萬歷二(er)十七(qi)年(nian)(nian)(1599年(nian)(nian))初秋,努爾(er)哈赤率領(ling)五(wu)(wu)千人馬,進軍哈達,揚(yang)古利隨同(tong)前往。由于哈達城(cheng)(cheng)城(cheng)(cheng)墻高大,防守嚴密,建(jian)州軍一連(lian)(lian)攻了三天也沒有攻下(xia)。第四(si)天五(wu)(wu)更,努爾(er)哈赤再次(ci)下(xia)令(ling)(ling)攻城(cheng)(cheng)。連(lian)(lian)續(xu)兩次(ci)攻擊失利后(hou),他命令(ling)(ling)揚(yang)古利率兵五(wu)(wu)百從東(dong)南(nan)角(jiao)再次(ci)發(fa)動強攻。揚(yang)古利身先士(shi)卒,直奔城(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)南(nan)角(jiao)而來,先沖(chong)上(shang)城(cheng)(cheng)頭,生擒哈達貝(bei)勒孟(meng)格(ge)布(bu)祿(lu)。
天命六年(nian)(明(ming)天啟元年(nian),1621年(nian))三月(yue),努爾(er)哈赤(chi)出兵沈(shen)(shen)(shen)陽(yang)。揚古(gu)(gu)利(li)(li)力戰沈(shen)(shen)(shen)陽(yang)城(cheng)總(zong)兵賀世賢(xian),賀世賢(xian)不敵欲敗(bai)走,被(bei)揚古(gu)(gu)利(li)(li)一(yi)箭(jian)射中后(hou)(hou)(hou)心(xin),陣亡。三月(yue)十三日(ri),后(hou)(hou)(hou)金(jin)軍攻下沈(shen)(shen)(shen)陽(yang)城(cheng)。遼(liao)(liao)東經略袁應泰自從得知沈(shen)(shen)(shen)陽(yang)失(shi)守(shou)后(hou)(hou)(hou),連日(ri)來(lai)與諸將研究(jiu)守(shou)城(cheng)策略,把火炮都搬運到(dao)城(cheng)墻上,用五萬(wan)(wan)兵守(shou)三道(dao)城(cheng)壕,五萬(wan)(wan)兵守(shou)城(cheng),另五萬(wan)(wan)兵做(zuo)后(hou)(hou)(hou)備(bei)。袁應泰率三萬(wan)(wan)軍隊出戰,被(bei)努爾(er)哈赤(chi)的(de)六萬(wan)(wan)騎兵擊敗(bai),退(tui)回堅(jian)守(shou)。揚古(gu)(gu)利(li)(li)放(fang)掉了護城(cheng)河渠之中的(de)深(shen)水,讓(rang)遼(liao)(liao)陽(yang)城(cheng)無(wu)險可(ke)峙,下一(yi)步(bu)的(de)攻城(cheng)也就容易得多了。內應在城(cheng)內放(fang)火,大亂,后(hou)(hou)(hou)金(jin)軍乘虛而入,遼(liao)(liao)陽(yang)城(cheng)破。
天(tian)聰(cong)元(yuan)年(明天(tian)啟七年,1627年),跟(gen)從皇太極討伐(fa)朝(chao)鮮王(wang)朝(chao),次年一月因(yin)遭遇朝(chao)鮮伏兵傷(shang)重而死,追(zhui)封為武勛王(wang)。
《清史稿(gao)》:揚古(gu)利初事太祖,凡在行間,率先破敵,沖(chong)鋒挫銳,所(suo)向披靡。太宗(zong)誡不令(ling)臨陣(zhen),而遇敵忘軀,奮(fen)發不自已(yi)。行軍四十余年,大小百(bai)馀戰,功業絕(jue)特,而持身尤敬慎。