bestfiction Chapter 37 Surviving in a Cataclysmic World (Part 6)
Chapter 37 Surviving in a Cataclysmic World (Part 6)
The country has been conducting continuous research and importing and stockpiling grains, trying every possible method to preserve them in a vacuum. The quantity has reached an alarming level, but they dare not stop. The mountains surrounding the base have been hollowed out, extending dozens of layers underground, now filled with various food supplies. When extreme heat or cold weather arrives, the elderly and children will need to be moved to the mountains. After all, the current heat-preserving materials are not advanced enough, and there are concerns that the elderly and children might not be able to withstand the conditions on the ground.
Until November 10, 2012, the nation's top news program, CCTV's evening news, detailed the impending apocalyptic natural disaster, ordering all residents to relocate to higher ground within twenty days. Government staff and active-duty military personnel were to arrange for them to move into vacant apartments on the seventh floor or higher. All uninhabited houses, vacant vehicles, and surplus supplies "such as supermarkets" were to be nationalized and distributed by the government. In addition to television, all social media platforms, video websites, and outdoor advertising screens broadcast the message simultaneously, with repeated broadcasts for the next ten days, ensuring the public's accessibility.
Actually, after the Southwest area was completed a couple of years ago, many people were discussing these things. At that time, they were just jokingly speculating whether the end of the world was coming and that the country had started building a safe base. But no one ever thought that the end of the world would really come. Now, after hearing the leader's description, it is impossible not to worry. But since the country has obviously started preparing a long time ago, we can only follow the country's arrangements for now.
Relocation is underway everywhere, with soldiers driving vehicles to help people move. Of course, relying solely on military vehicles is insufficient, but all available vehicles from transportation companies have been requisitioned. Relocation is the top priority, and those who refuse to move are subject to forced relocation. After all, it's not worth sacrificing soldiers to rescue these stubborn individuals after a disaster.
Since the national leader broadcast the news nationwide, it naturally couldn't be kept secret from the "50" people in various countries. The news spread back to their respective countries, and while they were transmitting the information, their countries were also monitoring and recording it in real time, preparing to send these people back to their "fathers" before the disaster struck. After all, every bit of food saved after a natural disaster is precious. The reactions of various countries to the news varied. Countries with good relations secretly made some arrangements, while countries with poor relations criticized China, saying that they were spreading alarmist rumors and trying to undermine global harmony. Some, like India, were simply watching China make a fool of itself.
China ignored the reactions from various countries, letting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs handle the wrangling. As for the brother countries that called to inquire, China provided detailed advice.
By November 30th, all relocations were complete, contact groups at all levels were established, and existing residential buildings were reinforced and waterproofed. Supplies from lower floors were moved to higher floors for storage. During the day, a special plane transported all the "500,000" people back to China. At 10 PM, a pre-recorded message played repeatedly on all the streets: "Please return home before midnight. There will be six months of continuous torrential rain. Please keep your doors and windows closed and manage your own lives at home. Avoid going out unless absolutely necessary. If you lack supplies, please contact your building manager, and we will arrange delivery. If anyone in your household is sick, please contact your building manager, and we will arrange for someone to pick them up for medical treatment. Please do not waste this time at home; please exercise regularly, learn about outdoor survival skills, and understand how to protect yourself in extremely cold or hot weather."
This message played on repeat until midnight on December 1, 2012, when a torrential downpour seemed to pour down from the sky. Those who still harbored doubts fell silent. At that moment, the entire nation of China was silent, and the hearts of the people were in their throats. What would happen next? Were the country's preparations sufficient? After all, China has such a large population; could we weather this storm?
As the people remained silent or became agitated, loudspeakers in every room broadcast the reassuring voice of the nation's leader: "People of China, do not worry. The disaster will eventually pass. What we know now is that from this moment on, there will be six months of floods, followed by six months of drought, and then six months of earthquakes. After that, there will be no more long-term disasters. Instead, there will be extreme cold and extreme heat, and no more distinct seasons. The nation has been preparing for this for over a decade. What we need to do now is actively cooperate with the nation's arrangements, exercise at home, arrange our studies reasonably, and unite as one to overcome this difficult time!"
At this moment, the leader's words undoubtedly reassured the people. As long as the people of China can still have enough to eat, they generally won't have any other thoughts, so they can only follow the country's arrangements.
As the excited crowd grew sleepy, the city lights slowly dimmed.
Meanwhile, reactions abroad varied. The sudden, unexpected downpour, coinciding with the time of the news report in China, forced everyone to pay attention. The rain continued unabated until dawn, showing no signs of stopping or even lessening. After three days of continuous heavy rain, panic began to rise abroad. The sheer volume of rain had already paralyzed the city's drainage system on the first day, and by the third day, the floodwaters had already submerged an entire floor.
While life in China continued smoothly, other countries descended into chaos. Many households lacked sufficient supplies, and the inconvenience of going out to buy food was apparent. Furthermore, many shops were flooded and destroyed, and the windows of many large supermarkets on the second floor had been broken into – the allure of "zero-dollar purchases" was undeniable. Consequently, security in many countries collapsed, government-mandated emergency mobilization became ineffective, and national reserves were prioritized for those in power and the wealthy elites.
After a month of torrential rain, the water level had risen to the sixth floor. By this time, the rainfall had subsided considerably, roughly matching the city's drainage rate. At this point, news arrived that brought immense joy to the people: that country, where life was supposed to be "good," had sank. Much of their country was reclaimed land, so after such a prolonged flood, many areas had collapsed into the sea. The influx of reinforced concrete debris triggered a tsunami, and ultimately, the island sank. When the news reached China, a few people celebrated wildly, while most opted for a quiet family meal to mark the occasion—after all, we are a nation that values humanitarianism! However, the online frenzy was a different story altogether!
Yes, thanks to the efforts of the past ten years or so, China's network is still going strong. Based on the technology that scientists developed back then, the network will not be interrupted in the future, at most the signal will be a little weaker.