據明(ming)嘉靖《沈邱縣志(zhi)》載:“沈子國城(cheng)在(注,今(jin)安(an)徽(hui)臨(lin)泉(quan))縣東南三十里(li),即周聃季(ji)所(suo)封處,今(jin)遺址現存,地屬潁州(zhou)(今(jin)阜(fu)陽)”。沈亭在(注,今(jin)安(an)徽(hui)臨(lin)泉(quan))縣東南廢沈子國城(cheng)東五里(li),秦高士沈郢(ying)建為游釣(diao)之所(suo),今(jin)為潁州(zhou)預備倉(cang)基。
依《安(an)徽省地方志(zhi)-建(jian)(jian)置(zhi)沿(yan)革志(zhi)-第三篇 市(shi)、縣(xian)(市(shi))建(jian)(jian)置(zhi)-第十(shi)一(yi)章 阜陽市(shi) 第六節 臨(lin)泉(quan)(quan)縣(xian)》記載今(jin)(jin)臨(lin)泉(quan)(quan)縣(xian)城關鎮(zhen)原名(ming)沈(shen)(shen)(shen)邱集,建(jian)(jian)縣(xian)后改為(wei)(wei)沈(shen)(shen)(shen)邱鎮(zhen),是古(gu)沈(shen)(shen)(shen)子(zi)(zi)國故城,自明初(chu)廢后向(xiang)東(dong)移0.5公里處形成的(de)(de)(de)(de)集鎮(zhen)。古(gu)沈(shen)(shen)(shen)子(zi)(zi)國舊治遺址(zhi),位于今(jin)(jin)城關鎮(zhen)西0.5公里,現(xian)叫古(gu)城子(zi)(zi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)地方。此處作為(wei)(wei)古(gu)國邑長達(da)577年后廢為(wei)(wei)沈(shen)(shen)(shen)邑。故遺址(zhi)南岸有老土圻,高5米,周長0.5公里,傳(chuan)為(wei)(wei)沈(shen)(shen)(shen)子(zi)(zi)季(ji)載墓。在濱臨(lin)泉(quan)(quan)河(古(gu)潁河主要支流,又名(ming)潁河)處有古(gu)沈(shen)(shen)(shen)亭,為(wei)(wei)沈(shen)(shen)(shen)子(zi)(zi)后,春秋(qiu)時期秦國的(de)(de)(de)(de)隱(yin)士沈(shen)(shen)(shen)郢釣(diao)魚游(you)息(xi)處。《漢書·地理志(zhi)》汝南郡平輿條(tiao)應劭注為(wei)(wei):“故沈(shen)(shen)(shen)子(zi)(zi)國,今(jin)(jin)沈(shen)(shen)(shen)亭是也。‘輿’音‘豫(yu)’。”,有人把故沈(shen)(shen)(shen)子(zi)(zi)國邑、沈(shen)(shen)(shen)亭劃到今(jin)(jin)平輿縣(xian)北更不對,因此處一(yi)馬(ma)平川,并(bing)無供垂釣(diao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)潁河之濱的(de)(de)(de)(de)沈(shen)(shen)(shen)亭,倒是有古(gu)亭又寫成摯亭,是牧羊的(de)(de)(de)(de)地方。
周武王(wang)五(wu)年(nian)(約公元(yuan)前(qian)(qian)1065年(nian)),因天子未定,封(feng)(feng)(feng)輔佐他滅商(shang)的功臣及親族為侯(hou)“以(yi)番屏周”。周武王(wang)胞弟十(shi)個(ge),有(you)七個(ge)被封(feng)(feng)(feng)侯(hou)前(qian)(qian)往封(feng)(feng)(feng)地,唯九王(wang)子叔(shu)封(feng)(feng)(feng)、十(shi)王(wang)子季載(zai)因年(nian)幼沒有(you)封(feng)(feng)(feng)侯(hou)。叔(shu)封(feng)(feng)(feng)食邑(yi)(yi)康(kang),季載(zai)食邑(yi)(yi)聃,實(shi)際是派人(ren)把這兩個(ge)死(si)了父母的少年(nian)王(wang)子打發到有(you)人(ren)供(gong)養吃穿的地方進行(xing)撫養。古時候的人(ren)以(yi)封(feng)(feng)(feng)國(guo)或以(yi)食邑(yi)(yi)為氏(shi),所(suo)以(yi)季載(zai)以(yi)聃為氏(shi),號(hao)稱聃季載(zai)。
