萬歷(li)二十七(qi)年(1599年)初秋,努爾(er)哈(ha)赤(chi)率領(ling)五千(qian)人馬(ma),進軍(jun)哈(ha)達(da),揚(yang)古利隨同前往。由(you)于哈(ha)達(da)城(cheng)城(cheng)墻高(gao)大,防守嚴(yan)密,建州(zhou)軍(jun)一連攻(gong)(gong)(gong)了(le)三(san)天也沒有攻(gong)(gong)(gong)下。第四(si)天五更,努爾(er)哈(ha)赤(chi)再(zai)次下令攻(gong)(gong)(gong)城(cheng)。連續兩次攻(gong)(gong)(gong)擊失(shi)利后,他命令揚(yang)古利率兵五百從東(dong)南(nan)角再(zai)次發動強攻(gong)(gong)(gong)。揚(yang)古利身(shen)先(xian)士卒,直奔城(cheng)東(dong)南(nan)角而來,先(xian)沖上城(cheng)頭,生擒哈(ha)達(da)貝勒(le)孟格布祿。
天(tian)命六(liu)年(明天(tian)啟元年,1621年)三月,努(nu)爾(er)哈赤(chi)出(chu)兵(bing)(bing)沈陽(yang)。揚(yang)古利力戰(zhan)沈陽(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)總兵(bing)(bing)賀世(shi)賢,賀世(shi)賢不敵欲敗(bai)走,被(bei)揚(yang)古利一箭射(she)中(zhong)后(hou)(hou)心,陣亡(wang)。三月十三日,后(hou)(hou)金軍(jun)攻(gong)下(xia)沈陽(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)。遼(liao)東(dong)經略袁(yuan)應泰自從得(de)知沈陽(yang)失守(shou)后(hou)(hou),連日來與諸將研究守(shou)城(cheng)(cheng)策略,把火炮(pao)都(dou)搬運到(dao)城(cheng)(cheng)墻上(shang),用五(wu)萬(wan)(wan)兵(bing)(bing)守(shou)三道(dao)城(cheng)(cheng)壕,五(wu)萬(wan)(wan)兵(bing)(bing)守(shou)城(cheng)(cheng),另五(wu)萬(wan)(wan)兵(bing)(bing)做后(hou)(hou)備(bei)。袁(yuan)應泰率(lv)三萬(wan)(wan)軍(jun)隊出(chu)戰(zhan),被(bei)努(nu)爾(er)哈赤(chi)的(de)六(liu)萬(wan)(wan)騎兵(bing)(bing)擊敗(bai),退回堅守(shou)。揚(yang)古利放掉了(le)(le)護城(cheng)(cheng)河渠之中(zhong)的(de)深水,讓遼(liao)陽(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)無險可峙(zhi),下(xia)一步(bu)的(de)攻(gong)城(cheng)(cheng)也就(jiu)容易得(de)多(duo)了(le)(le)。內(nei)應在城(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)放火,大亂,后(hou)(hou)金軍(jun)乘虛而(er)入(ru),遼(liao)陽(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)破。
天聰元(yuan)年(nian)(明天啟七年(nian),1627年(nian)),跟從皇太極討伐朝鮮王朝,次年(nian)一月因遭遇(yu)朝鮮伏兵傷重而死,追(zhui)封為武勛王。
《清史稿(gao)》:揚古利初事太祖,凡在行間,率先破敵,沖鋒挫銳(rui),所向披靡。太宗誡不(bu)令臨陣,而遇(yu)敵忘軀,奮發(fa)不(bu)自已。行軍四十余年,大小百(bai)馀戰,功業絕特,而持身尤敬慎。