萬歷二十七(qi)年(1599年)初秋(qiu),努(nu)爾哈(ha)赤(chi)率(lv)領五(wu)千人馬,進(jin)軍(jun)哈(ha)達,揚(yang)(yang)古利(li)隨同前(qian)往。由于哈(ha)達城(cheng)城(cheng)墻高(gao)大,防守嚴密,建州(zhou)軍(jun)一(yi)連攻(gong)(gong)了三天(tian)也(ye)沒有攻(gong)(gong)下(xia)。第四天(tian)五(wu)更,努(nu)爾哈(ha)赤(chi)再次(ci)(ci)下(xia)令攻(gong)(gong)城(cheng)。連續兩次(ci)(ci)攻(gong)(gong)擊失利(li)后,他(ta)命令揚(yang)(yang)古利(li)率(lv)兵五(wu)百(bai)從東(dong)南角(jiao)再次(ci)(ci)發動(dong)強攻(gong)(gong)。揚(yang)(yang)古利(li)身先士卒,直奔城(cheng)東(dong)南角(jiao)而來,先沖上城(cheng)頭,生擒哈(ha)達貝勒孟(meng)格布祿。
天命六年(明天啟元年,1621年)三(san)(san)(san)月,努爾哈(ha)赤(chi)出兵(bing)(bing)沈(shen)陽(yang)。揚(yang)古利力戰(zhan)沈(shen)陽(yang)城總兵(bing)(bing)賀(he)世(shi)賢,賀(he)世(shi)賢不敵欲(yu)敗(bai)走,被(bei)揚(yang)古利一(yi)箭射(she)中后(hou)心,陣亡(wang)。三(san)(san)(san)月十三(san)(san)(san)日,后(hou)金(jin)軍攻下沈(shen)陽(yang)城。遼(liao)東經(jing)略袁(yuan)應泰自從得知沈(shen)陽(yang)失(shi)守(shou)(shou)后(hou),連(lian)日來與諸將研(yan)究(jiu)守(shou)(shou)城策略,把火炮都搬(ban)運(yun)到(dao)城墻上,用五萬(wan)(wan)兵(bing)(bing)守(shou)(shou)三(san)(san)(san)道城壕,五萬(wan)(wan)兵(bing)(bing)守(shou)(shou)城,另(ling)五萬(wan)(wan)兵(bing)(bing)做后(hou)備。袁(yuan)應泰率三(san)(san)(san)萬(wan)(wan)軍隊(dui)出戰(zhan),被(bei)努爾哈(ha)赤(chi)的(de)六萬(wan)(wan)騎兵(bing)(bing)擊(ji)敗(bai),退回堅守(shou)(shou)。揚(yang)古利放(fang)掉了(le)護城河渠之中的(de)深(shen)水,讓遼(liao)陽(yang)城無險可峙,下一(yi)步的(de)攻城也就容(rong)易得多(duo)了(le)。內應在城內放(fang)火,大(da)亂,后(hou)金(jin)軍乘虛而(er)入,遼(liao)陽(yang)城破。
天(tian)聰元年(nian)(明天(tian)啟七年(nian),1627年(nian)),跟從皇(huang)太極討伐朝鮮(xian)王朝,次年(nian)一月因遭(zao)遇朝鮮(xian)伏兵傷重而死,追(zhui)封(feng)為(wei)武勛王。
《清史稿》:揚古利初事太祖,凡在行(xing)間(jian),率先(xian)破敵,沖鋒挫銳,所(suo)向披靡。太宗誡不令臨陣,而遇敵忘(wang)軀(qu),奮發不自已。行(xing)軍四十(shi)余年,大(da)小(xiao)百馀戰,功業(ye)絕特,而持身尤敬(jing)慎。