周(zhou)(zhou)成(cheng)王(wang)(wang)四年(約公元前(qian)1060年),因(yin)叔封(feng)、季載已長大成(cheng)人(ren),周(zhou)(zhou)公封(feng)聃季載為(wei)(wei)沈侯(hou),康叔封(feng)為(wei)(wei)衛侯(hou),其二人(ren)皆以賢明治理,勤恭國(guo)(guo)(guo)事,為(wei)(wei)周(zhou)(zhou)公所賞識。數年后,周(zhou)(zhou)公薦舉叔封(feng)為(wei)(wei)周(zhou)(zhou)司(si)寇(kou)(掌管國(guo)(guo)(guo)家的土地和人(ren)民,官司(si)藉田,負(fu)責(ze)征發役(yi)徒(tu)),季載為(wei)(wei)周(zhou)(zhou)司(si)空,位(wei)至(zhi)王(wang)(wang)室上卿,輔(fu)佐(zuo)成(cheng)王(wang)(wang)安邦治國(guo)(guo)(guo),皆有盛名于天下。所以在(zai)西周(zhou)(zhou)早期,沈國(guo)(guo)(guo)和衛國(guo)(guo)(guo)一樣是一個(ge)重(zhong)(zhong)要(yao)封(feng)國(guo)(guo)(guo),但因(yin)其位(wei)于鎬京(jing)之(zhi)側(ce),這里(li)封(feng)國(guo)(guo)(guo)林(lin)立(li),食邑櫛比,使歷代沈國(guo)(guo)(guo)國(guo)(guo)(guo)君在(zai)歌舞鼎食的環境中養尊處優,失去拓疆(jiang)進(jin)取的機會,積貧(pin)積弱,逐漸由一個(ge)重(zhong)(zhong)要(yao)封(feng)國(guo)(guo)(guo)淪落為(wei)(wei)一個(ge)小國(guo)(guo)(guo)。
公(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)771年(nian),申侯(hou)(hou)、曾、西弗、犬戎(rong)聯合攻周,“殺幽王(wang),盡取周財(cai)寶(bao)而去”。歷(li)代(dai)周天(tian)(tian)子(zi)悉(xi)心經營的(de)鎬京(jing),旦夕平(ping)為(wei)(wei)(wei)丘墟。周平(ping)王(wang)即位后(hou)(hou),迫于嚴允、西戎(rong)的(de)虎視(shi)蠶食,由(you)晉(jin)文侯(hou)(hou)、衛武公(gong)等夾輔東(dong)遷洛邑(今(jin)洛陽(yang)市王(wang)城(cheng)公(gong)園一帶)。其(qi)地在今(jin)平(ping)輿(yu)(yu)縣(xian)(xian)城(cheng)北射橋鎮古城(cheng)村一帶。魯定公(gong)四年(nian)(公(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)506年(nian))四月(yue),沈(shen)為(wei)(wei)(wei)鄰邦蔡國所滅。沈(shen)國滅亡(wang)后(hou)(hou),歷(li)代(dai)沈(shen)君(jun)后(hou)(hou)裔,皆以國為(wei)(wei)(wei)氏(shi),始有(you)沈(shen)姓。所以距今(jin)1490年(nian)前(qian)南(nan)朝梁(liang)代(dai),沈(shen)國末代(dai)國君(jun)沈(shen)子(zi)嘉的(de)后(hou)(hou)裔文學家、史學家沈(shen)約在其(qi)《宋(song)書·自敘》追求沈(shen)九的(de)發祥地這樣記(ji)述:“沈(shen)子(zi)國,今(jin)汝南(nan)平(ping)輿(yu)(yu)沈(shen)亭是也,春秋之時,列于盟(meng)會(hui)。定公(gong)四年(nian),諸侯(hou)(hou)會(hui)召陵伐楚(chu)(chu),沈(shen)子(zi)不(bu)會(hui),晉(jin)使(shi)蔡伐沈(shen),滅之,以沈(shen)子(zi)嘉歸(gui)。其(qi)后(hou)(hou)以國為(wei)(wei)(wei)氏(shi)……”戰(zhan)國屬楚(chu)(chu),以地勢平(ping)坦,為(wei)(wei)(wei)車輛的(de)發祥地,改名平(ping)輿(yu)(yu),為(wei)(wei)(wei)楚(chu)(chu)國的(de)軍(jun)事重(zhong)(zhong)鎮。秦始皇二十三(san)(san)年(nian)(公(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)224年(nian))秦將(jiang)(jiang)李信(xin)攻平(ping)輿(yu)(yu),楚(chu)(chu)師反擊三(san)(san)日三(san)(san)夜(ye)不(bu)頓舍,大(da)敗(bai)李信(xin),入兩(liang)壁。殺七都尉,秦軍(jun)走,李信(xin)敗(bai)還(huan)。翌年(nian)秦將(jiang)(jiang)王(wang)翦統六十萬重(zhong)(zhong)兵方克(ke)平(ping)輿(yu)(yu)。漢置汝南(nan)郡,治平(ping)輿(yu)(yu),轄37縣(xian)(xian),人口眾多,為(wei)(wei)(wei)天(tian)(tian)下首郡。
沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)國(guo)(guo),周(zhou)文王(wang)第十(shi)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)聃季(ji)載的(de)(de)(de)(de)封國(guo)(guo),原(yuan)在陜(shan)西(xi)渭水中(zhong)游沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)水之(zhi)濱,前(qian)771年(nian)(nian)(nian)遷 水之(zhi)濱(今(jin)射橋古城村一(yi)帶)。其(qi)時(shi),周(zhou)夭(yao)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)失去了天下共(gong)祖(zu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)地位,諸侯爭霸,“政由方伯(bo)”,由于(yu)地理和疆域環境(jing)的(de)(de)(de)(de)關(guan)系,沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)國(guo)(guo)以(yi)(yi)(yi)楚(chu)國(guo)(guo)為靠山,甘為附(fu)庸,極力(li)圖存,沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)國(guo)(guo)之(zhi)君(jun)沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)、沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)揖、沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)逞(cheng)等(deng)政治軍(jun)事(shi)活(huo)動(dong)散見于(yu)《春秋(qiu)(qiu)左傳》的(de)(de)(de)(de)“魯僖公二(er)十(shi)八(ba)年(nian)(nian)(nian)”、“魯成公八(ba)年(nian)(nian)(nian)”、“魯襄公二(er)十(shi)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)”、“魯昭公四年(nian)(nian)(nian)、五(wu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)、二(er)十(shi)三年(nian)(nian)(nian)”等(deng)。魯定公四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(公元(yuan)506年(nian)(nian)(nian))沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)嘉在位時(shi),為蔡所滅,結果引起楚(chu)伐蔡,蔡結吳合唐,襲楚(chu)戰(zhan)爭。結果楚(chu)國(guo)(guo)郢都失陷,所以(yi)(yi)(yi)研究春秋(qiu)(qiu)吳楚(chu)戰(zhan)爭史(shi),沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)是一(yi)個不可忽(hu)視的(de)(de)(de)(de)國(guo)(guo)家。其(qi)次沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)國(guo)(guo)末(mo)代(dai)(dai)之(zhi)君(jun)沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)嘉的(de)(de)(de)(de)兒(er)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)尹(yin)和孫(sun)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)諸梁,在楚(chu)國(guo)(guo)官至司馬、令尹(yin)等(deng)顯職,廣泛的(de)(de)(de)(de)活(huo)動(dong)在楚(chu)國(guo)(guo)的(de)(de)(de)(de)上層社會中(zhong)留下了“葉(xie)公好(hao)龍(long)”諸典故。以(yi)(yi)(yi)后歷代(dai)(dai)沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)君(jun)的(de)(de)(de)(de)后裔皆以(yi)(yi)(yi)國(guo)(guo)為氏,南(nan)朝史(shi)學(xue)家沈(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)約(yue)即其(qi)后裔。
文革(ge)中,開(kai)展大(da)規(gui)模(mo)的(de)(de)平(ping)整土地運動,該(gai)故(gu)城(cheng)受(shou)到一定(ding)的(de)(de)破(po)壞。一九(jiu)八(ba)二年(nian)文物(wu)普查工(gong)作(zuo),該(gai)故(gu)城(cheng)遺址受(shou)到了有效保護(hu),先(xian)后取(qu)(qu)締(di)了蠶食故(gu)城(cheng)西南城(cheng)垣(yuan)的(de)(de)馬莊窯廠取(qu)(qu)土等。