萬歷二十(shi)七年(nian)(1599年(nian))初(chu)秋,努(nu)(nu)爾哈(ha)赤(chi)率領五(wu)(wu)千(qian)人馬,進軍哈(ha)達(da),揚(yang)古利(li)隨同前(qian)往。由于(yu)哈(ha)達(da)城(cheng)(cheng)城(cheng)(cheng)墻高大,防守嚴(yan)密,建州軍一連攻(gong)(gong)了(le)三天(tian)也沒有(you)攻(gong)(gong)下。第四(si)天(tian)五(wu)(wu)更,努(nu)(nu)爾哈(ha)赤(chi)再(zai)(zai)次(ci)下令(ling)攻(gong)(gong)城(cheng)(cheng)。連續(xu)兩次(ci)攻(gong)(gong)擊失利(li)后,他命令(ling)揚(yang)古利(li)率兵五(wu)(wu)百從東南角(jiao)再(zai)(zai)次(ci)發動強攻(gong)(gong)。揚(yang)古利(li)身先(xian)(xian)士卒,直奔城(cheng)(cheng)東南角(jiao)而來,先(xian)(xian)沖(chong)上城(cheng)(cheng)頭(tou),生擒(qin)哈(ha)達(da)貝勒孟格布祿。
天(tian)命(ming)六年(nian)(明天(tian)啟(qi)元(yuan)年(nian),1621年(nian))三月,努爾(er)哈(ha)赤出兵沈陽(yang)。揚(yang)古(gu)利力戰沈陽(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)總兵賀(he)世(shi)(shi)賢(xian),賀(he)世(shi)(shi)賢(xian)不敵欲敗走(zou),被揚(yang)古(gu)利一(yi)箭射中(zhong)后(hou)心(xin),陣亡。三月十(shi)三日,后(hou)金(jin)(jin)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)攻下沈陽(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。遼東經略(lve)袁(yuan)應(ying)泰(tai)自從得(de)知沈陽(yang)失守(shou)(shou)后(hou),連日來與諸(zhu)將(jiang)研究守(shou)(shou)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)策(ce)略(lve),把(ba)火炮都搬運(yun)到城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻上,用五萬(wan)兵守(shou)(shou)三道城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)壕,五萬(wan)兵守(shou)(shou)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),另五萬(wan)兵做后(hou)備。袁(yuan)應(ying)泰(tai)率三萬(wan)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)隊出戰,被努爾(er)哈(ha)赤的六萬(wan)騎(qi)兵擊敗,退回(hui)堅守(shou)(shou)。揚(yang)古(gu)利放掉了(le)護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河渠之(zhi)中(zhong)的深水,讓遼陽(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)無(wu)險(xian)可峙,下一(yi)步的攻城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)也就容易得(de)多了(le)。內(nei)(nei)應(ying)在城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)(nei)放火,大亂,后(hou)金(jin)(jin)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)乘虛而入,遼陽(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)破。
天聰元年(nian)(明(ming)天啟七年(nian),1627年(nian)),跟從(cong)皇太極討伐朝(chao)(chao)鮮(xian)王(wang)朝(chao)(chao),次年(nian)一月因遭遇朝(chao)(chao)鮮(xian)伏兵傷重而死(si),追封為武勛王(wang)。
《清史稿》:揚古利初事太祖,凡在(zai)行間,率先破敵,沖鋒挫銳(rui),所向披靡。太宗誡不(bu)(bu)令臨陣(zhen),而(er)遇(yu)敵忘軀,奮發不(bu)(bu)自已。行軍(jun)四十余(yu)年,大小百馀戰,功業絕特(te),而(er)持身尤敬慎(shen)。