If one were to say that the major factor affecting combat operations in the northwest direction was the weather, then in the southwest direction, it was primarily the geography.
Horizontally positioned between the Wuji Plateau and the Gangaro Plain, the Cangqiong Mountains proved an insurmountable barrier.
Although the Cloud Mist River cut through the Cangqiong Mountains, the gorge was far too steep; across a mere few dozen kilometers, the elevation dropped several thousand meters, making the journey not only difficult for armored forces equipped with tanks and heavy artillery but even for infantry troops.
Moreover, transporting equipment and supplies to the Wuji Plateau was an extremely arduous task.
From the Empire's heartland to the Wuji Plateau, the only two highways available could only be accessed during the spring, summer, and autumn seasons, and the maximum transport capacity was severely limited.
