing)象,并(bing)取(qu)名龍踏井(jing)。時(shi)遇(yu)雨水(shui)較(jiao)多(duo)的年份,井(jing)水(shui)自溢。當地居(ju)民(min)(min)每逢年初(chu)一(yi)大早來此(ci)觀井(jing),據(ju)說井(jing)水(shui)溢向何(he)(he)方,何(he)(he)方便會豐收。