Luo Jinyong was stunned for a moment, and said with a smile: "We have to finish it, and we just want to know about your relationship with Emily, but you care about him." ”

"At that time, I left a trail south to Mexico, diverting almost all the agents who were pursuing me, while I headed north towards Canada. Just as I was about to cross the border into Canada, she caught up with me. Three days later, she released me. ”

"Released you?"

"Don't look at me like that, dealing with women is Lao Yan's strength." Zhang Xiaogang smiled, deliberately glanced at Chu Tianjiang, and said, "It was January, we were in the forests of Montana, and the nearest town was dozens of kilometers away. When she caught up with me, she had traveled dozens of kilometers on foot. Heavy snow blocked the mountain roads, and even wild beasts hid. The gun is in her hand, but we don't want to get out of it. If you delay for a few days, you will starve to death if you don't freeze to death. I wasn't very good-looking, but I was physically strong enough. Three days later, she was exhausted, and I was slightly better than her. ”

"So, you let her go?"

Zhang Xiaogang nodded and said, "It's not like letting her go." If she wants to finish me off, there are plenty of opportunities to shoot me in the back. ”

"And then?"

"When I got to Canada, I called the police and told the Montana State Police where she was hiding in the hunter's hut. Under the circumstances, even if the state police were to be dispatched immediately, it would take two days to arrive. I just didn't want her to be in the wilderness, I didn't expect her to survive. ”

"Now that you know each other, it's easy to talk."

"Alright, let's talk about anything else when I see her." Zhang Xiaogang extinguished the cigarette butt and said, "It's still early, do you want to go to Manhattan?" ”

Luo Jinyong did not object, Chu Tianjiang and Fang Yuanyuan naturally did not object.

Ten minutes later, Zhang Xiaogang deployed the manor's security forces, and the four of them changed into civilian clothes, and then drove the off-road vehicle left by Burke to Manhattan.

There are three bridges and an undersea tunnel between Long Island and Manhattan Island, and because the destination is Madison Plaza, Zhang Xiaogang chose the Queens-Midtown Tunnel.

Along the way, I passed through several U.S. military checkpoints. Because the off-road vehicle has a special license plate and a special pass left by Burke, the US military not only did not embarrass them, but was very polite. When passing through the tunnel, the US military also sent three or two Humvee military vehicles to escort it.

Chu Tianjiang noticed that there were not many vehicles on the road at all.

Thinking about it carefully, Chu Tianjiang felt that there was nothing strange about it. In addition to classic cars, today's vehicles are controlled by electronic equipment engine, steering mechanism and braking system, etc., after the full-band electromagnetic strike, the electronic equipment is damaged, and the vehicle is naturally unusable.

There are not too many people in the city, and most of the evacuated residents have not yet returned.

Under Zhang Xiaogang's special guidance, Chu Tianjiang drove in and out of the streets and alleys. Compared to cities in the country, Manhattan's roads are unconventional, mainly horizontal and vertical, and most of them are named after numbers. The east-west horizontal is an even number, and the north-south vertical is a singular number. Along the way, Zhang Xiaogang introduced some major buildings, commercial buildings, and entertainment venues, so that Chu Tianjiang could understand the city as soon as possible.

Driving to the vicinity of Wall Street, Chu Tianjiang and they were in trouble.

The entire strip of Wall Street was designated as a military exclusion zone, and there were garrisons in every building and sentry posts at every intersection. Although there is a special pass, the US military does not give face at all. After Zhang Xiaogang came forward to negotiate to no avail, the four of them could only drive away in a huff.

"U.S. strategic reserve gold won't still be in the Federal Reserve Bank's New York vaults, right?"

"It should be, otherwise why would you send troops to guard it?" Zhang Xiaogang took a long breath and said, "It's useless to think about this, let's find a place to have two drinks." ”

"There are not many living people on the island, where can I drink?"

"Times Square." Zhang Xiaogang said, "Maybe civilians still have some scruples, but those reporters who are not afraid of heaven and earth must be back." ”

Zhang Xiaogang is right, Times Square, located at the intersection of Seventh Avenue and Broadway, is indeed very lively.

The headquarters of the New York Times is located here, as well as City Hall and Madame Tussauds nearby, and not far from Rockefeller Center and the Port Authority bus station. Many journalists have returned, only that they are no longer carrying high-resolution digital cameras, but old-fashioned film cameras.

Chu Tianjiang parked his car on a branch road so as not to attract the attention of others.

Since most vehicles are unusable, bicycles have become the main mode of transportation. The cars that can be driven are managed by the government, and if they are driven to Times Square, they will surely attract the attention of reporters and may even make headlines in the New York Times. All residents had to return home on foot, and it was strange that four Chinese were wandering around Manhattan in a car that didn't make front-page news.

Where there are people, there are shops.

Most journalists are homeless and can't go back even if they have home, so several restaurants and bars are already open near Times Square.

Zhang Xiaogang chose a bar with a large façade.

The bar was dimly lit, with a large candelabra on the bar and a small candelabra on the table where there were guests. After the power went out, the candle became the main illuminator. There were only a few drinkers in the bar, and at first glance it was clear that they were all New York Times reporters. The only hostess was not yet twenty years old, and judging by her appearance, she was supposed to be the daughter of the bar owner. Because I couldn't find a waiter, the boss personally acted as a bartender.

Zhang Xiaogang chose a table near the door.

After the four of them were seated, the hostess brought the wine recipe. A lot of the liquor on it has been touched, and what is left is very ordinary liquor, and it is mainly drink.

