沁水河是牟平境內第一大河,發源于昆崳山西麓山谷。它從南部山地陡落平原,時有水患。據明代《寧海州志》記載:“春夏泛漲為患,洪武年間以鄉民解颙奏,筑長堤一百五十丈。永樂十四年,吏目汪善應復奏,增修三百五十七丈,闊一丈五尺。”自此水患大減,下游百姓始得安居樂業。其實,在明代初年以前,沁水河并非在系山以東入海,而是從城東端午山前折向西北奔瀉而去,在今城北沙河崖村一帶入海。當時入海口一帶河道淤塞,洪水橫溢,浸淹村莊農田,百姓不堪其害。后明初沁水河改道,從城東直入黃海。提起這事,人們自然會想起沁水河改道的傳說。
城北有一鄉紳解颙,家業殷實,熱心公益,仗義疏財,又精醫術,更擅婦科,在地方上頗負聲望。每當看到百姓深受水患,憂心如焚。怎奈官府治河無力,自身又獨力難支,而民眾只能年復一年,任洪水肆虐不能自拔。情急之下,他情愿只身去京面圣,以求皇上恩準減免田賦,資助沁水改道。一路晝行夜宿,風雨兼程,歷時月余,來到京城。走近城門,但見一張皇榜赫然入目:公主患病,誠求天下名醫。解颙見此,不禁心頭一動:天賜良機,讓我一介平民得以幸見圣上……當即擠上前去,揭下皇榜,進得宮中。說來也是天遂人意,亦或其婦科絕技派上了用場,把脈診視之后,藥方開出,幾服湯汁服下,竟藥到病除,妙手回春。龍顏大悅,并問意欲何求。解颙當即回稟皇上:不求金銀不求官,但愿沁水河道遷。并詳陳沁水河給寧海百姓帶來的深重災難。皇上聞知,即恩準所求:著工部撥銀千兩,募夫萬人,遷河改道。另著戶部核免田賦兩年,以利百姓休養生息。消息傳回寧海,萬眾歡騰。在官府和解颙領導下,男女老少齊上陣,揮锨舞鎬開新河,歷時半年,沁水河改道告竣。自此沁水由端午山東一路北去,直入黃海,歲歲安瀾,澤及百姓。
Qinshui River, the largest river in the territory of Muping, originates from the valley at the western foothill of Kunyu Mountain. Descending on the plain from the southern hilly area, it was flooding from time to time. As recorded in Annals of Ninghai Prefecture , “The river floods in spring and autumn and threatens a disaster. As proposed by a villager called Xie Yong in the Reign of Hongwu (1368-1398), a causeway in the length of 150 zhang (500 meters) was built.