Wait wait wait
Didnt you just write, that you resort to burning earth to discourage other players from rushing you in future games?
Read again - I thought I saw just that. And now imagine that you start next to somebody who will scorch his (and your) lands if you only dare to attack him and win? How fun is that?
So naturally, I see that player as a rather bad neighbour. I dont like being blackmailed.
Anyway, there was a scorched earth topic long ago, and its a matter of players choice after all. I just stated my opinion... and these empoisoners in my capitol are already dead anyway.