萬歷二十七(qi)年(1599年)初秋,努爾哈(ha)赤(chi)率(lv)領五(wu)千人馬,進軍哈(ha)達(da)(da),揚古利(li)(li)隨同前(qian)往。由于哈(ha)達(da)(da)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻高大,防(fang)守嚴密(mi),建州軍一連(lian)攻了三天也沒有攻下(xia)。第四天五(wu)更,努爾哈(ha)赤(chi)再次(ci)下(xia)令(ling)攻城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。連(lian)續兩次(ci)攻擊(ji)失利(li)(li)后,他命令(ling)揚古利(li)(li)率(lv)兵五(wu)百從東(dong)(dong)南角(jiao)再次(ci)發動強攻。揚古利(li)(li)身先士卒,直奔城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)(dong)南角(jiao)而來,先沖(chong)上城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)頭(tou),生擒哈(ha)達(da)(da)貝(bei)勒(le)孟格(ge)布祿。
天命六年(nian)(nian)(明天啟元年(nian)(nian),1621年(nian)(nian))三(san)(san)月,努爾哈赤出(chu)兵(bing)沈陽(yang)(yang)。揚(yang)古利力戰沈陽(yang)(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)總兵(bing)賀(he)世賢,賀(he)世賢不(bu)敵(di)欲敗(bai)走,被揚(yang)古利一(yi)箭(jian)射中(zhong)后(hou)心(xin),陣亡。三(san)(san)月十三(san)(san)日(ri),后(hou)金軍(jun)攻(gong)下(xia)沈陽(yang)(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。遼東經略袁(yuan)應(ying)泰自從得知沈陽(yang)(yang)失守(shou)(shou)后(hou),連日(ri)來與(yu)諸將研究守(shou)(shou)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)策略,把火(huo)炮(pao)都搬運到城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻上,用五萬(wan)兵(bing)守(shou)(shou)三(san)(san)道(dao)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)壕,五萬(wan)兵(bing)守(shou)(shou)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),另五萬(wan)兵(bing)做后(hou)備(bei)。袁(yuan)應(ying)泰率三(san)(san)萬(wan)軍(jun)隊出(chu)戰,被努爾哈赤的六萬(wan)騎兵(bing)擊敗(bai),退(tui)回(hui)堅守(shou)(shou)。揚(yang)古利放掉(diao)了(le)護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河渠(qu)之中(zhong)的深水,讓遼陽(yang)(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)無險可峙,下(xia)一(yi)步的攻(gong)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)也就容易得多了(le)。內(nei)(nei)應(ying)在城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)(nei)放火(huo),大亂(luan),后(hou)金軍(jun)乘虛而入,遼陽(yang)(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)破(po)。
天聰元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(明天啟(qi)七年(nian)(nian)(nian),1627年(nian)(nian)(nian)),跟從皇太極討伐朝(chao)鮮王朝(chao),次(ci)年(nian)(nian)(nian)一月因遭遇朝(chao)鮮伏兵(bing)傷重而死,追封為武勛王。
《清(qing)史(shi)稿》:揚古(gu)利初(chu)事太祖,凡在行間,率先破敵,沖(chong)鋒挫銳,所向披靡。太宗誡不令臨陣,而(er)(er)遇(yu)敵忘軀(qu),奮發不自已。行軍四十余年,大小(xiao)百馀戰,功(gong)業絕特,而(er)(er)持身尤敬慎(shen)。