Sichuan salt enters the northwest of Guizhou, and most of it is transported upstream along Chishui River. One of the roads leading to Maotai must pass through Wugongyan.
Wugongyan, called "Yan Wengong" in ancient times, starts from Masangping in the south and reaches Lianghekou in the north, with a total length of about five kilometers. It is the main channel for Sichuan salt to enter Guizhou. It is a dangerous narrow, with abrupt rocks and fast-flowing water, and it is known as the most dangerous and longest beach in the "Shili Long Beach". At this time, the salt on the ship is no longer navigable, so it can only be transported by "dry people" after climbing 30 miles. The roads along the way are rugged, and it is very difficult to climb mountains and mountains. The pain of "fucking people" is indescribable.
In the eighth year of Qianlong reign (1743), Zhang Guangsi, governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, advocated dredging Chishui River to transport goods and recruit talents. Wu Dengju, who lives on the bank of Niudu River (namely Tongzi River), heard the news and walked to Renhuai Guildhall City (now Chishui City, Guizhou Province) day and night to introduce himself. Please play the Chishui River, set up a written evidence and bleed blood. Take the lives of the whole family 18 brothers, sons and nephews as the guarantee, and swear, "If you allow it, those who violate it will be punished according to the words of their families."
As a Midu man, Wu Dengju witnessed and experienced the difficulties of shipping and crossing the river-a "drought man" crossing the river is like crawling on a rock. If he is not careful, he will fall off the cliff and fall to pieces. He deeply understands the heavy salt on the back of the "dry people" and their expectations for a better life. When Zhang Guangsi saw that Deng Ju had made up his mind, he began to play the court's permission. Ganlong ordered the deployment of competent officials, led by Deng Ju, and recruited migrant workers, and began dredging Chishui River on the fourth day of February.
During the dredging of Chishui River, Wu Dengju ran along the river, commanded to cut stones and open beaches, and had a picnic with everyone, which was very difficult. In March of the 11th year of Qianlong, the project was completed, and the Erlangtan-Yan Wen section was finally opened to traffic. Suddenly, the salt on Chishui River was transported to the port of Maotai, which was very lively.
Zhang Guangsi inspected the "Yan Wengong" rapids and saw Deng Ju's success in harnessing the river, so he went to his house to "seal the official position". Deng Ju declined politely and refused to eat his salary. Zhang Guangsi gave each other the title of "loyal minister Geng Ren" and gave the ferry "Yan Wengong" to Wu Dengju as a reward for his work.
After that, the "Yan Wengong" reach appeared many times, blocking the river. Wu Dengju organized many repairs, but after the reef was repaired, it repeatedly fell and could not sail. Wu Dengju died of overwork and grief at the age of 55.
After Wu Dengju's death, "the empty talkers sigh, and the doers are in trouble." In order to commemorate him, later generations changed "Yan Wengong" to "Wugongyan" to show their dedication, and built a shrine statue in Lianghekou to commemorate him.
In May of the 23rd year of Daoguang reign of Qing Dynasty (1843), Zheng Ziyi, a Confucian in northern Guizhou, passed by Maotai, and saw that the mountain of Wugong Rock Beach was steep and turbulent, like snow and jagged rocks. He wrote a poem "Martial Arts Order":
When writing about Wu, Wu Gong looked askance.
The flying lion has been falling for nine days, and its feet are stuck in Chishui.
The rushing, trembling and angry voice returned to heaven and earth.
Water is angry and stone is quiet, and it will last forever.
Shu salt went to Guizhou, and Qin merchants gathered in Maotai.
Go to Wolf Beach by boat, Longtan is close at hand.
Limit this ten-mile stone, and grind your teeth.
The walls on both sides have been cut into pieces and have been white since ancient times.
It costs money to climb three miles over this mountain.
In those days, Wu Dengju tried to get rich. ...
Praise Wu Dengju's great achievements in dredging Chishui River.
After the founding of New China, renhuai city government began to organize dredging of Chishui River. In March, 1955, the Wugong rock section blocked by the reef was finally opened to navigation, and wooden boats of all sizes were loaded with salt and transported directly from Erlangtan to Maotai. The Chishui River, which has been silent for many years, has resumed the lively scene of ships coming and going and wealthy businessmen gathering.
Today, the statue of Wu Dengju still stands on the Wu Gong Ridge, and the three characters of "Wu" carved on the cliff are shining, which has become a beautiful scenery for people to stop by the wine river to remember.