中國歷代軍政領袖，幾乎無不重視幕僚的運用。民國時期，由於政局長期動盪不安，各軍政領袖爲了擊退對手，在政爭中取得勝利，自然也不例外的會在各方延聘智謀之士，作為幕僚。在混亂的政局中，誰的幕僚群較強，誰成功的機會也就越大。在各種類型的幕僚中，又以溝通型幕僚最為重要，他們平時溝通內外各黨各派，危機時甚至可以化干戈為玉帛，發揮關鍵性的作用。成功的溝通型幕僚，均具備三項條件。一是個人的才幹，二是良好的社會關係，三是能夠不辭勞苦。民國期間，各地軍系長期割據一方，但是均有幕僚在各方奔走協調，其中蔣中正所用的溝通型幕僚除了具備上述條件之外，另有兩項優勢，係為其對手所無法相比者。其一為財力雄厚，可以重金收買對方；第二是擁有封官授爵的權力。不過民國以來，政局長期處於分裂狀態，即使至北伐成功，全國名義上統一，國民政府所能實際控制者，仍然十分有限。蔣中正要想統一中國，進而和現代化的日軍作戰，也只能採取和地方軍系妥協的策略，以感情上的說服、金錢上的收買，加上赤裸裸的武力作後盾，除此之外，似乎也沒有更好的選擇，溝通型幕僚遂得以長期在民國政壇上扮演重要的角色。
Nearly every military- and political leaders in Chinese history emphasized the importance of staff system. During the long-term upheaval of the Republican period, every local militarists unexceptionally recruited talented people for their staff system in order to win out among warlords. Generally speaking, those who with a stronger staff system had a better chance to win over their rivals in political struggles. Among various types of staff members, the communicator-type staff was the most important. These "intermediaries" shuttled around among different political parties and factions during peacetime. When crises came, they sometimes even could play key role by ceasing armed conflicts. Being a successful communicator-type staff member needed personal talents, good social network, and the ability of hardworking. In addition to these qualities, the "political intermediaries" used by Jiang Jieshi were armed with lucrative resource to dispense and the privilege of offering attractive positions to potential political rivals. Many observers thought that was part of the reason why Jiang could outvie his rivals and unify China in the long run.
