To get easy Empire Points you can go to the multiplayer menu (in the main menu) and select Hot Seat game and you can either play a computer or play yourself and when you win they'll give you some Empire Points.
Sending Villagers To Escape
If you have some villagers and they need to escape, send them to a building in the direction you want them to go. Choose 'Demolish' but then select 'No'. You will be on that building but still unused. If you have buildings in a sort of line they can get far away in one turn.
Unlockable units
Here are all of the unlockable units. You use empire points that you earn in matches to purchase them. To purchase them, just go to "bonus items" in the main menu.
Effect - Code
Dark Ram - 150 empire points
Dopple- handers - 100 empire points
Genoese Crossbowmen - 100 empire points
Knights of the Round Table - 200 empire points
Mons Meg - 150 empire points
Swiss Pikemen - 100 empire points
War Wolf - 150 empire points
Welsh Bowmen - 100 empire points