萬歷二十七年(nian)(1599年(nian))初秋,努(nu)爾哈赤(chi)率(lv)領五千人馬,進(jin)軍(jun)哈達(da)(da),揚古利(li)隨同前往。由于哈達(da)(da)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)高大,防守(shou)嚴密(mi),建州(zhou)軍(jun)一連(lian)攻(gong)了(le)三天(tian)也沒有攻(gong)下(xia)。第(di)四(si)天(tian)五更,努(nu)爾哈赤(chi)再次(ci)下(xia)令(ling)攻(gong)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。連(lian)續兩(liang)次(ci)攻(gong)擊失利(li)后,他(ta)命令(ling)揚古利(li)率(lv)兵五百從東(dong)南角再次(ci)發動強(qiang)攻(gong)。揚古利(li)身先士卒(zu),直奔城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)南角而來(lai),先沖(chong)上城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)頭,生擒哈達(da)(da)貝勒孟格布祿。
天(tian)命(ming)六(liu)年(nian)(nian)(明天(tian)啟元年(nian)(nian),1621年(nian)(nian))三(san)月(yue),努(nu)爾哈赤出兵(bing)沈(shen)陽(yang)。揚(yang)古(gu)利力(li)戰沈(shen)陽(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)總兵(bing)賀(he)世(shi)賢,賀(he)世(shi)賢不敵欲敗走,被揚(yang)古(gu)利一箭(jian)射中后(hou)(hou)心,陣亡。三(san)月(yue)十三(san)日(ri),后(hou)(hou)金(jin)軍攻(gong)(gong)下沈(shen)陽(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。遼東經略袁(yuan)應(ying)泰自(zi)從(cong)得知(zhi)沈(shen)陽(yang)失守(shou)后(hou)(hou),連日(ri)來與諸將研究守(shou)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)策略,把(ba)火炮都搬(ban)運到城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻上,用五(wu)萬兵(bing)守(shou)三(san)道城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)壕,五(wu)萬兵(bing)守(shou)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),另五(wu)萬兵(bing)做后(hou)(hou)備。袁(yuan)應(ying)泰率(lv)三(san)萬軍隊出戰,被努(nu)爾哈赤的六(liu)萬騎兵(bing)擊(ji)敗,退回堅守(shou)。揚(yang)古(gu)利放掉了(le)護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河(he)渠之中的深水(shui),讓遼陽(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)無險可峙,下一步的攻(gong)(gong)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)也就容易得多(duo)了(le)。內應(ying)在城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內放火,大亂,后(hou)(hou)金(jin)軍乘虛而入,遼陽(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)破。
天聰(cong)元年(明天啟七年,1627年),跟從皇(huang)太(tai)極討伐(fa)朝鮮王朝,次年一月因遭(zao)遇朝鮮伏兵傷重而死,追封為武(wu)勛王。
《清史(shi)稿》:揚古利初事太(tai)祖(zu),凡(fan)在行間,率先破敵,沖鋒挫(cuo)銳(rui),所(suo)向披(pi)靡。太(tai)宗(zong)誡不(bu)令臨陣(zhen),而遇敵忘軀,奮發不(bu)自已。行軍(jun)四十(shi)余(yu)年,大小百(bai)馀戰,功業絕特,而持身(shen)尤敬慎。