Zhang Xiaogang ordered a bottle of whiskey, but the hostess had no intention of leaving.

"What, do you have to pay the bill first?"

The hostess nodded, indicating that it was the new rule.

Zhang Xiaogang took out his wallet and counted out a few 100-yuan bills according to the price.

"Sir, if it's in cash, you'll have to double it."

"For what?"

"It's a rule, if you don't feel right, you can go to another bar."

Zhang Xiaogang was stunned for a moment, and said with a smile: "What else can you use if you don't use cash?" ”

"You can use valuables to discount, and if you use material coupons, you can discount the official price, and we only charge a 10% handling fee."

Subsequently, the hostess explained the situation of the supply vouchers.

This kind of material voucher, issued by the U.S. federal government under the wartime mechanism, is actually a kind of voucher, that is, it can be used in lieu of cash to purchase controlled materials. Although the U.S. authorities have not completely banned market transactions, important supplies such as food and fuel are controlled and sold to the public at lower prices. If bought on the market, the price is several times the official price.

Obviously, Zhang Xiaogang and others did not have vouchers.

"So, if we come next time, we can pay with flour and olive oil?"

"Of course you can, and we'll give you a price that satisfies you." The hostess was surprised and excited, and seemed to treat Zhang Xiaogang as a big deal.

"Okay, then next time. We only have cash, and we will double it according to your rules. Zhang Xiaogang counted out a few more bills, "No change, tip for you." ”

Although the hostess didn't want to accept cash, she was very attentive when she thought of Zhang Xiaogang paying the bill with controlled materials next time.

In a short time, the hostess brought a bottle of whiskey and four free drinks. It is said to be a juice, but it is actually white water mixed with flavors.

The bottle of whiskey was also wrong, it was obviously mixed with water, and the taste was much lighter.

"Damn, it looks like we're going to have to ship some Erguotou from China." Zhang Xiaogang only tasted one bite, "I didn't expect that the United States also has today." ”

"Everybody's no better." Luo Jinyong smiled and said, "In a few months, not to mention wine, it would be good to be able to drink clean water." ”

Zhang Xiaogang sighed and said, "It seems that we are still staying on Long Island these days. ”

The crowd fell silent.

The tragic situation in Manhattan reminded the four of them that the economic collapse was only a matter of time.

Before the catastrophe, in developed countries like the United States, the urbanization rate was more than 85 percent, and only a very small number of people were engaged in agricultural production. In the case of the United States, where the total agricultural labor force is only a few million, the food produced not only feeds the United States, but also exports to dozens of countries, making the United States the world's number one grain exporter. The key to such high production efficiency is the large agricultural machinery and equipment and the extensive use of chemical fertilizers. In the aftermath of the catastrophe, power supply was interrupted and chemical plants were shut down, making it impossible to produce fertilizers, but also oil refining. Without chemical fertilizers, agricultural machinery and equipment cannot be used, agricultural production efficiency will inevitably decrease. Hunger would force city dwellers to move to the countryside, and workers would become peasants. Although the increase in labor force will compensate for the loss of production efficiency, it is a slow process, and a large number of labor engaged in agricultural production will inevitably lead to a decrease in industrial capacity and make it impossible for the economy to recover quickly.

The collapse of the economy will inevitably be followed by large-scale social upheaval.

This is a major disaster that no one can change or escape. By the time this catastrophe passes, there will be no more than three billion humans alive.

If this is true in the United States, the social environment in other countries will certainly be even worse.

All four thought of China.

Among the countries in the world, apart from India, I am afraid that China is in the most difficult situation.

As early as the beginning of this century, China became a pure grain importer, buying hundreds of millions of tons of various crops every year from grain exporters such as the United States, Russia, Brazil, Canada and Australia. Before the catastrophe, China's dependence on soybeans, corn, wheat and rapeseed was more than 40 percent, and soybeans reached 60 percent. Although in theory, China's main grain production can meet basic domestic demand, that is, under strict control, China can produce rice, flour and corn to feed 1.4 billion Chinese, there is a premise that all arable land is fully utilized and heavily dependent on chemical fertilizers. Without fertilizers, China's land would not produce the food needed to feed 1.4 billion people. It is necessary to know that there is no chemical fertilizer, and the yield of the main grain is very different. Taking rice as an example, even if it is cultivated on the fertile land in the south of the Yangtze River, the yield per mu without the use of chemical fertilizer will definitely not exceed 600 kilograms, while the yield of chemical fertilizer can reach 1,000 kilograms. Although detailed statistics have not been made, based on a 30 percent reduction in the yields of major grain crops, even if enough labor is invested in intensive farming, the grain produced in China will only be able to feed 800 million people.

Obviously, it is impossible to count on imports to make up for the food shortfall.

What do the extra 600 million people rely on to fill their bellies?

There is only one way out: to plunder the grain of other countries and seize more land. This path means a large-scale foreign war.

This is true for China, and it is true for other countries.

Even the United States is no exception.

Although theoretically, the natural conditions of the United States are more superior than those of China, such as the Great Lakes region and the Mississippi River Basin, as well as the East Coast and the West Coast region, which have a large amount of fertile land, all of which can feed one billion people if all of them are cultivated, but the United States cannot let its own labor force mainly engage in agricultural production, in order to ensure the status of the number one power, the United States will inevitably focus on industry, for this reason, it needs to plunder and enslave other countries through war, and ensure that its own country has enough food supply in the process of resuming industrialization.

To figure out this problem, it is not difficult to understand why Zhang Xiaogang would say that "the world is about to be in chaos".