Ch. 2443A Road Never Taken
No. 1 spoke with a Transmigrator who had spent over thirty years imprisoned after helping an emperor strengthen his empire with modern knowledge. No. 1 rescued him and brought him to meet the others, where he reflected on how he might have escaped sooner.
- The emperor learned from the middle-aged Transmigrator that industry, pumps, and irrigation could increase food production and ease population pressures.
- No. 1 questioned the Transmigrator about his long imprisonment, and the man described his anger, failed escape attempts, and hope that future political change would free him.
- No. 1 agreed to rescue the Transmigrator after the man finally asked directly, then brought him to the group of ten.
- The Transmigrator explained that he had arrived in prison awaiting execution and survived by selling the emperor his knowledge.
- The group suggested that he might have escaped by claiming he could make divine medicine and offering the emperor pharmaceutical knowledge.