Military units called were strategically placed throughout china as the chief fighting the force of the manchu empire

i think the answer is c, rivers.

explanation:

sometimes, borders fall along natural boundaries like rivers or mountain ranges. for example, the boundary between france and spain follows the crest of the pyrenees mountains. for part of its length, the boundary between the united states and mexico follows a river called the rio grande. the borders of four countries divide africa’s lake chad: niger, chad, cameroon, and nigeria.

i believe your answer is d)