The sudden offensive in the East District Six States by the Jieke Group left India in a state of panic, especially upon learning that the Silliguri Corridor had fallen. The loss of this strategic location caused both shock and anger among India's high-level officials, prompting immediate reinforcement dispatch to reclaim the area.
In the Silliguri Corridor, Genetic Warriors were driving over ten thousand captured soldiers, constructing defensive positions and laying mines.
With a whip in one hand, cracking loudly in the air, and a loudspeaker in the other, Jawaharal ordered, "Work hard, anyone who drags their feet will be starved for three days."
None of the Indian soldiers, laboring intensely, dared to resist and completed their tasks diligently.
"Jawaharal, order the unit to withdraw."
Suddenly, Miao Lun's voice came through the walkie-talkie Jawaharal was wearing. Startled, Jawaharal immediately heard the air raid siren and reacted swiftly: "Quick, back to the bunkers, air raid incoming!"
The prisoners scrambled in panic, rushing back. At times like these, the agility of Indian soldiers was exceptionally evident.
Soon enough, the sound of fighter jets roaring in the sky could be heard.
Fighter jets, bearing the Indian national flag, flew across the sky at an altitude of ten thousand meters, dropping several bombs. However, Magic Bird Fighters patrolling the nearby airspace quickly engaged them, shooting down two Indian fighter jets, causing the others to retreat in defeat.
"Oh, oh, oh, we won, we won!"
The Indian soldier prisoners hiding in the bunkers cheered joyfully upon witnessing this, celebrating their jets' retreat as if they had won a lottery, displaying a somewhat bizarre reaction.
Such air battles occurred sporadically over the next few days. India possessed fifteen hundred various combat aircraft, including four-generation jets of Western standards, aerial refueling aircraft, early warning aircraft, transport aircraft, and drones, covering almost all types of specialized aircraft. The Indian Air Force was the only force globally capable of summoning a "dragon" by assembling the five major "rogue" aircraft, ranking highly in the world's air force strength on paper.
However, since most of India's fighter jets were purchased from abroad, the maintenance and supply of equipment and ammunition were issues, heavily relying on imports. This patchwork of diverse aircraft demanded high logistical support. During peacetime, India was infamous for its high crash rates, let alone during wartime.
As a result, when facing the Jieke Group's air force, India's operational fighter jets were less than one-third in number. Furthermore, those that could operate were often reduced further due to maintenance issues, repairs, logistical adjustments, and ammunition shortages. Combined with the poor skill level of Indian pilots, reclaiming air superiority in the East District Six States was impossible.
After the Indian fighter jets fled, shadows began to appear at the entrance of the Silliguri Corridor.
These were the first batch of Indian Army troops arriving at the corridor, dressed in olive-green military uniforms with tense expressions. Leading them were India's domestically produced Arjun Main Battle Tanks.
The force numbered around thirty thousand, forming an impressive sight.
In a bunker command post, Miao Lun observed the Indian Army through binoculars.
"Give the order to initiate raid operations. Let these Indian troops in and test their strength first," Miao Lun commanded. Over the past few days, not only had Genetic Warriors entered the Silliguri Corridor, but transport aircraft had also flown in additional soldiers and heavy weapons. Now, the Jieke Group troops in the corridor numbered over two thousand, including over a hundred Genetic Warriors.
On site, the Indian artillery began its bombardment, with shells from multiple howitzers raining down.
The artillery fire wasn't strong enough to be considered a carpet-bombing, and due to India's poorly organized logistics, many artillery pieces couldn't be transported. Even those that arrived often had ammunition mismatches.
After a brief bombardment, the Indian Army began their assault.
The tanks and armored vehicles advanced slowly, with India deploying a regiment-level force to attack the Silliguri Corridor.
However, the corridor's terrain, characterized by hills and narrow paths, was unsuitable for large-scale armored assaults.
Miao Lun noticed that even before reaching the minefield, many Indian armored vehicles broke down.
Particularly the domestically produced Arjun Tanks, which Miao Lun counted three of, stalled for various reasons. The tank crews, covered in dust, climbed out and helplessly stared at the immobilized steel behemoths.
The Indian-made Arjun Tank weighed 68.24 tons, heavier than the Beautiful Country's M1A2 Main Battle Tank. Combined with its inferior engine and design, navigating difficult terrain was fraught with issues, with breakdowns being commonplace.
Not just tanks, but numerous Indian soldiers also suffered non-combat injuries like twisted ankles and head injuries during the advance, making it unclear whether their collapses were genuine or a feigned retreat.
After abandoning several tanks along the way, the regiment-sized force dispersed into the Jieke Group's minefield.