Early Life
Dai Zong is first introduced in the novel as the chief warden of the prison in Jiangzhou (present-day Jiangxi). He is a friend of Wu Yong and he takes good care of Song Jiang after the latter is exiled to Jiangzhou after reading Wu Yong's letter. He strikes up a friendship with Song Jiang and Song leads a comfortable life in prison. Once, Song Jiang writes a poem advocating rebellion against the government when he was drunk and is later arrested. Dai Zong suggests to Song Jiang to behave like a lunatic to trick the governor, Cai Jiu. However, Huang Wenbing notices and points out to Cai Jiu that Song Jiang is feigning madness. He proposes the use of torture to force a confession out of Song Jiang. Song Jiang eventually succumbs under torture and admits to plotting a rebellion against the government.
Dai Zong tries his best to help Song Jiang but in vain. Cai Jiu then assigns Dai Zong to send a letter to his father, the Imperial Tutor Cai Jing, in Dongjing (present-day Kaifeng) for his opinion on how to deal with Song Jiang. Dai Zong brings the letter to Liangshan Marsh instead to seek help from the outlaws. He is drugged by Zhu Gui near Liangshan, who is unaware of his identity, and brought to Liangshan. On Liangshan, Wu Yong recognises him and learns that Song Jiang has been arrested. Wu Yong invites Xiao Rang and Jin Dajian to forge a letter from Cai Jing, ordering Cai Jiu to have Song Jiang escorted to Dongjing. Along the way, the outlaws will then attack the guards and rescue Song Jiang.
However, Jin Dajian makes a mistake with the seal on the letter and the fraud is exposed later when Huang Wenbing reads the letter in detail and points out the error. Cai Jiu is furious and he orders Dai Zong's arrest. Dai Zong is severely beaten up and thrown into prison. Cai Jiu then sentences Song Jiang and Dai Zong to death. Wu Yong realised the mistake in time and he drafts a plan for the Liangshan outlaws to storm the execution ground and save Song Jiang and Dai Zong. Both Song Jiang and Dai Zong are rescued and brought back to Liangshan safely.
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